Like every major technology company, Apple faced coronavirus-related delays in 2020, but managed to launch a series of products while entering new categories. And Apple has also redefined the virtual event for the rest of the tech industry.
On the surface, the highlight of the year was the new line of four iPhone 12 appliances, but the big news was the new Chip M1, as the company moved away from Intel while showing Windows laptop manufacturers how to do ARM-based computing the right way. Apple also responded quite well to a challenging economy, offering several value-focused products, although the ultra-premium AirPods Max $ 550 headphones left many scratching their heads.
Apple did not stand out in all areas, as its continued rivalry with developers – from Epic games to Google Stadia – was sometimes ugly. And the decision not to include a charger in the iPhone 12 was considered by many critics to be more greedy than green. See how Apple fared in 2020.
The highs of Apple in 2020
Apple Virtual Events
While there is something special about attending an Apple event in person, no brand has come close to delivering the polish, seriousness and (yes) fun that Apple made with its virtual events in 2020.
I liked how Apple would change locations for each pre-recorded segment, like expanding what appeared to be a secret lab to discuss the new A14 Bionic chip.
Between Tim Cook, Craig Federighi, Greg Joswiak and others taking turns speaking, advanced animations and the overall pace, Apple’s presentations made you feel like you were there live – and that’s quite an impressive achievement. They even filmed Lisa Jackson (VP of Environment, Politics 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 that Apple’s silicon arrived on the Mac, and what a splash it turned out to be. Apple’s M1 chip offered phenomenal performance on both MacBook Air M1 and MacBook Pro M1, as well as the new Mac Mini. In fact, the MacBook Air is so fast compared to competing Windows laptops that this $ 999 laptop can be “Pro” enough for most buyers.
The other great story with the Chip M1 is 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 most recently Dell XPS 13 lasts a little over 11 hours.
iPhone 12 takes the crown
Apple made the smartphone war a little tedious in 2020, as no other phone came close to beating its new device quartet. Thanks to the achievements of Apple computer photography, the iPhone 12 Pro Max rose to the top of our best phone list and best camera phone List. The other models of the iPhone 12 offer equally excellent image quality.
The A14 Bionic chip is another highlight, as this 5 nm processor has opened doors for all Android phones in iPhone 12 benchmarks. Apple made the iPhone 12 more elegant and durable with a new Ceramic Shield screen. O 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 with great price
In a low year for the economy, Apple has done a remarkable job responding with value-added products. $ 399 iPhone SE is the best example of Apple reading the room. It comes with a fast Bionic A13 processor in a compact design, along with excellent photo quality and wireless charging. $ 279 Apple Watch SE it’s another good value, as it offers all the key features people look for in a smartwatch, including a spacious Retina display, fitness tracking and drop detection.
Last but not least, the $ 99 HomePod mini offers excellent audio quality for its small size, and I like that you can take your iPhone up to the speaker so that the HomePod starts playing automatically.
Finally getting suitable widgets and customization on iOS 14
With iOS 14, Apple helped iPhone owners create an interface that looks truly personal. You can place various types of widgets on the home screen, size them as you like and place them where you want. You can also easily add a Smart Stack of widgets and quickly scroll through them with a touch, whether you want to see your favorite photos, search for news headlines or check your calendar or actions.
The other major update is that you can create custom icons on iOS 14 for a truly unique look. We have a comprehensive guide on how to make custom widgets and icons for iPhone on iOS 14 to personalize your experience. You just need to familiarize yourself a little with iOS shortcuts.
A good Apple TV Plus program in Ted Lasso
Apple TV Plus has many programs that are not attractive (see See), but Ted Lasso became a hit for the streaming service. Its rating on Rotten Tomatoes is 90% stellar, and Apple has already confirmed the third season.
Ted Lasso follows the exploits of a Division 2 college football coach who is recruited to be manager of the English Premier League football club AFC Richmond, and his relentless positivity is charming and contagious. Our own Henry T. Casey calls Ted Lasso the perfect Apple TV Plus program: “From his healthy, authentic smile to each of his jokes, Lasso will melt his bad mood even after the longest day.”
Apple casualties in 2020
Where are 2 in 1 laptops?
One of the best things about macOS Big Sur is that you can easily download applications for iPhone and iPad – including games – and run them directly on the desktop. There are many great titles now on the Mac App Store too. But none of them work with a touchscreen, because Apple still refuses to offer.
Yes the iPad Pro it’s a great productivity tool, but there are many Mac buyers who want a laptop first and 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 MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar.
Refusing to adopt USB-C
We knew the iPhone 13 wouldn’t be compatible with USB-C, but we didn’t feel any better when the phones landed. For some reason, Apple continues to cling to Lightning connectors for its phones and even for the new AirPods Max, while USB-C generally provides more power more quickly. Apple already uses USB-C on the MacBook, iPad Pro and new iPad Air.
So, what gives? Apple makes a lot of money from selling cables and accessories that use the proprietary Lightning port and also receives third-party licensing fees. Therefore, it is very possible that the iPhone 13 will skip USB-C as well. In fact, they say that Apple is working on at least one model without door for the iPhone 13 line that would probably use MagSafe wirelessly to charge.
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 basically bypassed Apple for payments because the App Store requires Apple to get a 30% reduction in in-app purchases. Epic sued, accusing Apple of monopolistic practices. Of course, Apple responded with its own lawsuit.
There does not seem to be any resolution for this battle in sight, but the court date has been set for May 3, 2021. In the meantime, the players are the ones who are really losing.
Without charger in iPhone 12 case
Listen, I understand. Do not include a charger in the iPhone 12 case helps the environment as it leads to much less electronic 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 buy your own 20W USB charger ($ 19), which makes the iPhone 12’s price misleading. If you want to try MagSafe wireless charging, you’ll have to buy that $ 39 charger plus the $ 19 charger cost.