[troad]

Population, rather obviously, is not a meaningful metric for quantifying consumer spending on luxury electronics and digital services.

According to Apple, the EU only accounts for 7% of their App Store revenue.[0] It's not nothing, but it's a much less important market for Apple than some may think.

[0] https://9to5mac.com/2024/02/01/apple-says-the-eu-accounts-fo...

[beardyw]

Now I would say that's an opportunity for growth, but who am I.

[troad]

Europe already has all the middle- and upper-class people it will ever have, they've all heard of Apple, and they mostly don't use their products. Europe's share of the world economy is in decline. The regulatory environment is obviously perceived as extremely hostile from Apple's perspective, and rapidly deteriorating. I'm not sure where you're seeing these opportunities for growth, but I doubt Apple agrees.

Asia is wealthier than Europe and rapidly expanding. Tens of millions of people join the Asian middle class each year - upwardly-mobile, aspirational, and ready to be wooed over to their first Apple product. A much more rational direction for growth, by any measure. Europe's 7% contribution wouldn't take long to replace if they pushed aggressively into booming Asian economies.

I'm not saying Apple should abandon Europe - I don't think they will, unless pushed out by some new law they simply can't comply with - but I doubt Europe is seen as a growth region for Apple (or other tech firms). I don't expect devices or services currently available in Europe to be withdrawn, but I do expect the region to be increasingly left out of the roll-out of future devices and services.

[beardyw]

> and they mostly don't use their products

In my experience it's largely old people who do.