At first glance at this structure, you’d be forgiven for mistaking it as a spaceship from the latest science fiction blockbuster.
But the building is very much real, and is home to one of the most famous technology companies in the world.
Apple Park in Cupertino, California, has been the corporate headquarters of Apple since 2017.
While the tech giant is usually extremely restrictive about which visitors it lets in, MailOnline’s Shivali Best was invited to visit the site for the iPhone 16 launch event this week.
From Apple-branded coffees to an observatory with a strict no-photo policy, here’s what it’s really like inside the secretive Cupertino headquarters.
While the tech giant is usually extremely restrictive about which visitors it lets in, MailOnline’s Shivali Best was selected to visit the site for the iPhone 16 launch event this week
Having covered Apple’s annual iPhone launch events for years from the comfort of the office, I was delighted when I received the invitation to attend this year’s event in-person.
Staying at a nearby hotel, there were several hoops I had to jump through before I get get anywhere near Apple Park.
Visitors must all wear an Apple lanyard on site, with different colours given based on your status.
I was handed a bright green lanyard which indicated my status as a journalist, while my videographer, Frank, was given an orange lanyard.
We were also subject to an airport-style security check of our bags before we were finally allowed to board the coach and set off for Apple Park.
Pulling up to the site, I was surprised at how difficult the main building actually was to spot.
Despite measuring a whopping 2.8 million square feet, Apple has done an excellent job of hiding the huge building from passing traffic, using carefully placed trees.
Staying at a nearby hotel, there were several hoops I had to jump through before I get get anywhere near Apple Park
Despite measuring a whopping 2.8 million square feet, Apple has done an excellent job of hiding the huge building from passing traffic, using carefully placed trees
In fact, I could see why Apple calls it Apple Park, with trees and grassy areas used throughout the 175-acre campus.
Once through the gates, the first thing that struck me was sheer size of ‘The Ring’ – the main building that serves as the key hub for the 12,000 employees on site.
The ring-shaped building is clad entirely in panels of curved glass and is four storeys tall, and could easily be mistaken for a modern art gallery.
There wasn’t much time to take it in though, with the Apple staff diligently shepherding us away from The Ring.
As we walked through the sun, feel-good music played from speakers lining the path, although a staff member later told me that this isn’t an everyday occurrence.
Our next stop was the Steve Jobs Theater, which is situated atop a hill overlooking The Ring.
The entrance is a 20ft-tall glass cylinder supporting a carbon-fibre roof, while the 1,000-seat auditorium is located underground.
As the lucky attendees arrived, we were served a range of delicious brunch treats in this entrance hall, before we were invited downstairs for the main event.
The auditorium itself isn’t anything to write home about, although the plush leather seats were noticeably more comfortable than those in most concert halls!
Once through the gates, the first thing that struck me was sheer size of ‘The Ring’ – the main building which serves as the key hub for the 12,000 employees on site
The Steve Jobs Theater is situated atop a hill overlooking The Ring. The entrance (left) is a 20ft-tall glass cylinder supporting a carbon-fibre roof, while the 1,000-seat auditorium is located underground
At 10am, Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, took to the stage to introduce the event, during which several exciting gadgets – the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch 10, AirPods 4 and AirPods Max – were unveiled.
But the chaos really kicked in almost two hours later, when the presentation ended and the mad rush to try the new devices began.
Unbeknownst to me, a curtain at the back of the auditorium was hiding an Apple Store-like area, where hundreds of staff were waiting to show us the devices.
Influencers, journalists, and even celebrities jostled to be their first to get their hands on them – but thankfully the initial rush quickly died down and we could see the new gadgets for ourselves.
Once we’d collected all the content we needed, we left the Steve Jobs Theater and headed over to the Visitor Center – another aesthetically pleasing building with stone walls, terrazzo floors, and sweeping staircases.
The Visitor Center is another aesthetically pleasing building with stone walls, terrazzo floors, and sweeping staircases
The food across the entire site was incredible, with brunch-style canapes served before the event, and even Apple-branded coffees
At this point we were starting to flag and it was time for a much needed caffeine hit.
I ordered a latte, and was delighted when I was presented with a steaming cup, complete with an apple-shaped latte art on the top!
There was also a selection of sandwiches, snacks and drinks for us to enjoy as we sat writing up our first impressions of the new devices.
In addition, the Visitor Centre contains a gift shop, and I thought it would be rude not to make a quick pit-stop there.
Like any other Apple Store, the gift shop stocks a full range of Apple products, but also has a selection of exclusive merchandise.
T-shirts, water bottles and mugs lined the walls, while there was even an Apple babygrow on sale!
The final stop on my whistle-stop tour of Apple Park was the Observatory – the newest building on the campus.
Like any other Apple Store, the gift shop stocks a full range of Apple products, but also has a selection of exclusive merchandise. T-shirts, water bottles and mugs lined the walls, while there was even an Apple babygrow on sale
Like the Steve Jobs Theater, the Observatory is built into the landscape and surrounded by trees and green spaces.
Travelling down a curved path, we arrived into a domed entrance, featuring a large circular window in the roof.
As the sun moves through the sky, the light coming through this circular window shifts, resulting in a calming, clock-like effect.
From this entrance we were led through to the large airy main room for our iPhone 16 briefing.
A balcony at the far end of this room overlooked the entire campus, but unfortunately we were unable to take any snaps thanks to Apple’s strict ‘no photo’ policy in the Obsevatory.
Just like that, my time at Apple Park was over, and I was back on the shuttle to my hotel.
It’s quite possibly one of the nicest campuses I’ve ever explored – although I would have loved to have a proper nosey inside The Ring.
