While 2020 has forced Apple to change the way it operates with many employees working from home most of the year, Apple has still managed to launch a long list of new products over the past 12 months, updating most devices in its line and introducing new software.
In our last YouTube video, we rounded up our top five products from 2020. While there was plenty to choose from, there were several highlights like the M1 Macs, the iPhone 12 line, the iPad Air, the AirPods Max and the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro.
Magic Keyboard
It may seem like forever, but in March 2020, Apple released new iPad Pro models with updated camera technology that includes a LiDAR scanner for the first time, and along with the new PiPad Pro models, Apple released the Magic Keyboard.
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Apple already had a smart keyboard for its iPads, but the Magic Keyboard is the best iPad keyboard designed by Apple to date. It has a keyboard with a scissor mechanism similar to the keyboard used on Apple Macs and, for the first time, there is a trackpad.
The trackpad makes the iPad more like a laptop than ever, and Apple iPads are also compatible with mice. The Magic Keyboard also has a cool floating design that allows the screen to be adjusted and works well even on a lap.
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On the other hand, it starts at $ 300, which is incredibly expensive for a keyboard, and doesn’t fold back, so you can’t use it as a standard case when you don’t need the keyboard.
iPad Air
Launched in September 2020, iPad Air is Apple’s first full-screen device and Touch ID, with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor integrated with the on / off button.
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He also obtained an A14 chip faster before the A14 chip reached the iPhone 12 (although Apple released the iPad Air and the iPhone 12 line at the same time), and comes in a range of new colors that have never been used before for a “Pad”.
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Compared to the geraçãoiPad Air models of the previous generation, it has a engiPad Pro style display with narrow bezels and with its A14 chip, Touch ID and new design, it is a solid deal with its starting price of $ 599.
iPhone 12
Apple launched four new iPhones this year, including a 5.4-inch mini iPhone, its smallest iPhone in many years designed for those who are fans of smaller devices, and the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max, the largest iPhone until today.
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All new iPhones feature a new design in the iPad-Pro style with square borders that mark a departure from the rounded edges that we saw in the iPhone line since the iPhone 6.
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All iPhones have OLED screens, even at a low cost, and have incredibly fast A14 chips. They all have excellent cameras, but the iPhone 12 Pro Max has the latest generation camera setup, although both Pro models feature the same LiDAR scanner first introduced in the PiPad Pro.
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The iPhone 12 models are also equipped with an internal magnet ring that makes them compatible with a new technology called MagSafe, which is used to connect chargers and magnetic accessories. With MagSafe, iPhones are capable of charging wirelessly up to 15W, an improvement over the previous load maximum of 7.5W.
M1 Macs
At WWDC in June, Apple confirmed that it was working on its own chips based on the Apple silicon Arm, and in November, Apple’s first silicon Macs were unveiled with “M1” chips. M1 Macs are undoubtedly the most exciting new products that Apple has launched in the Mac line in years.
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Before launch, nobody knew exactly what to expect from the M1 Macs, but Apple surprised everyone with frankly incredible performance. When it comes to single-core CPU speeds, the M1 Macs outperform all other Macs on the market and, in multi-core performance, are on par with some high-end Apple desktops.
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Apple placed its M1 chip in the MacBook Air, the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the Mac mini, and despite the speed gains introduced with these chips, these are the low level Macs, with even more powerful chips expected for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, iMac and other machines in 2021.
AirPods Max
We didn’t expect AirPods Max until 2021, but Apple introduced them as a surprise in December. The irAirPods Max are the first Apple-branded headphones from Apple, and they ended up being more expensive than anyone expected, $ 549.
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The AirPods Max feature aluminum earmuffs, mesh ear cushions and a mesh headband, and although they are heavier than many other headset options on the market because of the premium construction, most people find them comfortable.
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IrAirPods Max has all the features you expect from AirPods, such as quick pairing, fast device switching and long range, plus Active Noise Canceling, Adaptive Equalization and Spatial Audio. They sound great, as they should for $ 549, and the battery life is decent in 20 hours.
The only real downside is the Smart Case, which has a curious design, offers no protection and is generally seen as one of the worst cases included with a set of premium headphones.
Wrap up
What’s on your list of the top five Apple products of 2020? Let us know in the comments.
In 2021, we expect many more new devices, including additional (and more powerful) M1 Macs, AirTags, an Apple TV, new software and the iPhone 13 line. You can keep an eye on what’s supposed to be released in our Next Products guide from Apple, and we’ll have a detailed summary later this week.