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    Tim Cook admits his biggest mistake and proudest moment as Apple CEO

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    Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO of Apple in September, which has sparked a lot of discussion about his legacy. At a recent town hall meeting with employees, he admitted some of his mistakes and shared what he considers his proudest moment of his tenure.

    Apple Maps is Tim Cook’s biggest mistake

    Speaking to employees, Tim Cook said that his “first really big mistake” as CEO of Apple was the launch of Apple Maps on the iPhone in 2012. When the app launched, it didn’t just lag behind Google Maps, but it gave users wrong directions and had mislabeled landmarks.Cook is apparently first to admit the mistake, saying the app wasn’t ready to launch, according to a Bloomberg report. He said that the company thought Apple Maps was ready because they tested it more locally.

    Still, Cook’s evaluation of the debacle is that it was a valuable experience, allowing the company to now have “the best map app on the planet.”

    We apologized for it, and we said, ‘Go use these other apps. They’re better than ours.’ And that was some humble pie. But it was the right thing for our users. And so it’s an example of keeping the user at the center of the decisions that we made.

    Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, April 2026

    Apple Watch is the highlight

    On the flip side of that are the Apple Watch and its health features, which Cook says are the highlight among the many moments he’s proud of. Recalling the first time when a user sent him a note that their life was saved by the device, the outgoing CEO said it hit him hard. “It caused me to just stop in my steps,” he said.

    The first Apple Watch was mostly marketed as a fashion product with relatively basic health functionality. Since its launch in 2014, Apple has shifted its focus with the device to make it probably the most popular health-oriented accessory on the market.

    Change in command

    Tim Cook will step down as CEO of Apple on September 1 after assuming the position in August 2011. His successor is the current chief of hardware engineering, John Ternus.During the town hall meeting, Ternus said that the company has a product roadmap that will “change the world” again. The iPhone 18 Pro and Apple’s first foldable iPhone are expected to launch in September.

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    Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.

    Read the latest from Ilia Temelkov

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