- January 5: Monica Lozano joins the Apple Board of Directors.
- January 25: Apple announces that senior VP of hardware engineering Dan Riccio will transition to a new undisclosed project, and will be succeeded by John Ternus.
- January 26: iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 are released.
- January 27: Apple declares Data Privacy Day.
- February 1: macOS 11.2 is released.
- February 9: macOS 11.2.1 is released.
- February 25: macOS 11.2.2 is released. Target announces that it is opening Apple store-within-a-store experiences at 17 of their locations, with more opening in the fall.
- March 1: All Apple retail stores in the United States have re-opened as COVID-19 pandemic conditions improve.
- March 8: macOS 11.2.3 is released, along with iOS 14.4.1 and iPadOS 14.4.1.
- March 13: Apple discontinues production of the original HomePod and sales are limited to remaining inventory.
- April 1: The Pippin Classic is "announced".
- April 2: Apple Arcade is drastically expanded to over 180 games, including Monument Valley+, NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition, The Oregon Trail, and Threes!+.
- April 3: All Apple retail stores in France have re-closed as COVID-19 lockdowns are reinstated due resurgences of cases.
- April 20: During Apple's first online event of the year, AirTags, an updated Apple TV 4K, new Apple M1-based iMacs, and new M1-based iPad Pros were announced.
- April 23: Pre-orders begin for AirTags.
- April 26: macOS 11.3 is released, along with iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, tvOS 14.5, and watchOS 7.4. Developers are required to begin providing app tracking transparency information as part of Apple's new privacy initiative.
- April 30: Pre-orders begin for the 2nd-generation Apple TV 4K, 5th-generation iPad Pro, and Apple M1-based iMacs. AirTags are scheduled to begin shipping.
- May 3: macOS 11.3.1 is released.
- May 21: The 2nd-generation Apple TV 4K, 5th-generation iPad Pro, and Apple M1-based iMacs are projected to begin shipping.
- May 24: macOS 11.4 is released, along with iOS 14.6 and iPadOS 14.6.
- June 7-11: The 2021 Worldwide Developers Conference is held in an online-only format. New announcements included iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS 12 "Monterey", tvOS 15, and watchOS 8.
- June 11: Legends of Kingdom Rush is released through Apple Arcade.
- July 19: iOS 14.7 is released.
- July 21: macOS 11.5 is released, along with iPadOS 14.7.
- July 26: macOS 11.5.1 is released, along with iOS 14.7.1 and iPadOS 14.7.1.
- August 11: macOS 11.5.2 is released.
- August 13: CODA is released theatrically and through Apple TV+.
- September 13: macOS 11.6 is released, along with iOS 14.8 and iPadOS 14.8.
- September 14: Apple held an online event, titled "California streaming." The 9th-generation iPad, 6th-generation iPad mini, iPhone 13 series with Apple A15 chip, and Apple Watch Series 7 were announced.
- September 24: The 9th-generation iPad, 6th-generation iPad mini, and iPhone 13 series are released. LEGO Star Wars Battles is released through Apple Arcade. Foundation debuts on Apple TV+.
- October 15: The Apple Watch Series 7 is released.
- October 18: Apple streams an online event, titled "Unleashed." New announcements included an Apple Music Voice Plan, additional HomePod mini colors, 3rd-generation AirPods with spatial audio support, and new MacBook Pro models with MagSafe 3 and choice of Apple M1 Pro or M1 Max chips. The Polishing Cloth for the Pro Display XDR is released as a separate product for other supported devices.
- October 19: NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition is released through Apple Arcade.
- October 25: macOS Monterey is publicly released with version 12.0.1, along with updates to iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, tvOS 15.1, and macOS 11.6.1.
- October 26: The 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros and 3rd-generation AirPods are released.
- November 1: New HomePod mini colors were released in blue, orange, and yellow. The 4th-generation iPad is declared obsolete and no longer eligible for service from Apple, whether paid or through AppleCare.
- November 9: Alex Gorsky is elected to the Apple Board of Directors.
- November 10: Apple Business Essentials is soft launched for beta testers.
- November 12: Galaga Wars+ and Kingdom Rush Frontiers TD+ are released through Apple Arcade.
- November 16: Refurbishment of Battersea Power Station in London, originally scheduled to be completed by the end of the year to become Apple's new UK headquarters, is delayed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- November 19: LEGO Star Wars: Castaways is released through Apple Arcade.
- December 3: Dandara: Trials of Fear+ and Oddmar+ are released through Apple Arcade.
- December 10: Splitter Critters+ is released through Apple Arcade.
- December 13: macOS 11.6.2 and 12.1 are released. tvOS 15.2 and watchOS 8.3 are also released.
- December 16: Apple Inc. postpones return to work plans due to the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.
- December 17: Disney Melee Mania is released as an exclusive through Apple Arcade.
See also
External links
- Newsroom Archive - 2021 at Apple
