Apple’s Third 2024 Layoff: Another 100 jobs slashed ahead of iPhone 16

Apple has recently laid off around 100 employees, primarily from its digital services group. The cuts have affected teams working on the Apple Books app, the Apple Bookstore, and Apple News, with several engineering roles being eliminated. This move marks a significant shift in the company’s focus as it gears up for the upcoming iPhone 16 launch, scheduled to launch on September 9th.
The layoffs have had the most significant impact on the Apple Books team, with Apple deciding to scale back its resources for this service, Bloomberg reported. Despite this, Apple Books is still expected to receive updates, although it is no longer seen as a priority for the tech giant. The Apple News team has also faced cuts, but insiders suggest that Apple News will continue to be a key area of focus.
Apple’s Layoff Trend in 2024
These recent layoffs are part of a broader trend within Apple this year. The company, which typically avoids job cuts, has already conducted several rounds of layoffs in 2024. The first two rounds involved:
1. The Special Projects Group: Apple laid off over 600 employees following the closure of its self-driving car project and microLED display initiative.
2. San Diego AI Team: A separate layoff affected a 121-person team in San Diego working on AI-related developments.
This recent round, affecting around 100 employees in the services group, marks the third layoff for Apple this year.

This marks the third known layoff at Apple this year, following the major cuts after the self driving car and microLED projects were shut down in February.
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) August 28, 2024
Shifting Focus Towards AI
The job cuts come as Apple reallocates resources towards new initiatives, including artificial intelligence programs, the report added. While Apple Books has seen a reduction in priority, other areas within the company are gaining more attention. Despite the layoffs, Apple’s overall workforce remains large, with approximately 161,000 full-time employees reported in its latest filing. While job cuts at Apple are rare, the company’s approach remains more conservative compared to other tech giants that have seen more substantial workforce reductions this year. Apple has yet to issue an official statement on the latest round of layoffs, but the move underscores the company’s evolving priorities as it looks ahead to future product launches.