Apple has quietly laid off 147 employees across its Silicon Valley offices, a move that lands weeks before the tech giant’s biggest product launch of the year.
The cuts, disclosed Tuesday through a WARN filing, hit software engineers hardest. Cupertino’s One Apple Park Way headquarters lost 79 positions, while Sunnyvale offices saw 40 layoffs at 605 W. Maude Ave. and 28 at 599 N. Mathilda Ave.
Workers focused on augmented and virtual reality products took the largest blow in Sunnyvale, according to the filing. AppleInsider reported Thursday that the Vision Products Group faced expected reductions, citing sluggish sales of the company’s $3,500 VR headset. A 2024 launch event at Apple’s flagship San Francisco store drew more employees than customers.
Separations begin Oct. 19.
The layoff timing adds another layer of complexity to an already pivotal moment for Apple. Tim Cook will step down as CEO next Tuesday after 15 years, handing control to John Ternus, currently senior vice president of hardware. Cook transitions to executive chairman of the board.
Ternus inherits a packed September calendar. Apple reportedly plans a Sept. 9 event featuring its first foldable smartphone and the iPhone 18 lineup, according to Bloomberg. Additional announcements could cover a new Mac Mini, Apple Watch updates, AirPods 5, and the iOS 27 release date.
Meanwhile, questions linger over whether the new iPhones will support Siri AI, the company’s long-delayed assistant overhaul unveiled at June’s Worldwide Developers Conference. Investor reaction proved tepid. Apple stock dropped more than 3% that day, marking its worst performance since February, CNBC reported.
Apple did not respond to requests for comment.
