How does Apple handle promotional mail differently?

Apple handles promotional mail without the sophisticated categorization that Gmail employs. iCloud does not have a Promotions tab or similar automatic sorting system. Marketing emails either reach the inbox or get filtered to junk based on traditional spam filtering criteria.

This binary approach means good reputation promotional senders land in the main inbox alongside personal correspondence. However, it also means promotional mail has no dedicated space and competes directly with all other messages for attention.

For marketers, Apple's approach simplifies deliverability (no worrying about tab placement) but increases competition for inbox visibility. The lack of promotional categorization also means Apple users do not have a conditioned habit of checking a promotions folder, making initial impression and subject line optimization critical for Apple recipients.