Here's how Apple is celebrating its 50th birthday

Apple distributed free special edition gifts, set up vintage device installations, and invited Sir Paul McCartney for its 50th birthday.

It's not every day your company turns 50 years old. Apple Inc. just became one of the names to hit that milestone, a year after its long-time rival (and savior) Microsoft celebrated its 50th anniversary. Many of us are interested in knowing how the Cupertino giant is celebrating such an occasion.

From posting on social media to hosting performances for a live audience, Apple is doing it all. So, here's a non-exhaustive list of what Apple is doing on its 50th birthday:

The Message

Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the "#Apple50" celebrations on March 12 by penning a letter, "50 Years of Thinking Different," which was published on the company's website. Cook thanked Apple's teams operating worldwide, its developer community, and millions of customers who collectively turned Apple into a wealthy giant. Cook emphasized how the idea of having technology for personal use was "radical at the time" when Apple spun out of a small garage.

As April 1 broke into the dark hours of the night, Cook also shared a retro-style video on his X account, featuring Apple devices from different years.

Installations of classic Apple devices

The company put up installations of old iMacs on display at Apple Park, featuring different generations released over the years, including the candy-colored iMac G3 from 1998. Another installation shows different iPhone models, starting with the original iPhone from 2007 and all the way to the modern iPhone 17 Pro.

Special goodies for Apple employees

What's an anniversary without special edition collectibles? Apple distributed a "50 Years of Apple" T-shirt, a limited-edition poster, and an enamel pin. The poster and the t-shirt feature the same sketch-animated graphics we have seen in Apple's other marketing material.

New animation on Apple.com

Apple updated the homepage of its website to display new animations. It starts with a solid-colored rainbow that rises to reveal a sketch animation of various Apple products. Along with it is the following text:

At 50 years, it’s only natural to look back. But Apple has always looked forward, building tools and delivering experiences that enrich people’s lives. As we celebrate how far we’ve come, we’re inspired by where we’ll go — together.

Paul McCartney at work

Beatles-fame music legend Sir Paul McCartney was invited to perform exclusively at Apple Park as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations on Tuesday evening. "A songwriter, a pioneer, and one of the most influential artists of all time. I have been a lifelong fan of his music, and so have billions of people all over the planet," Tim Cook said before the start of his set.

Live performances worldwide

Last month, Apple picked different Apple Store locations to host live music performances and fashion shows. Alicia Keys performed at Apple Grand Central in New York City; meanwhile, Nia Archives and Mumford & Sons captured the stage at Apple Battersea in London. Designer Feng Chen Wang presented a special show at Apple Jing’an.

NASDAQ opening bell

Many people from Apple's senior leadership assembled at Apple Park to ring NASDAQ's opening bell in celebration of their 50th anniversary. Apple went public on December 12, 1980, and its stock trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "AAPL."

No surprises yet

Apple has already had a big launch month in March. The company hasn't made any surprise hardware announcements yet on April 1. The only thing we can settle for is that AirPods Max 2 have started shipping today and are available in retail stores. That said, there are still some hours left before calling it a day, and all we can do is wait to see what else Apple has in store for its 50th birthday.

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Posted Thursday 2 April 2026 at 12:14 pm AEST (my time).

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