Apple killed him this year and Android needs a bullet in the arm

We all love Android, but come on… Apple killed it this year.

Cupertino kicked off with the refreshed iPhone SE earlier this year. He showed Android manufacturers how to combine cutting edge performance, flagship features, and affordability into a winning formula. It’s hard to name an Android equivalent that’s equally good at all three. Not only did the phone review go really well, it also set the benchmark for incredible value this year.

The refresh of Apple’s iPad, Watch Series 6, and iPhone 12 series are also proficient hardware items. They have refined what we expect from Apple products over the years. Cupertino certainly knows how to make and market high-end products, helping to keep Android tablets and smartwatches at bay. The company has also revamped its various subscription services, combining them under the more competitively priced Apple One plan. It’s a lighter, more competitive force in the media frenzy, which certainly doesn’t hurt Apple’s larger ecosystem, either.

Apple has completed 2020 with its most radical change in years. Arm-based Macs with custom Apple silicon will eventually end the company’s reliance on Intel processors. This ushered in a new era of controlling hardware and ecosystems, from processors to operating systems. The closer merger of hardware and software will pay dividends for future products in terms of performance and functionality. The move to Arm-based PCs also unifies the processor architecture with the iPad and iPhone platforms, blurring the lines between PC and mobile. Apple now has enough control to improve performance, photography, gaming, security, and other features across all of its platforms, however it wants.

The super-fast Apple M1 chip is bound to shake up the MacBook and laptop markets, as well as Intel. However, this is likely to be a headache for developers in the short term. Perhaps more importantly, the long-held “Wintel” paradigm is also under increasing pressure. Windows on Arm, which is currently powered by Qualcomm silicon, could see faster adoption from Microsoft’s hardware partners if Apple’s switch to Arm pays enough dividends for consumers.

Apple is definitely in the ascendant as 2020 draws to a close.

It wasn’t just roses

However, it would be wrong to call this year a flawless victory. Apple also generated its fair share of controversy throughout 2020.

The company clashed with publisher Fortnite Epic Games earlier in the year over its 30% revenue cut and posting requirements. Apple ended up removing Fortnite from its App Store. He also decided to end Epic’s access to developer accounts and tools. This saga hasn’t helped quell the feeling that Apple is not very developer friendly. The company’s argument with the Hey email subscription service was also not the case for a similar subscription dispute. Damage control subsequently saw Apple ditch its 15% free app for small developers.

The material hasn’t been a slam dunk this year either. The AirPods Pro Max earbuds have come under fire for their sky-high price tag of $ 550. Especially since competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 are much cheaper. If annoying gamers and audiophiles weren’t enough, Apple has also managed to anger virtually all of its iPhone 12 customers by ditching built-in chargers.

See also: IPhone 12 Without Charger Isn’t As Green As Apple Wants You To Think

While there are eco-waste arguments about built-in chargers to consider, Apple is not gaining any goodwill for its decision. Switching to a Lightning to USB-C cable means some customers can’t charge their new iPhone 12 with older iPhone chargers. Having to buy a new USB-C charger undermines the argument for waste, as does the potential longer-term shift to the proprietary MagSafe standard. Even so, I encourage customers to consider choosing a single USB-C charger for their phone and laptop needs.

Apple certainly hasn’t improved on its reputation for disastrous enough for unfriendly consumer and industry practices this year.

Android has won a few victories, but the battle for the ecosystem is on Apple’s side

Despite some public relations setbacks, Apple’s hardware and ecosystem launches have left the company in a stronger position than at the start of the year and with a clear vision for 2021. It’s harder to say the same goes for the Android ecosystem.

2020 saw the arrival of great Android phones at more affordable prices. Inexpensive 5G handsets, such as the Google Pixel 4a 5G and OnePlus North, have made the next-gen network more affordable than ever. Android has nailed the price and performance sweet spot this year. There’s also a familiar assortment of powerful Android flagships, which are just as good as the latest iPhones, if not better. However, high-end products do not change the industry on their own.

Related: Does Google have an answer for Apple’s all-in-one ecosystem?

Apple is moving towards a unified platform for smartphones, wearable devices, TV and now PCs. Cupertino is tightening up its ecosystem, with the aim of ensuring that all its devices and services work well together in the future. Vast ecosystems that meet all your technology needs are the destination of the premium market. Android makers don’t have that luxury. They rely on Google, Microsoft and others to link and mix various devices.

Samsung is perhaps the only Android brand with a product line wide enough to compete with Apple. Tizen-powered smartwatches are closer to competing with the Apple Watch than their Wear OS counterparts. The company also has a line of smart devices and audio products to its credit, though its selection of tablets – particularly the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, which rivals the iPad Pro – is a case study in the Google software that holds back otherwise good hardware. In comparison, Apple’s iPad line enjoys the benefits of a unified approach to high-end hardware and software. That said, Samsung still doesn’t have a powerful PC platform or stakes in the streaming market like Apple. Meanwhile, Google also sees itself as a competitor to Apple but barely registers in terms of product shipments.

Android makers cannot exercise the same control and influence over their broader product lines as Apple.

While Google TV’s long-awaited update to Android TV offered much-needed ecosystem improvements on the streaming front, Chromebooks in their current form aren’t going to unite Google’s mobile and PC platforms. Not in the same way as Apple’s Arm-Macs. Of course, Assistant and Google services are always great to use on multiple devices, especially in the automotive and smart home market. But there is currently no vision to unify the applications on these platforms and PCs. This is something that corporate customers will consider even more than we ordinary consumers. Likewise, Google’s TV, wearable, and gaming initiatives are still rambling and underdeveloped.

So I personally award this year to Apple. The company has a clear and exciting vision for the coming years. By comparison, 2020 has been mostly business as usual for Android and Google. This is not necessarily a bad thing. We have seen a lot of great handsets this year. However, Android and Google seem less focused on the future than their biggest rival. For now at least.