Apple has reached a deal with Amazon that allows the company to remove ads for competing products from search results and product pages for iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and other Apple devices, according to a report from Insider. This agreement results in cleaner search results and product pages for Apple products compared to its competitors.
While Amazon still lists competing products on search results pages for Apple devices, it limits the ads placed above, below, and between search results. On the other hand, when searching for competing devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23, several ads for other products and services surface throughout the results page, giving Apple’s products a clear visibility edge.
The arrangement between Amazon and Apple, which stems from a 2018 agreement, sees Amazon limiting the amount of advertising on search and product detail pages for Apple’s products. Apple spokesperson Fred Sainz has confirmed the agreement, which limits advertising in certain Apple-related queries. However, it remains unclear if Apple compensates Amazon for the lost ad revenue or if Apple purchases these placements. This arrangement has landed Amazon in hot water with the Federal Trade Commission, as such “junk” ads are cited in an antitrust lawsuit against the company, highlighting Amazon’s “billions of dollars through increased advertising despite worsening its services for customers.”
