Apple has always been a trend-follower, not a trend-maker. They see how the market is moving, then buy one-generation-older tech, buy so much of it that the market gets strangled "naturally" to discourage competition, and then market the hell out of it.

And they make good money doing so. Everyone loves last year's tech remarketed as "new magic-tech! And in a white case, with an apple picture on it!".