iPhone developer Apple Inc (AAPL) has had an up-and-down 2025, highlighted by an overall 12% gain YTD. Amid worries over an AI bubble, the tech industry continues to thrive heading into 2026, and will likely due so as long as that bubble doesn’t pop. While next year is just around the corner, it remains unpredictable for stocks. For experts looking for a surefire pick amongst tech and AI stocks next year, could Apple stock prove a top contender?
Apple Inc. has shown strong performance recently, with a 40% gain over the past six months. That climb has even outperformed the Dow Jones index as well as other magnificent-7 tech stock rivals. However, compared to market share leaders Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD, AAPL has been an underperforming AI tech stock and AI stock specifically, with many seeing its efforts sitting behind the pack. Since the emergence of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022, Apple has lagged in artificial intelligence, even losing top AI scientists.
On the other hand, Apple may surprise with its long-awaited AI announcements, with the long-awaited upgrade of the Siri voice assistant in 2026 and integration of artificial intelligence into the next major iOS upgrade. In one move, Apple is targeting a health-focused AI agent, several analysts say. Tech stock expert Dan Ives particularly sees this as a great opportunity for Apple to catch up to its rivals. “We believe Apple will partner with Google Gemini and make that the exclusive AI layer that fuels the Apple ecosystem looking forward,” he said in an investor note, also praising Alphabet (GOOGL). “With the DoJ win, this is now the route for Cupertino and Google.”
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With Apple (AAPL) passing the $4 trillion market cap mark again, experts believe Apple shares are getting an upside correction. Tech investors are seeking to steer clear of those much-heavier AI spenders in 2025, like Amazon and Meta, amid growing concern that AI investments won’t yield a profit soon enough. Companies like Apple and Alphabet (GOOGL), however, continue to thrive and show their AI investments have paid off, with Gemini performing well and Apple sales exploding this past Fall.
AAPL is trading near the top of its 52-week range and above its 200-day simple moving average. Per analysts surveyed by CNN, 2026 is a mixed bag for the stock, with investors split on buying into AAPL or holding off on new investments. The platform set a 12-month median price forecast of $268, which is a 4% decline from current prices. On the bullish side, AAPL could climb to a new ATH of $345.00.