The Worst and Best of Apple
Whether you hate Apple or love it, not all its products are made equally. That being said, some devices stand out as clear winners, while others have fans rolling their eyes at the giant company. Do you agree with our picks for some of the best and worst Apple items out there?
1. Butterfly Keyboard
This keyboard was part of the 2015 Apple MacBook and was just an utter mess. Many repair stores were flooded by these keyboards, as the screws were highly low quality and often broke. You were better off just replacing all the screws with higher-quality ones than risking buying a new one.
Maurizio Pesce from Milan, Italia on Wikimedia
2. Lightning to 3.5 Dongles
Sometimes it feels like Apple is a cable company, and unfortunately, not a very good one either. These dongles failed at an alarming rate, with the connection being spotty at best. Some people even revert to using heat shrink to try to get it to work.
3. iTunes
Having an iPod was thrilling, innovative, and convenient. That was until you had to deal with iTunes, which honestly felt like the worst software around. While it has certainly improved over time, the software was hard to use, annoyingly complex, and just all-around bad for a while.
4. The Round Mouse
Remember when Apple introduced the round mouse? In terms of ergonomic design, it was a total nightmare. It was so hard to grip, and getting anything done in a timely fashion was next to impossible.
5. iPod Socks
These aren’t bad products at all, but it’s just kind of hilarious. The funny part is that these socks will last longer than any of your Apple products will. The fact that your phone needs a cozy all to itself is just kind of silly, too.
Álvaro Ibáñez from Madrid, Spain on Wikimedia
6. Charger Cables
When it comes to cables, it’s only a matter of time before they eventually fray and break. You’re better off securing your cables early on with electrical tape. But even with that, it’s only a matter of time.
7. The Mac Touch Bar
The Touch Bar was a touch-sensitive strip included in MacBook Pro models. The idea was for them to replace the function of keys, but in reality, they were hard to use and just all around useless. Most people found it to be a useless perk for a premium upgrade.
8. Magic Mouse
Apple just really has a hard time when it comes to making mice, but one of the worst offenders is certainly the Magic Mouse. There was no ergonomic thought put into it. Also, there was no real right button, and even scrolling was needlessly complicated.
Yutaka Tsutano from Lincoln, United States on Wikimedia
9. Siri
There was a reason Siri never caught on like Alexa or good ole “Hey Google.” She would fail to understand what you were trying to say. While she was more so a service than a product, she just didn’t keep up with the services other companies provided with their stuff.
10. Vision Pro
There were a lot of reasons people didn’t like the Vision Pro. For one, it was very heavy and difficult to put on and use comfortably. Then came the fact that it was very expensive for something that you’d rarely use anyway. Also, users complained about everything from inconsistent eye tracking to blurriness.
Now that we talked about some of the worst Apple products, here are 10 winners to focus on instead.
1. Mac Mini
In terms of sheer power and compact design, the Mac Mini beats out. It delivers powerful performance in a small and affordable package and is renowned for its speed and versatility. It’s also a favorite for developers and creatives and is a great way to get all the power of a Mac without the need for a full desktop setup.
2. iPhone 16
The 2024 model certainly wowed fans of the brand with its top-tier performance and camera improvements. It also introduced a bunch of novel AI features and pushed boundaries when it came to computational photography. For those reasons, it goes down as one of the top contenders, until the next model replaces it, that is.
3. MacBook Pro M4
The MacBook Pro had a lot going for it, from its professional-grade design to its powerful M4 chip. Through this chip, the device was able to achieve very high performance with the added bonus of extreme speed and code compilation. It was easy to use for a variety of hobbies, including video editing and 3D modeling.
4. iMac G3
These are older products that were first introduced in 1998 but certainly go down as one of the greats. It showed off design skill as it was colorful and visually compact with lots of personality. They were used as a powerful personal computer, and are remembered fondly to this day.
https://www.flickr.com/people/katz2110/ on Wikimedia
5. M4 iPad Pro
Turning to the world of iPads, this is one of Apple’s most advanced tablets. It also features an M4 chip and an OLED screen and is considered one of the thinnest Apple products ever made. However, despite its slightness, it remains incredibly powerful and rivals even laptops.
6. Magic Keyboard
While the Magic Mouse failed, the Magic Keyboard was quite successful. Through it, you could turn the iPad Pro into a laptop-like device. It added more functionality to an already powerful and light device. It also helps people balance fun activities with a practical product for work.
7. AirTag
The AirTag is a tiny Bluetooth tracker that can help you find lost items. It’s innovative and useful and integrates smoothly with the iPhone and its Find My network. This means keeping track of everything from pets to keys has never been breezier.
8. iPhone 4
This was one of the first best phones that Apple put out, and what set it apart from its predecessors was its revolutionary Retina display. It was considered one of the biggest leaps since the original iPhone launch. As such, it stands the test of time as one of the most beautiful Apple designs around.
9. iPad 1st Generation
Of course, we have to pay homage to Apple’s roots. Specifically, its first iPad came out in 2010 and set the standard for iPads today. It was not only a super modern tablet, but filled a gap left by smartphones and laptops.
10. iPod 1st Generation
But what really started turning Apple into a household name was their original MP3 player, the iPod. This launched in 2001 and changed the music industry forever. It was small, stylish, and unbelievably simple. The idea that you could have 1,000 songs in your pocket was revolutionary to modern audiences, and for decades, it was one of Apple’s best designs.
