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Like all major tech companies, Apple faced coronavirus-related delays in 2020, but managed to launch a slew of products while breaking into new categories. And Apple also redefined the virtual event for the rest of the tech industry.
On the surface, the highlight of the year was the new lineup of four iPhone 12 mobile phones, but the biggest news was the new M1 chipas the company turned away from Intel while showing Windows laptop makers how to do ARM-based computing right. Apple also responded quite well to a challenging economy by offering several value-focused products, although the ultra-premium AirPods Max The $ 550 headphones left many scratching their heads.
Apple didn’t excel in all areas, as its ongoing feud with developers from Epic Games to Google Stadia got ugly at times. And the decision not to include a charger with the iPhone 12 struck many critics as more greedy than green. Here’s how Apple stacked up in 2020.
Apple’s highs in 2020
Apple virtual events
While there is something special about attending an Apple event in person, no brand even came close to providing the polish, seriousness, and (yes) fun that Apple made with its virtual events in 2020.
I loved how Apple would change the locations for each pre-recorded segment, such as walking over to what seemed like a secret lab to talk about the new A14 Bionic chip.
Between Tim Cook, Craig Federighi, Greg Joswiak, and others taking turns speaking, advanced animations, and overall pacing, Apple’s introductions made you feel like you were there live, and that’s quite an impressive feat. They even filmed Lisa Jackson (vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives) on the roof of Apple’s new campus, next to the company’s solar panels.
Apple’s revolutionary M1 chip
2020 will be remembered as the year Apple’s silicon made its way to the Mac, and what a huge impact it has turned out to be. Apple’s M1 chip delivered phenomenal performance in both the MacBook Air M1 and MacBook Pro M1as well as the new Mac Mini. In fact, the MacBook Air is so fast relative to competing Windows laptops that this $ 999 laptop may be “Pro” enough for most buyers.
The other great story with him M1 chip is the battery life. The MacBook Air lasted an average of 14 hours and 41 minutes in our web browsing battery test. The MacBook Pro lasted 16:32. The last Dell XPS 13 lasts a little over 11 hours.
iPhone 12 takes the crown
Apple made the smartphone wars a bit boring in 2020 as no other phone came close to surpassing its new quartet of phones. Thanks to Apple’s computational photography prowess, the iPhone 12 Pro Max rose to the top of our best phone list and best camera phone list. The other iPhone 12 models offer equally excellent image quality.
The A14 Bionic chip is another highlight as this 5nm processor blew the doors off all Android phones in IPhone 12 benchmarks. Apple made the iPhone 12 sleeker and tougher with a new Ceramic Shield display. the IPhone 12 battery life could be better, but overall the Samsung Galaxy S20, Google Pixel 5 and other competitors were left in the dust.
Products at a good price
In a low year for the economy, Apple did a pretty remarkable job responding with products that offered value. The $ 399 iPhone SE is the best example of Apple reading the room. It packs a fast A13 Bionic processor within a compact design, along with excellent photo quality and wireless charging. The $ 279 Apple Watch SE It’s another good value as it offers all the key features people look for in a smartwatch, including a large Retina display, fitness tracking, and fall detection.
Last but not least, the $ 99 HomePod mini It offers excellent audio quality for its small size, and I like that you can hold your iPhone closer to the speaker so that the HomePod starts playing automatically.
Finally getting proper widgets and customization in iOS 14
With iOS 14, Apple has helped iPhone owners create an interface that feels truly personal. You can place various types of widgets on the home screen, adjust the size you want, and place them where you want. You can also easily add a smart stack of widgets and quickly flick through them with the swipe of your finger, whether you want to see your favorite photos, flick through news headlines, or check your calendar or actions.
The other big update is that you can create custom icons in iOS 14 for a truly unique look and feel. We have a complete guide on how to make custom iPhone widgets and icons in iOS 14 to personalize your experience. You just need to get a little familiar with iOS shortcuts.
A good Apple TV Plus show on Ted Lasso
Apple TV Plus has many shows that are not convincing (see Watch), but Ted lasso has become a hit for the streaming service. Its rating on Rotten Tomatoes is 90% stellar, and Apple has already confirmed a season 3.
Ted Lasso follows the exploits of a Division 2 college football coach who is recruited to coach the English Premier League football club AFC Richmond, and his relentless positivity is charming and infectious. Our very own Henry T. Casey calls Ted Lasso the perfect Apple TV Plus show: “From his healthy, authentic smile to each and every occurrence, Lasso will melt your bad mood even after the longest day.”
Apple’s lows in 2020
Where are the 2-in-1 laptops?
One of the best things about macOS Big Sur is that you can easily download iPhone and iPad applications, including games, and run them right on your desktop. There are also many great titles on the Mac App Store. But none of them work with a touchscreen because Apple still refuses to offer one.
If he iPad Pro It’s a great productivity tool, but there are a lot of Mac buyers who want a laptop first, then a tablet, not the other way around. A true Mac 2-in-1 laptop would give users the ultimate in versatility, and Apple could finally retire the mostly vestigial Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro.
Refusing to adopt USB-C
We knew the iPhone 13 wouldn’t be USB-C friendly, but we didn’t feel any better once the phones landed. For whatever reason, Apple continues to cling to Lightning connectors for its phones and even the new AirPods Max, while USB-C generally delivers more power faster. Apple already uses USB-C on MacBook, iPad Pro and the new iPad Air.
So what’s up? Apple makes a lot of money selling cables and accessories that use the proprietary Lightning port, and it also receives third-party license fees. So it is quite possible that the iPhone 13 it will skip USB-C as well. In fact, Apple is rumored to be working on at least one model without port for the iPhone 13 line that would presumably use wireless MagSafe for charging.
The Epic Games fiasco
In a perfect example of catching the ball and going home, in August Apple banned Fortnite from the App Store after Epic Games violated the terms of service. Epic essentially bypassed Apple for payments because the App Store requires Apple to get a 30% cut from in-app purchases. Epic sued, accusing Apple of monopolistic practices. Of course, Apple responded with a lawsuit of its own.
There doesn’t appear to be any resolution to this battle in sight, but the court date is reportedly set for May 3, 2021. Meanwhile, the players are the ones who are really losing.
No charger in iPhone 12 box
Listen, I get it. Don’t include a charger in the iPhone 12 box It helps the environment by generating much less e-waste. Yes, many people already have chargers at home that work with the iPhone 12.
But if you want to charge at the fastest speeds, you’ll need to use your own 20W USB charger ($ 19), which makes the iPhone 12 price deceptive. If you want to give MagSafe wireless charging a try, you’ll have to buy that $ 39 charger plus the $ 19 power block cost. Boo.
