I'm running MCPE v0.11.1 alpha (the latest version) on an iPhone 5s with iOS 8.3, and I have been experiencing this issue as well.
I noticed the issue after being spawned on an island with only three trees. After cutting down all three, I got only a single sapling. However, it seems if the leaves are destroyed by hand before the tree itself is cut, the sapling drop rate is significantly improved (3 saplings from a single tree according to my testing). This does not, however, increase the spawning of apples; I don't recall seeing a single apple since 0.11 was released, although I haven't been paying much attention until recently.
Tech Wreck
I'm running MCPE v0.11.1 alpha (the latest version) on an iPhone 5s with iOS 8.3, and I have been experiencing this issue as well.
I noticed the issue after being spawned on an island with only three trees. After cutting down all three, I got only a single sapling. However, it seems if the leaves are destroyed by hand before the tree itself is cut, the sapling drop rate is significantly improved (3 saplings from a single tree according to my testing). This does not, however, increase the spawning of apples; I don't recall seeing a single apple since 0.11 was released, although I haven't been paying much attention until recently.