Time magazine’s pick of the “10 best gadgets of the 2010s” is out, and perhaps unsurprisingly, three of them are Apple products.
iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods were all chosen as some of the “most important and influential gadgets” of the decade. Other products include the Nintendo Switch, Tesla Model S, and the Amazon Echo.
Some will tell you innovation is dead at Apple — and that it has been for a while. And yet, Cupertino continues to churn out hit products that boast unparalleled customer satisfaction rates.
There have been many of them in the last 10 years, but Time has picked out three that it considers the most significant. These are products that have changed the industry, and indeed the way we look at technology.
Apple dominates in best gadgets of the decade
Obviously the iPad, first introduced in 2010, makes the list. It wasn’t the first tablet, but it was the first anyone really wanted to own. It was sleek, easy to use, and instantly familiar.
“Apple’s iPad — like the iPhone before it — resulted in a cultural shift for personal computing, and set the tone for the next decade of portable devices,” Time explains.
“Its impressive multitouch display, complete abandonment of physical keys, and gargantuan selection of software and media created a perfect storm of entertainment that everyone could get on board with.”
Apple continues to push iPad as the future of personal computing. And although a lot of people don’t buy into that idea, iPad remains the best-selling tablet year after year.
A smartwatch done right
Apple Watch also makes the list. It’s significant in that it’s the first brand-new Apple product launched under Tim Cook, and again, it’s better and more successful than anything else in its category.
“While many have tried, no one has been able to match the polish and performance of the Apple Watch, which set the standard for what a smartwatch could do,” Time says.
“Since its introduction in 2015, it’s gone from a device for early adopters and fashion-deficient nerds to a mainstream accessory, thanks to its smart software and ever-improving hardware.”
Finally, we come to AirPods.
’An icon in their own right’
Apple proudly boasts that AirPods are the world’s best-selling headphones. Fans love them for their simple design, the way they work seamlessly with other Apple devices, and their relatively affordable price tag.
“Like the iconic iPod before it, Apple’s AirPods have captured the hearts, minds and ears of music lovers looking to jam to some tunes,” Time explains.
“First released in 2016, AirPods quickly became an icon in their own right, both for their aesthetic appeal as well as their larger cultural impact.”
Other significant Apple products, such as Apple Pencil, didn’t make the list. But Apple is the only company to have claimed more than one spot in the top ten. The other seven went to:
- Tesla Model S
- Raspberry Pi
- Google Chromecast
- DJI Phantom
- Amazon Echo
- Nintendo Switch
- Xbox Adaptive Controller
Which products would make your list of the best gadgets from the last decade? Let us know down in the comments.
