Over the years, Apple has launched hundreds of products — some iconic, others forgettable. I’ve used a fair share of them, with some earning a permanent spot on my “all-time favorites” Apple devices list.
Each of these devices represented Apple at its best, with a sleek design, impressive performance and an experience that few other brands can match. So, here’s my list of Apple devices that have truly stood the test of time.
These are my favorite Apple devices of all time
Starting from the iPod Nano to the original iPad, I’ve had a positive experience with most Apple products. They all stood out for their premium design and polished experience.
But some devices left a lasting impression on my memory. The M1 MacBook Pro and iPhone 13 Pro, for example, didn’t just impress me when they were new; they’ve held up beautifully over time and still deliver a near-perfect experience today.
A common thread among my all-time favorites is how well they’ve held up over time. Usually, the excitement of a new gadget fades after a few weeks or months. But not with my favorite Apple devices of all time. If anything, they only improved with time and aged like fine wine — a rare quality in tech today.
M1 MacBook Pro: No battery anxiety, ever
Photo: Apple
I’ve used several MacBooks over the years — from the 2011 MacBook Air and 2015 MacBook Pro to the 2019 model — along with plenty of high-end Windows laptops and custom PCs. But nothing compares to the experience of using the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip. I got the laptop a few months after release, in early 2022. And almost three years later, it still amazes me with its display, performance, and outstanding battery life.
The mini-LED display still looks phenomenal every time I open the lid. It’s bright, crisp, and perfectly color-accurate, whether I’m editing photos or just streaming a show. The M1 Pro chip continues to deliver blazing-fast performance without breaking a sweat, even when juggling dozens of browser tabs, heavy apps, or 4K video editing.
What’s even more impressive is how quietly it runs. Three years later, I have yet to hear the fans kick in. And even if they have, I’ve never heard them spinning.
Battery life remains in a league of its own. I can easily get through a full day of work without even touching the charger. And this is true even after three years of use. Admittedly, I did get the battery replaced under AppleCare+ once, so that has certainly helped.
The M1 Pro MacBook Pro is one of the few devices I own that never gives me battery anxiety. Charging speed is equally impressive. Even a modest 65W adapter can juice up the battery enough in 30 minutes to last for several more hours.
The M1 Pro MacBook Pro is not just my favorite Apple product of all time — it’s one of my favorite devices ever.
AirPods Pro 2: Still going and going and going
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
It’s kind of ridiculous just how good the AirPods Pro 2 are and how well they have aged. I got the earbuds soon after their release in September 2022. Three years later, the earbuds are still going strong, delivering outstanding music quality and ANC.
I have used several other earbuds and headphones in between, including the Bose QuietComfort, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, and a few others from Sony, Samsung and Bose. Yet, I keep coming back to the AirPods. Beyond their excellent sound and noise cancellation, the earbuds integrate seamlessly with Apple’s ecosystem and all my other Apple devices.
Unlike most wireless earbuds, the AirPods Pro 2 have only improved with time. Features like Adaptive Audio, hearing aid support, studio-quality audio recording, head gestures, and the camera remote weren’t available at launch. Apple added them through software updates in the years that followed.
AirPods Pro 3 have raised the bar further with their sound quality and ANC. But I’m so satisfied with my AirPods Pro 2 that I have no intention of upgrading anytime soon.
Mac Mini with M4 Pro chip: Mad power in a mini package
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
The Mac mini with the M4 Pro chip is the newest addition to my list of all-time favorite Apple products. Coming from Apple — a company known for its steep product prices — it’s frankly ridiculous just how much value the redesigned Mac mini offers for $1,399.
I upgraded to the Mac mini with the M4 Pro chip from an M1 Mac mini. The latter had already set a new benchmark with its performance and efficiency. However, it could not keep up with my increased workload in recent times. And so, I upgraded to the M4 Pro Mac mini.
While I could’ve gone for the M4 Mac mini, I chose the more powerful Pro chip with 24GB of unified memory, knowing I’d be running LLMs locally. After 10 months of using the machine daily, I can easily say the new Mac mini is among the best computers I have ever used.
Despite its compact size, the M4 Pro Mac mini delivers incredible performance without a hint of lag, even under heavy workloads. And with plenty of Thunderbolt 5 ports, including two USB-C ports at the front, I can hook up all the accessories I need.
The amazing thing about the M4 Mac mini is that you don’t even need the Pro model to enjoy such an experience. The base $599 version delivers outstanding performance for everyday tasks, creative work, and even light development workloads.
HomePod: Siri sucks, but it sounds incredible
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
The original HomePod makes my list of all-time favorite Apple products not for its smart features, but for its incredible sound quality.
Apple originally launched the speaker at $349 — too steep a price given its limited features. I picked mine up on a whim during the Covid-19 pandemic, as part of a stock-clearance sale, for around $120. And at that price, the HomePod delivers outstanding sound quality, easily among the best I’ve heard from a speaker of its size.
iPhone 13 Pro: A reliable workhorse
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Out of all the iPhones I’ve used over the years, the iPhone 13 Pro stands out as my favorite. On paper, the phone might not seem special, as it didn’t pack any major technological breakthroughs. But the phone offered more than just its specs. It packed a bright 120Hz OLED display, upgraded 12MP rear cameras with the added flexibility of a 3x telephoto lens, and reliable all-day battery life, making it a standout.
It was the battery life that truly made the iPhone 13 Pro special — it easily lasted all day with almost no issues. I used it extensively during my trips across Europe and Ladakh, and I rarely had to think about charging, even after shooting hundreds of photos and videos each day.
Despite heavy camera use, navigation, and constant connectivity, the phone consistently powered through long days of travel without breaking a sweat. That kind of dependability is rare, even among flagship phones today.
What are your favorite Apple products of all time? Share them with us in the comments below!
