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“It’s going to be an insider because it’s such a cult.” Those are the words an anonymous source gave to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman back in 2024, when speculation about Apple CEO Tim Cook’s replacement swirled.
As a longtime iPhone reviewer hungry for more oomph between upgrades, when I read this cryptic line two years ago, I crossed my fingers and silently hoped for a company vet with enough grit to take Apple—and the iPhone—to the next level.
At the time, one of the top candidates for the job was chief operating officer Jeff Williams, who helped usher in the Apple Watch in 2015, noted Gurman. However, Williams is just two years younger than Cook, meaning he likely wouldn’t be a long-term successor. Apple needed a leader who could offer a decade or more of stability, like Steve Jobs and Cook, both of whom served as CEO of the Cupertino-based tech giant for nearly 15 years.
Then, Williams announced his departure last July. His exit instantly shifted the spotlight to senior vice president of hardware engineering, John Ternus, fueling rumors that had already been bubbling up about him as Cook’s potential successor. These buzzy speculations were proven true this week. Ternus is prepared to take the helm as Apple CEO effective Sept. 1, 2026, with Cook transitioning into the role of executive chairman.
Can Ternus fill Cook and Jobs’ massive shoes? It’s the million-dollar—or rather, the $4 trillion—question, considering how much value Cook brought to Apple during his tenure.
But as a tech journalist who has spent the past six years reviewing iPhones, I have a different query in mind. What does a Ternus-led Apple mean for the future of Apple’s iconic flagship device?
The MacBook Neo Was a Test—Now, the iPhone Is Next
Ternus joined Apple’s product design team, armed with a mechanical engineering degree, in 2001. He initially focused on external Mac monitors. He’s been at the company long enough to have served under Jobs’ leadership, though not in a role that put him in direct contact with the former CEO.
Ternus rose through the ranks of the hardware engineering department, eventually becoming the senior VP of hardware engineering in 2021. “He was instrumental in the introduction of multiple new product lines, including iPad and AirPods, as well as many generations of products across iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch," said Apple in a press release.
Arguably, Ternus' biggest win is the launch of the $599 MacBook Neo. According to Gurman, he encouraged Apple to ditch its usual “Apple tax” on MacBooks, pushing for a cheaper laptop that appeals to younger consumers who may not have deep pockets. Ternus’ strategy paid off. PCMag awarded the MacBook Neo an impressive 4.5-star rating for delivering exceptional value at an affordable price.
Since Ternus advocated for a more affordable MacBook option (and won), what could this mean for the future of the iPhone? It’s clear that Ternus isn’t precious about protecting premium pricing. I doubt Apple will roll out anything cheaper than the $599 iPhone 17e, but the company might become more serious about competing in the midrange smartphone market.
Just as Windows PCs and Chromebooks once monopolized the attention of budget-conscious laptop shoppers, Samsung has been dominating the budget-friendly phone market thanks to the Galaxy A series. Under Ternus, Apple may want to chip away at Samsung’s lead there, which could mean making future midrange iPhones look more attractive to buyers who want to spend no more than $600.
No More Untapped Performance: Ternus’ Next iPhone Mission
In a Bloomberg report that caught my eye in early March, Gurman said Ternus once complained that the iPad’s hardware wasn’t being utilized to its full potential. He argued that iPadOS wasn’t leveraging the tablet’s powerful processor and large display. As such, he persuaded Craig Federighi, the senior VP of software engineering, to build software that is more desktop-like.
One could argue that iPhones, especially in recent years, are in a similar position. They’re packed with desktop-class chips. For proof, take a look at the MacBook Neo. It’s powered by the Apple A18 Pro processor, which can be found inside the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro Max. Perhaps Ternus will lead the charge on rolling out more ambitious, envelope-pushing features that truly test the A-series chips’ mettle.
Interestingly, in the same report, Gurman said that Ternus was “instrumental” in launching iPad accessories, including the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, as well as magnetic charging and pairing systems. For the iPhone, this could mean expanding the device’s accessory ecosystem. Ternus may look for ways to extend the iPhone’s capabilities through peripherals and new add-ons beyond MagSafe cases and wallets.
The Real Question: What Does Ternus Do About AI?
Under Cook, Apple hasn’t quite nailed an AI experience that resonates with users. Critics say the company is lagging behind OpenAI and Google, which currently set the pace. It may be true that Apple Intelligence and Siri haven’t exactly wowed people, but ChatGPT and Gemini, despite their dominance, are still scrambling to monetize while guzzling resources and sparking a memory shortage I like to call RAMageddon.
Apple’s AI strategy is clearly still under construction, but perhaps it’s a good thing that the company is taking a back seat amid the AI hype cycle. I suspect Apple may be taking a cautionary approach in case the AI bubble bursts.
I haven’t discovered anything about Ternus’ stance on AI software, but when it comes to hardware, it’s a different story. Ternus is working on several AI-powered hardware devices, according to Gurman, including smart home gadgets, smart glasses, AirPods, and even a pendant that has cameras that use computer vision to understand its environment. Unlike Cook, Ternus may focus less on AI as a feature and more on building devices whose foundations are AI.
The iPhone's Next Chapter Starts Now
Ternus hasn’t always gotten it right. Bloomberg claims he was a “driving force” behind the MacBook Pro's infamous Touch Bar, which received mixed reviews from users. Do you remember Apple’s butterfly keyboard disaster? Ternus was allegedly part of that fiasco, too.
Gurman’s sources have described Ternus as being “conservative” regarding Apple launching new product categories. He’s also been labeled a cost-cutter, a trait that echoes Cook’s strategy, which fears that risky bets would bleed into the company’s profits. This is understandable considering Ternus’ aforementioned setbacks, but I hope they don’t deter him from launching bold, innovative, category-defining products.
On the plus side, Ternus, reportedly a cycling and car-racing enthusiast, has been described by his colleagues as a “nice guy.” He has a knack for bringing teams together and fostering collaboration, which isn’t easy to do at a company that, Gurman says, “isn’t lacking in egos.”
Ternus deserves a bit of grace. He won’t be perfect, and he’ll almost certainly stumble along the way, but that’s never stopped Apple from finding its footing. If anything, Ternus' history suggests he knows how to course-correct. And with his hardware-first mentality, I’m betting the iPhone eventually gets that long-overdue jolt of innovation.