Apple's Patent Grants Declined in 2025 as Innovation Slows

Apple's Patent Grants Declined in 2025 as Innovation Slows

Apple’s Patent Output Slips for the First Time in Years Apple’s pace of invention appears to be slowing. According to newly released data from IFI CLAIMS Patent Services, the tech giant received just 2,722 U.S. patents in 2025—down 12% from 3,082 in 2024. This drop pushed Apple from fourth to sixth place among the top recipients of U.S. patent grants, marking its most significant decline in recent memory. For a company long celebrated for its relentless innovation, the numbers raise questions about whether Apple is hitting a creative plateau—even as it pours billions into artificial intelligence, custom silicon, and next-gen software. Credit: Google What the Numbers Really Mean A 12% year-over-year drop might sound modest, but in the high-stakes world of tech R&D, it’s a red flag. Patents are more than legal documents—they’re leading indicators of future products, features, and strategic direction. Fewer grants can signal either a slowdown in R&D output or a shift toward fewer—but…