Once upon a time, it was a big deal for a performer to get their “smilin’ face on the cover of The Rolling Stone.” In more recent time, that honor has been replace by getting your face on the cover of Time Magazine. Apple CEO John Ternus is the latest to receive that honor. Ternus has been featured on the cover of TIME Magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2026” edition, available October 26.
Ternus, who joined Apple in 2001 and succeeded Tim Cook as the company’s CEO on September 1, had the honor of unveiling the iPhone Duo just eight days after he ascended Apple catbird seat. The iPhone Duo uses technology for which Ternus was named on the original patent, filed 15 years ago. Ternus spoke with TIME for an exclusive first cover interview about the iPhone Duo, and how he plans to lead the iconic firm into the future.
Ternus told the publication that the iPhone Duo stands apart from other foldable smartphones.
“The other examples in the world felt kind of cheap and crappy,” said Ternus.
Ternus had his first encounter with Apple products when he was eight years old and his father bought an Apple II computer. “I started playing games on it and fell in love with Apple,” he said.
While former Apple CEO Tim Cook remains with the company as executive chairman, Cook told the publication in a separate interview said he is “not meddling” with Ternus.
Ternus says Apple tries to remain focused.
“You can’t do everything,” Ternus added. “So we kind of try to constrain ourselves to the stuff that matters most—and then put all of our effort into those things.”
