Apple Inc. (AAPL) packed a lot into one week. Between leadership speculation, streaming pivots, and a surprising comeback in China, there's plenty to unpack. Here's what happened in the Appleverse.

The Tim Cook Succession Question Gets Louder

Apple is apparently getting serious about what comes after Tim Cook. According to the Financial Times, the company's board and senior executives are ramping up discussions about identifying Cook's successor. Cook took the reins from Steve Jobs back in 2011, and now there's talk he could step down as soon as next year.

The timing matters because investor Ross Gerber isn't exactly being subtle about his views. "Apple needs new leadership. Tim has been phenomenal for a long time but it's time for change," Gerber said this week. He's pushing for a leadership overhaul and even floated the idea of partnering with Google's AI capabilities to keep Apple competitive. Whether you agree with Gerber or not, the conversation about Apple's next chapter is clearly heating up.

Apple Tears Down The MLS Paywall

In a notable shift for its streaming strategy, Apple decided to drop the paywall for Major League Soccer games. This is interesting because Apple paid $2.5 billion for MLS rights back in 2022, and until now, most games lived behind an additional subscription called MLS Season Pass (some were available to general Apple TV subscribers, but not many).

Opening up access could be Apple's play to drive broader subscriber growth and unlock more advertising revenue. It's a classic move when you realize the paywall might be limiting your reach more than it's worth. Soccer fans, at least, should be happy.

China's iPhone 17 Demand Surprises Everyone

Here's the bright spot: Apple's iPhone 17 lineup is absolutely crushing it in China. Sales surged 22% year-over-year in the first month after launch, which is remarkable considering the broader smartphone market in China is still slumping.

The surge was dramatic enough that crowds reportedly rushed Apple stores again, reminiscent of earlier iPhone launch frenzies. The takeaway? Premium demand in China remains robust, even when the overall market looks shaky. That's important for Apple, given how critical China is to its revenue mix.

The Apple-Tesla Supplier Is Feeling Optimistic

STMicroelectronics NV (STM), which supplies both Apple and Tesla, saw its stock climb after CEO Jean-Marc Chery laid out a more optimistic outlook. Despite a weaker-than-expected recovery this year, Chery projected a "normal start" to 2026.

He estimated first-quarter revenue would drop 10% to 11% from the upcoming fourth quarter, which the company forecast at $3.28 billion. That fourth-quarter number would represent roughly 20% year-over-year growth, so the dip is more seasonal than alarming. For a company navigating the choppy semiconductor market, that's relatively encouraging news.