Apple's 2021 was a virtual event-filled year, with many new products announced. iPhone 13 was the star of the show, naturally, but there were also many other notable announcements, including the new MacBook Pro 14-inch, MacBook Pro 16-inch, AirPods 3, AirTags, iMac 2021 There were many noteworthy announcements, including.

Also announced were the new iPad 12.9", iPad mini 6, iPad Pro M1, and the new Apple TV 4K. And then there was software, Apple released iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, and watchOS 8.

Apple also announced new software experiences like SharePlay, new services like the Apple Music Voice plan, and a new iPhone self-repair initiative. In the process, there were many highs for Apple, but there were also lows.

Here are the top five and three worst things Apple did this year.

The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro series offered better performance and cameras, as we had hoped, including an attractive Cinematic mode for video, but we did not expect such a big leap in battery life. Thanks to the larger battery and more efficient A15 Bionic chip, the iPhone 13 lasted more than two hours longer than the iPhone 12 in our iPhone 13 battery test, including surfing the web at 5G. iPhone 13 Pro lasted more than 2 hours and 40 minutes, iPhone 13 Pro Max made our Best Battery Life list with 12 hours and 16 minutes of run time.

It was long overdue, but still very welcome. Apple finally added an SD card slot and HDMI port to the new MacBook Pro 14-inch. Apple also finally ditched the controversial Touch Bar in favor of a physical menu key and powered it up with new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. Add in a dazzling mini LED display and a sharper 1080p webcam, and the new MacBook Pro is a winner for those willing to pay a premium for it. Even with the notch.

This will be a "better late than never" proposition. Perhaps in response to continued pressure from repair rights advocates and the prospect of government intervention, Apple in November announced its new Apple Self Service Repair program, an unprecedented move that gives users the opportunity to repair their iPhones themselves and provides the tools and parts to do so. In an unprecedented move, Apple offered users the opportunity to repair their iPhones themselves and provided the tools and parts to do so.

The program will first begin in the U.S. in 2022 for iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 displays, batteries, and cameras. The program will also be expanded throughout 2022, with M1 Mac repairs gradually becoming available in more countries.

We were skeptical that the world still needed a smaller tablet, but the iPad mini 6 proved us wrong. Apple increased the size of the display from 7.9" to 8.3", making it the perfect screen for watching shows, reading comics, and surfing the web. You also get fast A15 Bionic performance, Apple Pencil 2 support, and about 11 hours of battery life. In other words, the iPad mini 6 is better than the average large-screen phone and one of the best tablets if you are willing to pay $499.

We knew the M1 processor would be in Apple's all-in-one PC, but the iMac 2021 24-inch review exceeded our expectations. As Alex Wawro wrote, it "delivers speed, beauty, and great sound in a slim new design."

The M1 chip can open 30 Chrome tabs, stream two videos, or download Steam in the background to play a game. installing a game in the background and it didn't budge. Plus, the 4.5K display shows movies and games beautifully, and the new chassis is only 0.45" thin. iMac 2021 is especially great for those who work from home, thanks to its six-speaker audio system and sharp 1080p webcam. iMac 2021 is our #1 pick for best all-in-one computer.

It seemed like a noble idea. Apple's plan was to scan the iPhone and iCloud simultaneously for known (child sexual abuse) CSAM images. It was to be implemented by the end of 2021 as an iOS 15 update. Despite repeated reassurances, the announcement was met with significant backlash from privacy advocates and technical and policy experts. It also appears that the 30 offending images that triggered the human review were arbitrary. After defending the program, Apple eventually withdrew it. 0]

In September, Apple issued the following statement.

"Based on feedback from customers, advocacy groups, researchers, and others, we have decided to take additional time over the next few months to gather input and make improvements before releasing these critically important child safety features."

Apple's answer to Tile, AirTags, is an affordable, easy-to-use tracker with built-in ultra-wideband technology. But it is too effective. We have seen reports of AirTags being used by thieves to steal cars and rogue AirTags being used to stalk women. Apple has addressed some concerns by releasing updates and an Android app designed to scan nearby AirTags that are not theirs, but some privacy advocates say more measures are still needed.

As part of the Apple v. Epic Games trial, Apple was ordered to open its App Store to alternative payment methods. However, Apple argued that security and privacy would be compromised; in early December, the Court of Appeals granted a stay of enforcement until the Appeals Court fully hears the case. This process would take several months. There has to be a way to allow outside payment methods without harming users, even if that would be detrimental to Apple's interests.

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