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Tesla vs Apple: 2026 Financial & Business Comparison

Tesla is an automotive and energy company generating $81.5B in annual revenue primarily from electric vehicles, while Apple is a consumer technology company with $383B in annual revenue from iPhones, services, and computing devices. They operate in fundamentally different industries with distinct business models and customer bases.

Tesla Inc.

Tesla Inc.

Electric vehicle manufacturer and renewable energy company founded in 2003.

Investors seeking exposure to EV growth and energy transition; environmentally-conscious consumers; tech-forward buyers valuing autonomous features

Score63%
VS
Apple Inc.

Apple Inc.

Consumer technology company creating iPhones, Macs, wearables, and digital services since 1976.

Premium consumer segment valuing brand, design, and ecosystem; enterprise users needing security and device management; creative professionals using Mac/iPad

Score63%

Quick Answer

AI Summary

Tesla is an automotive and energy company generating $81.5B in annual revenue primarily from electric vehicles, while Apple is a consumer technology company with $383B in annual revenue from iPhones, services, and computing devices. They operate in fundamentally different industries with distinct business models and customer bases.

Our Verdict

AI-assisted

Tesla and Apple cannot be directly compared as competitors—they serve entirely different markets and purposes. Choose Tesla if you're interested in sustainable transportation and energy solutions with growth potential in emerging EV markets. Choose Apple if you're evaluating a diversified consumer technology and services giant with premium pricing, ecosystem lock-in, and dominant market positions in smartphones and wearables. From an investment standpoint, Apple offers more stable cash flows and profitability, while Tesla offers higher growth potential but greater volatility.

Community feedback

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Tesla Inc.
6/10
Apple Inc.
9/10
Tesla Inc.

Choose Tesla Inc. if

Investors seeking exposure to EV growth and energy transition; environmentally-conscious consumers; tech-forward buyers valuing autonomous features

Apple Inc.

Choose Apple Inc. if

Best pick

Premium consumer segment valuing brand, design, and ecosystem; enterprise users needing security and device management; creative professionals using Mac/iPad

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Key Differences at a Glance

  • Primary Business Focus:Electric vehicles & energy storage vs Consumer electronics & software services
  • Annual Revenue (2024):Apple Inc. wins($383 billion vs $81.5 billion)
  • Market Capitalization (2026):Apple Inc. wins($3.4 trillion vs $1.2 trillion)
See all 7 differences

Key Facts & Figures

102 numeric metrics compared

MetricTesla Inc.Apple Inc.Ratio
Q4 Gross Margin(%)20.1%
Software Revenue Growth YoY(%)FSD +38% (1.1M subscribers)
Energy/Ancillary Revenue($B)$3.837B (+25% YoY)
2026 Delivery Target(vehicles)350k+ (facing 63% miss probability Q1)
R1S/Model Y Starting Price($)Model Y from ~$45k
R1S Electric Range(miles)Model Y: 300+ miles
Vehicle Seating Capacity(seats)Model Y: 5 seats
R1S 0-60 Acceleration (Quad Launch)(seconds)Model Y Performance: 3.5s
Annual Revenue(USD billions)$81.5B$391.4B
Market Capitalization(USD trillions)$1.3T$3.4T
Gross Profit Margin(percentage)29.5%46.2%
Net Income(billions USD)$13.3B$93.7B
Global Employees(thousands)128K161K
R&D Spending as % of Revenue(%)2.1%7.8%
Vehicle/Device Annual Units Sold(millions)1.81M vehicles231M devices
Operating Margin(percentage)10.8%30.7%
Global Revenue (2023)(USD Billion)$81.5B
Annual Vehicle Production(units)1.81M units
Operating Profit Margin(%)15%30.2%
J.D. Power Reliability Ranking(Rank (out of 32))28th place
EV Market Share (2024)(Percent (%))19.5%
Vehicle Model Count(models)5 models
Global Supercharger/Service Network(Approximate stations)60,000 Superchargers
Model S Plaid 0-60 mph(Seconds)1.99 seconds
Most Affordable Base Model Price(USD)$38,990
Average EV Range (EPA Estimate)(miles)358 miles (Model 3)
Supercharger/Fast Charge Network Size(locations)50,000+
0-60 Acceleration (Performance Trim)(seconds)2.3 seconds
EPA Range (Mid-Tier Sedan)(miles)348 miles
Charging Network Size(stations)65,000+
Starting Price (Sedan)(USD)$43,990
Service Dealership Count (Global)(locations)~2,000
0-60 mph Acceleration (Base Model)(seconds)5.8 seconds (Model 3 RWD)
Starting Price (Base Model)(USD)$43,990
EPA Combined Range (Base EV)(miles)272 miles (Model 3 RWD)
DC Fast Charging Speed (Peak)(kilowatts)250 kW (V3 Supercharger)
Global Supercharger/Charging Network(locations)50,000+
Years in Business(years)16 years (founded 2010)
Average Real-World EV Efficiency(mi/kWh)4.1 mi/kWh
Annual Global Vehicle Sales(Million vehicles)1.81 million (2023)
Electric Vehicle Market Share(Percent of global EVs)60%
Entry-Level EV Starting Price(USD)$43,990 (Model 3)
Customer Satisfaction Score(/100)809 (2024)89/100
0-60 MPH Acceleration (Performance Model)(Seconds)1.99 seconds (Model S Plaid)
Average Vehicle Lifespan(Miles)150,000+ miles
Manufacturing Footprint(Number of plants)5 gigafactories
0-60 Acceleration (Fastest Entry Model)(seconds)3.1 sec (Model 3 RWD)
Electric Charging Network Size(stations)50,000+
Global EV Market Share(%)19.6% (2025)
Interior Material Quality Rating(points (0-10))7.2/10
Production Model Lineup(models)4 (S, 3, X, Y)
Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power 2025)(points (0-100))73/100
EPA Range (Standard EV Model)(miles)272 (Model 3 RWD)
Total EV Sales (2024)(million units)1.81 million
Average Vehicle Price(USD)$58,490
Battery Production Capacity(GWh/year)365 GWh
Net Profit Margin(%)10.1%
R&D Spending (2024)(billion USD)$3.2 billion
Countries with Operations(count)70+ countries
0-60 Acceleration (Fastest Model)(seconds)1.99 seconds (Model S Plaid)
2024 Global Vehicle Sales(units)1.81 million
Starting Price(USD)$43,990
Supercharger/Adventure Network Locations(stations)50,000+
2024 Net Income(USD millions)$2,780 million
Available Vehicle Models(models)7 models
Battery Warranty Duration(years)8 years / 120,000 miles
R1T/Model 3 0-60 Acceleration(seconds)5.1 sec (Model 3 RWD)
Market Capitalization (Jan 2026)(USD billions)$780 billion$3.5T
Annual Revenue (FY2024)(USD billions)$81.5B$391.0B
Services Revenue Contribution(percentage of total)19%22%
EV Market Share / Product Category Dominance(percentage)20.1% (global EV)56% (smartphone OS)
10-Year Stock Appreciation(percentage)740%1200%
Q4 2025 Net Income(USD Billions)$42 billion$42 billion
Enterprise Product Innovation Rating(Stars out of 5)4.1★4.1★
Enterprise Product Innovation Review Count(Reviews)20,232 reviews20,232 reviews
Application Development Platform Rating(Stars out of 5)4.7★4.7★
Application Development Review Count(Reviews)186 reviews186 reviews
2026 New Product Launches(Count)15+ devices15+ devices
Customer Satisfaction Rating(percent)4.4 stars4.4 stars
Review Sample Size(reviews)275 reviews275 reviews
Typical Flagship Phone Price(USD)$999+$999+
Latest Quarterly Revenue(USD Billion)$143.76 billion$143.76 billion
AI Infrastructure Capex Investment(USD Billion)$2.37 billion$2.37 billion
iPhone Revenue (Latest)(USD Billion)$85.27 billion (+23.3% YoY)$85.27 billion (+23.3% YoY)
10-Year Stock Return(Percent)920%920%
5G Patents Portfolio(count)3,000+3,000+
Average Flagship Smartphone Price(USD)$799$799
Annual R&D Investment(billion USD)$29.9B$29.9B
OS Update Support Duration(years)7+7+
Countries with Market Presence(count)150+150+
Ecosystem App Availability (Android/iOS equivalent)(apps)1.96M apps (App Store)1.96M apps (App Store)
Annual Revenue (FY 2024)(USD billions)$391.4B$391.4B
Gaming Console Market Share(percent)27% (Apple Arcade subscribers: 25M)27% (Apple Arcade subscribers: 25M)
Services Revenue Annual(USD billions)$84.3B (22% of total)$84.3B (22% of total)
Customer Ecosystem Integration(scale 1-10)9.5/10 (fully vertical)9.5/10 (fully vertical)
Professional Imaging Market Share(percent)8% (emerging with Vision Pro)8% (emerging with Vision Pro)
Operating Profit Margin (FY 2024)(percent)30.1%30.1%
Global Smartphone Market Share(%)23%23%
Software Support Duration(years)7 years7 years
iPhone 16 Pro / Galaxy S25 Ultra Display(Hz refresh rate)120Hz Super Retina XDR120Hz Super Retina XDR
Premium Flagship Price(USD)$999$999
Product Categories Offered(categories)7 major categories7 major categories

Sourced from publicly available data ·

Key Differences

7 attributes compared head-to-head

Tesla Inc.
0Tesla Inc.
Apple Inc. leads2 ties
Apple Inc.
5Apple Inc.
  • Primary Business Focus

    Tesla Inc.

    Electric vehicles & energy storage

    Apple Inc.

    Consumer electronics & software services

  • Annual Revenue (2024)

    Tesla Inc.

    $81.5 billion

    Apple Inc.

    $383 billion(winner)

  • Market Capitalization (2026)

    Tesla Inc.

    $1.2 trillion

    Apple Inc.

    $3.4 trillion(winner)

  • Gross Profit Margin

    Tesla Inc.

    25.2%

    Apple Inc.

    46.3%(winner)

  • Global Employees

    Tesla Inc.

    128,000

    Apple Inc.

    161,000(winner)

  • R&D Spending as % of Revenue

    Tesla Inc.

    2.1%

    Apple Inc.

    7.8%(winner)

  • Product Lifespan Innovation

    Tesla Inc.

    Vehicle platform life: 5-8 years

    Apple Inc.

    Device refresh cycle: 12-24 months

Full Comparison

Tesla Inc.
Apple Inc.
Q4 Gross Margin(%)
20.1%
Energy/Ancillary Revenue($B)
$3.837B (+25% YoY)
Annual Revenue(USD billions)
$81.5B
$391.4B
Market Capitalization(USD trillions)
$1.3T
$3.4T
Gross Profit Margin(percentage)
29.5%
46.2%
Show 9 more attributes
Net Income(billions USD)
$13.3B
$93.7B
Operating Margin(percentage)
10.8%
30.7%
Global Revenue (2023)(USD Billion)
$81.5B
Operating Profit Margin(%)
15%
30.2%
Annual Revenue (FY2024)(USD billions)
$81.5B
$391.0B
Q4 2025 Net Income(USD Billions)
$42 billion
3-Year Revenue Growth Rate(Percent)
Not specified
Latest Quarterly Revenue(USD Billion)
$143.76 billion
Operating Profit Margin (FY 2024)(percent)
30.1%
Software Revenue Growth YoY(%)
FSD +38% (1.1M subscribers)
2026 Delivery Target(vehicles)
350k+ (facing 63% miss probability Q1)
R1S/Model Y Starting Price($)
Model Y from ~$45k
Most Affordable Base Model Price(USD)
$38,990
Starting Price (Base Model)(USD)
$43,990
Entry-Level EV Starting Price(USD)
$43,990 (Model 3)
Average Vehicle Price(USD)
$58,490
Show 2 more attributes
Average Flagship Smartphone Price(USD)
$799
Premium Flagship Price(USD)
$999
R1S Electric Range(miles)
Model Y: 300+ miles
R1S 0-60 Acceleration (Quad Launch)(seconds)
Model Y Performance: 3.5s
Model S Plaid 0-60 mph(Seconds)
1.99 seconds
Average EV Range (EPA Estimate)(miles)
358 miles (Model 3)
0-60 Acceleration (Performance Trim)(seconds)
2.3 seconds
Show 6 more attributes
0-60 mph Acceleration (Base Model)(seconds)
5.8 seconds (Model 3 RWD)
0-60 MPH Acceleration (Performance Model)(Seconds)
1.99 seconds (Model S Plaid)
0-60 Acceleration (Fastest Entry Model)(seconds)
3.1 sec (Model 3 RWD)
EPA Range (Standard EV Model)(miles)
272 (Model 3 RWD)
0-60 Acceleration (Fastest Model)(seconds)
1.99 seconds (Model S Plaid)
R1T/Model 3 0-60 Acceleration(seconds)
5.1 sec (Model 3 RWD)
Vehicle Seating Capacity(seats)
Model Y: 5 seats
Global Employees(thousands)
128K
161K
Vehicle/Device Annual Units Sold(millions)
1.81M vehicles
231M devices
Manufacturing Footprint(Number of plants)
5 gigafactories
R&D Spending as % of Revenue(%)
2.1%
7.8%
Net Profit Margin(%)
10.1%
Annual Vehicle Production(units)
1.81M units
J.D. Power Reliability Ranking(Rank (out of 32))
28th place
EV Market Share (2024)(Percent (%))
19.5%
Electric Vehicle Market Share(Percent of global EVs)
60%
Global EV Market Share(%)
19.6% (2025)
EV Market Share / Product Category Dominance(percentage)
20.1% (global EV)
56% (smartphone OS)
Gaming Console Market Share(percent)
27% (Apple Arcade subscribers: 25M)
Show 2 more attributes
Professional Imaging Market Share(percent)
8% (emerging with Vision Pro)
Global Smartphone Market Share(%)
23%
Vehicle Model Count(models)
5 models
Global Supercharger/Service Network(Approximate stations)
60,000 Superchargers
Supercharger/Fast Charge Network Size(locations)
50,000+
Charging Network Size(stations)
65,000+
Global Supercharger/Charging Network(locations)
50,000+
Electric Charging Network Size(stations)
50,000+
EPA Range (Mid-Tier Sedan)(miles)
348 miles
Starting Price (Sedan)(USD)
$43,990
Interior Primary Material
Synthetic, minimalist
Interior Material Quality Rating(points (0-10))
7.2/10
Autonomous Driving Level(SAE Level)
Level 2-3 (FSD Beta)
Autonomous Driving Capability(SAE Level)
Level 2 (FSD Beta)
Powertrain Options(types)
Electric only
Service Dealership Count (Global)(locations)
~2,000
EPA Combined Range (Base EV)(miles)
272 miles (Model 3 RWD)
Average Real-World EV Efficiency(mi/kWh)
4.1 mi/kWh
DC Fast Charging Speed (Peak)(kilowatts)
250 kW (V3 Supercharger)
Supercharger/Adventure Network Locations(stations)
50,000+
Years in Business(years)
16 years (founded 2010)
Annual Global Vehicle Sales(Million vehicles)
1.81 million (2023)
2024 Global Vehicle Sales(units)
1.81 million
Customer Satisfaction Score(/100)
809 (2024)
89/100
Customer Satisfaction (J.D. Power 2025)(points (0-100))
73/100
Customer Satisfaction Rating(percent)
4.4 stars
Review Sample Size(reviews)
275 reviews
Average Vehicle Lifespan(Miles)
150,000+ miles
Production Model Lineup(models)
4 (S, 3, X, Y)
Total EV Sales (2024)(million units)
1.81 million
Battery Production Capacity(GWh/year)
365 GWh
R&D Spending (2024)(billion USD)
$3.2 billion
AI Development Direction (2026)
Privacy-preserving on-device AI processing
Annual R&D Investment(billion USD)
$29.9B
Countries with Operations(count)
70+ countries
Starting Price(USD)
$43,990
2024 Net Income(USD millions)
$2,780 million
Available Vehicle Models(models)
7 models
Battery Warranty Duration(years)
8 years / 120,000 miles
Market Capitalization (Jan 2026)(USD billions)
$780 billion
$3.5T
Services Revenue Contribution(percentage of total)
19%
22%
10-Year Stock Appreciation(percentage)
740%
1200%
10-Year Stock Return(Percent)
920%
Enterprise Product Innovation Rating(Stars out of 5)
4.1★
Enterprise Product Innovation Review Count(Reviews)
20,232 reviews
Enterprise Integration Capabilities Rating(Stars out of 5)
Below 5.0★
Application Development Platform Rating(Stars out of 5)
4.7★
Application Development Review Count(Reviews)
186 reviews
2026 New Product Launches(Count)
15+ devices
Customer Ecosystem Integration(scale 1-10)
9.5/10 (fully vertical)
Maps Service Market Position
Emerging competitor with new features (multi-stop, cycling nav)
Cross-Device Compatibility
Limited to Apple ecosystem
RCS Encryption with Competitor (2026)
End-to-end encryption enabled (iOS 26.5+)
Data Privacy Approach
Minimal collection; on-device processing prioritized
Typical Flagship Phone Price(USD)
$999+
AI Infrastructure Capex Investment(USD Billion)
$2.37 billion
Cloud Platform Growth Rate(Percent Year-over-Year)
Services-focused (not specified)
Commercial Remaining Performance Obligations(USD Billion)
Not disclosed as separate metric
iPhone Revenue (Latest)(USD Billion)
$85.27 billion (+23.3% YoY)
Trailing 12-Month Revenue Growth (3-Year Period)(Percent)
Not specified
5G Patents Portfolio(count)
3,000+
OS Update Support Duration(years)
7+
Countries with Market Presence(count)
150+
Ecosystem App Availability (Android/iOS equivalent)(apps)
1.96M apps (App Store)
Annual Revenue (FY 2024)(USD billions)
$391.4B
Services Revenue Annual(USD billions)
$84.3B (22% of total)
Software Support Duration(years)
7 years
iPhone 16 Pro / Galaxy S25 Ultra Display(Hz refresh rate)
120Hz Super Retina XDR
Product Categories Offered(categories)
7 major categories

Pros & Cons

10 pros·6 cons across both

Tesla Inc.
Apple Inc.
Tesla Inc.

Tesla Inc.

+5-3

Pros

  • Market leader in EV sales with 1.81 million vehicles delivered in 2024 (20.8% global EV market share)
  • Vertically integrated manufacturing with in-house battery production reducing supply chain risk
  • Strong gross margin of 25.2% despite competitive pricing and industry price wars
  • Expanding energy storage business with 14.7 GWh deployed in 2024, growing 52% YoY
  • Autonomous driving technology (FSD) creating potential recurring revenue stream

Cons

  • Heavy dependence on China (25% of revenue) amid geopolitical tensions and tariff risks
  • Increasing competition from traditional automakers and Chinese EV makers eroding market dominance
  • Regulatory scrutiny over safety claims regarding Full Self-Driving and autonomous capabilities
Apple Inc.

Apple Inc.

+5-3

Pros

  • Ecosystem integration across 2 billion active devices creating unmatched customer lock-in and switching costs
  • Services segment generating $85.2B annually (22% of revenue) with 72% gross margins
  • iPhone dominates premium smartphone market with 52% market share in $400+ segment
  • Manufacturing partnerships with TSMC ensuring access to cutting-edge chip technology
  • Brand loyalty resulting in 92% customer satisfaction (highest in industry) and repeat purchase rate of 89%

Cons

  • Limited innovation in core iPhone category with incremental annual upgrades reducing upgrade cycles
  • Premium pricing (iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199) increasingly questioned as competitors offer similar specs at 40-50% lower cost
  • Heavy dependence on iPhone (52% of revenue) and China manufacturing (20% of revenue) creating concentration risk

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

  1. No—Tesla and Apple operate in fundamentally different industries. Tesla is primarily an automotive and energy company, while Apple is a consumer electronics and services company. They compete indirectly only in emerging areas like in-vehicle computing and AI/machine learning development. A direct comparison is more useful for investment purposes rather than product evaluation.

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