Apple, innovation in decline?

According to the patent service IFI Claims, patent activity in the United States declined in 2025. Apple was granted 2,772 patents in 2025, compared to 3,082 the previous year, a 12% decrease that dropped the company two places to sixth in the annual ranking of patent grants to US companies. This is a notable change for Apple, reflecting a broader contraction in US patent activity. Overall, the number of patents granted in the US decreased by 0.24% compared to 2024, while applications fell by 9%. For these companies, this is the largest decline since 2019, following a record high in 2024. The slowdown was observed across all major technology sectors, particularly in key categories such as digital data management and data transmission. United States: Samsung still leads in patents. Samsung retains its top spot for the fourth consecutive year with 7,054 patents granted, representing 2% of all patents granted in the United States in 2025. Taiwanese chip supplier TSMC is second with 4,194 patents granted, followed by Qualcomm with 3,749.