Is there any difference between "typename&" and "typename" as a return type in a function in c++?

I tested to write Apple& as a return type of operator+() and this gives me the same answer when I run the main program. Is there any differences between Apple operator+ and Apple& operator+?

class Apple
{
public:
    Apple(size_t w): weight{w} {}
    size_t getWeight(){return weight;}
    Apple operator+(const Apple& other){
        weight+=other.weight;
        return *this;
    }
    ~Apple(){weight=0;}
private:
    size_t weight;
};

main program:

int main(){
    Apple a{20};
    Apple b{30};

    a= a+b;

    std::cout << a.getWeight() << std::endl;//prints 50
    std::cout << b.getWeight() << std::endl;//prints 30
}