John Ternus on Time magazine cover
John Ternus appears on the cover of the 2026 issue of Time magazine, which is dedicated to the best inventions of the year, holding an iPhone Duo. The cover highlights Ternus as a key figure in Apple's recent innovations.Article covers diverse topics
The magazine’s accompanying article spans a wide range of topics, from artificial intelligence to the foldable iPhone, and includes insights into the new CEO of Apple himself. It reflects on the technological and leadership changes within the company.Ternus differs from Tim Cook
The article recalls that John Ternus has a very different profile from that of Tim Cook, whom he succeeded in September. An engineer by training, Ternus has always been deeply involved in product design.Ternus described as a unifier
His colleagues describe him as pragmatic, meticulous, and a unifier. A journalist who met him also portrays him as a discreet individual who dresses without seeking attention and often praises Apple's internal culture.Ternus’s early connection to Apple
The article reveals how Ternus’s passion for Apple began. He was eight years old when his father bought an Apple II. “I started playing on it and fell in love with Apple,” he says.Ternus’s academic background
A decade later, he took the family's Macintosh SE to the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied mechanical engineering. This early experience with Apple’s products shaped his career path.Ternus on artificial intelligence
Despite the rise of artificial intelligence, Ternus does not seem worried about its impact on the electronics market. He emphasized the importance of hardware in a recent interview at an Apple Store in New York.Ternus and the iPhone Duo
The article suggests that Ternus was somehow the originator of the iPhone Duo. In 2011, he filed a patent application with five other engineers regarding foldable electronic devices.Ternus’s approach to innovation
As the former head of hardware engineering, Ternus is depicted as a leader who trusts his teams and is not easily influenced by competition. He encouraged engineers to explore new solutions even when they were uncertain.Ternus’s team collaboration
During the design of the iPhone Duo, engineer Rich Dinh recalls Ternus’s response to a question about adopting a screen protection material similar to that of competing foldable smartphones. Ternus’s support led to the development of a new technical feature.Ternus on Tim Cook’s role
Ternus also mentions the ongoing role of Tim Cook, who continues to represent Apple on the international stage as the executive chairman. He notes that Cook maintains excellent relationships and is happy to help whenever possible.Ternus and Cook’s balance
The two men seem to have found their balance at the helm of Apple, with Ternus focusing on product innovation and Cook handling external affairs.
