Last week, famed tech reporter Jason Snell released his annual Apple report card based on his survey of 65 “Apple watchers.” The report included an average of these individuals’ ratings of the company on a five-point scale in several important areas. As you might imagine when thinking about such a large, consequential company, opinions on the report card varied wildly, and Jason did a great job of summarizing the various views. I really enjoyed reading them and thinking through where I stand on each of these topics.

Many of those Jason spoke with are people I highly respect and avidly follow to keep up with Apple news. Of course, I wasn’t included on his list of prominent voices in the tech community, but after listening to Jason’s podcast episode about the survey, I was inspired to fill out the report card myself.

These are just my opinions on the state of Apple coming out of 2019 (not that anyone asked for them). If you’re a fan of the company like I am, I hope this article will help you stay on top of what they’re up to—and maybe even inspire you to share your own thoughts. And if you don’t know anything about Apple, let this be your chance to start learning about one of the most impactful companies in the world.

Here’s my Apple report card for 2019.

Mac

My Rating: 2 | Average Score: 3.6

I almost gave the Mac an N/A rating this year. To be honest, I’ve been moving further and further away from using the Mac in both my personal and professional lives ever since I got my first iPad Pro in 2017. Sure, I still have to unlock my office iMac every once in a while for something very specific, and I rely on Macs to run our worship services at the church, but in my day-to-day life, I do almost everything on a different platform now.

Surprisingly, I don’t even own a working Mac anymore. My 2016 MacBook Pro (the first with the infamous butterfly keyboard) is currently unusable due to a failed logic board, and I’m not even sure that I’m going to fix it. That’s how unimportant the Mac has become in my life.

The other reason I give the Mac a 2/5 for 2019 is that changes to its software this year pushed me even further away from wanting to use it. I really liked the High Sierra update in 2018 and enjoyed using it when I had to. But last summer’s release of Catalina was nearly unbearable for me with all of its bugs while offering me few benefits, and I’ve refused to install it on any of my work computers. I’ll stick with 2018’s software, thank you very much.

Sure, there are still some great Macs out there that work really well for a lot of people’s needs. And Apple did release a couple of notable new Macs this year: the 16-inch MacBook Pro with a new, more reliable keyboard and the beastly Mac Pro. But neither of these devices appeals to me because they’re more powerful and expensive than I need. I honestly don’t know when or if I’ll ever buy another personal Mac, and so it just isn’t that important to me anymore.

Sorry, Mac, but it’s a giant, “Meh,” from me. We’ll see if the rumored update to the smaller MacBook Pro or maybe even a new MacBook Air might change my mind this year.

iPhone

My Rating: 5 | Average Score: 4.0

The iPhone 11 was supposed to be the most boring update of all time, but as last quarter’s record sales numbers indicate,it was actually a huge hit. That’s because Apple took an already amazing design and refined the two features that people care about the most: camera and battery life.

The camera on my iPhone 11 Pro is like none other. I’ve had a lot of fun playing around with the ultra-wide lens and seeing what cool shots I can get. Of course, I can alway trust the standard lens to catch a nice, quick photo in a pinch, or I can zoom in with the telephoto when I need to. The iPhone takes incredible pictures that you just can’t get from any other phone, and users love it.

And then there’s the battery. I switched from the Xs Max to the regular-sized 11 Pro, and I’ve been impressed by the battery life on this little thing. It still lasts as long as my old phone, which was much larger, getting me through the day with no trouble. My wife stuck with the Max size on her 11 Pro, and she can’t even put a dent in that thing’s battery in day. These things go forever.

Even the non-Pro iPhone 11, which includes only two camera lenses and a slightly inferior display technology, is a great buy. It comes in at a very competitive price with all the bells and whistles we’ve come to expect from an Apple flagship, and in a bunch of fun colors. (I’m really jealous of my mom’s purple one.)

The 2019 iPhone is new standard to beat. Sure, the design changes have become less drastic, but that’s only because it’s hard to improve something that’s already this good. I’m sure that there will be a more substantial shift in the look of the upcoming iPhone 12, but it’s going to need more than just an updated design to top what the 11 accomplished in 2019.

iPad

My Rating: 5 | Average Score: 3.9

The iPad Pro is my favorite computer ever. Period. I’ve been a diehard fan of it since I got my first one in 2017, and the 2018 update with Face ID and smaller bezels only made it that much better. I love my iPad, and I do everything on it—including all my work for this blog.

The iPad Pro didn’t receive a 2019 update, but that was mostly because it didn’t need one. The 2018 model is still powerful, modern, and way ahead of its competition. It’s all the computer one could have needed last year.

But that’s not to say there weren’t any changes on the iPad front in 2019. I’d say there were two. First, Apple spread out the iPad lineup to fit every need and price point. They revived the iPad Mini, bringing it into the modern era with a processor update and Apple Pencil support. And they made the base model iPad an even more appealing offer with a bigger screen and support for peripherals like the Smart Keyboard and Pencil, all without moving its ridiculously low starting price. There truly is an iPad for everyone now, and if you haven’t checked out the lineup in a while, I’d suggest you do.

Secondly, on the software front, Apple made a huge decision that will impact the iPad’s trajectory forever. Instead of running iPads on a modified version of the iPhone’s software, Apple decided to give the iPad its own operating system: iPadOS. This means that we’ll hopefully be getting significant, dedicated iPad software updates every year. The iPad’s development is no longer tied to the phone’s, but running right alongside it, and that excites me.

It’s hard to imagine that the iPad line could get any better, but Apple is going to try this year with new iPad Pros rumored to be coming very soon. I might have to hold off on upgrading, though. This one I’m writing on now is still serving me just fine.

Wearables

My Rating: 5 | Average Score: 4.6

Wearables is a relatively new category in the Apple world, but it’s one that we’re going to be hearing more and more about as the company invests in new devices that keep us connected and help us stay healthy.

For now, wearables consists of two product lines: Apple Watch and AirPods. It’s a little weird to call either of these two “product lines” because until 2019, they were just singular products. But in the case of both Watch and AirPods, Apple again expanded their offerings this year and brought these wearable technologies to more people than ever before.

Apple Watch was the gift this holiday season, thanks to the company’s decision to sell their Series 3 models for an extremely competitive price. Previously, getting into the Apple Watch world cost over $300, usually closer to $400. But because the Series 3 is a little older and cheaper to produce, the entry price dropped to $200 this year, and that made it a possibility for so many new people. Of all the Apple Watches the company sold this quarter—and they sold a lot—75% of them were to people who had never owned Apple Watch before. Wow.

And for those who wanted the bleeding edge in smart watch technology, there was the Series 5 with its smaller bezels and always-on display. Who knew that people who wore watches would actually want to use them to quickly check the time? I’m still on the Series 4 and it’s serving me well, but I can’t pretend I wasn’t tempted by the latest model’s new screen. Maybe next year.

As far as AirPods go, they literally can’t make enough of them to meet demand. Not only are the classic AirPods selling like hot cakes, but the new AirPods Pro are sold out everywhere. When my dad wanted to purchase a pair as a Christmas gift, I had the challenge of tracking down the only pair in a 150-mile radius. It was fun. 😁

It’s been tough year for me headphones-wise. My original AirPods from 2017 finally wore down to the point that I couldn’t use the daily anymore, so I swapped them out for the Powerbeats Pro, made by Apple subsidiary Beats.

They were great, but then in October, the company released both the AirPods Pro and the Beats Solo Pro on the same day, and I couldn’t resist. For the full story, you can check out my blog post on it, but to sum it up, I loved the Beats Solo Pro but couldn’t wear them comfortably, so I switched to the AirPods Pro. I couldn’t be happier with them. They’re portable, they last forever, and the noise cancellation is astounding for a device so small.

Needless to say, wearables are going strong. Mine make my life better every single day, and I can’t imagine going without them.

Apple TV

My Rating: 4 | Average Score: 2.7

I was surprised by how low the average score on the Apple TV was this year. Sure, some people complain that the remote is hard to handle and that the TV app is difficult to navigate, but there’s no way the Apple TV deserves a rating this harsh.

Let me put it this way: The Apple TV is the best way to watch television, hands down.

To put that statement into context, no TV interface is perfect, and most them frankly stink. But out of all of them, Apple’s stinks the least and lets you watch what you want with the least trouble out of all of them.

I think part of the problem is that TV is in a time of major change right now. The streaming wars are just ramping up, and no one has totally mastered how to bring the internet into the living room just yet. But I’d say Apple is pretty darn close.

When I turn on my Apple TV (using my phone as the remote, of course), I have access to all of my streaming services, purchased content, music playlists, podcasts, photos, and even most of my favorite mobile games. I can tell Siri what I want to watch, use the device’s universal search to see if the show I want is available on the services I’m already paying for, or jump into my cross-service Up Next queue and get to the latest episodes right from the home screen.

It requires a little bit of setup, but if you take the time to get the Apple TV tuned properly and learn how to use it, it’s the ideal way to experience TV. My mom has a smart TV that she uses all the time, but when she came to visit me and saw me use the Apple TV interface, she immediately asked, “How do I get that on my TV?” Nothing else comes close.

Sure, I have a few complaints: I wish Netflix would integrate with the device’s Up Next queue, though that’s not really Apple’s fault. I wish there was a way to turn off suggestions for shows and services I don’t pay for. And I wish that every streaming service was offered as an official Apple TV channel, because that experience is just so smooth. But all in all, I’m pleased with the Apple TV, its quality, and the way it lets me sit back and just enjoy the show.

I have an Apple TV box on every TV I use, both at home and at work. It’s just the best TV experience, and it’s well worth the money for something I use and enjoy so much and so often.

Services

My Rating: 5 | Average Score: 3.7

2019 was the year Apple made its big push into services. Traditionally, they have made most of their money by selling computers and phones, but in the future, more and more of the company’s revenue is going to come from these recurring services that customers subscribe to and pay for on a regular basis.

When I first heard about this shift in the company’s strategy, I was unsure. I think it’s natural to have a certain amount of skepticism toward subscription services. Are they really worth the money we’re being asked to put into them every month? That’s difficult to judge. Plus, it was hard to imagine what these services would be like before they actually came out.

Now, though, I’m convinced. With one minor exception, I think that Apple’s services are great values, and I use most of them myself.

Apple Music has been around for a while, and it’s a no-brainer. The thing that held me back from music streaming for so long was my carefully curated library of songs I had purchased over the years. I didn’t want to lose them. When Apple Music came along and offered the ability to integrate streaming and my library together, I was immediately hooked, and I’ve been a subscriber ever since.

I got the Apple Card soon after it came out this summer, and I love it. It’s a beautiful card, but I hardly ever have to use it because it allows me to pay with my phone via Apple Pay. The daily cash back and the ability to pay on any schedule (which for me is multiple times a day) are a nice touch. My only complaint is that I can’t add Katherine as an authorized user yet. Once they add that ability, it’ll be perfect.

Apple Arcade is the service I’ve used the least, but when I take the time to play the games on it, I really enjoy them. It’s nice to know that every one of them is high-quality, ad-free, and devoid of in-app purchases. It’s a worthwhile investment for anyone who likes mobile games or has kids who play games on their phone.

Apple TV+ has really surprised me. I didn’t think I would even bother watching it, much less like it, but Katherine and I have watched nearly every show available on the service at this point, and we love them all. TV+ has become a must-have in our house, and we will gladly pay the $5/month subscription once our free trial runs out this autumn.

The outlier here is Apple News+. The magazine subscription service is confusing and impractical, unfortunately. I hope that Apple can refine New+ into a valuable, ad-free news source, but for now, I don’t think it has much value unless you’re one of those people who really loves magazines.

Overall, Apple services have been on point so far. I’m hoping to see some sort of bundle come this year to simplify my budget a little bit, but either way, I’m a happy subscriber, so Apple gets top marks from me.

HomeKit

My Rating: 3 | Average Score: 2.8

My smart home makes me feel pretty dumb sometimes. I’ve gone all-in on HomeKit at my house, and the experience ranges from mildly convenient to downright frustrating. It’s not the magic that I always imagined it would be.

The pieces are all there: I’ve got my lamps, my most-used lights, my fans, my doors, my thermostat, my TVs, and my sound system all smarted out and loaded into the Home app. I’ve created scenes for when I wake up, go to bed, come home, and leave the house. It’s all automated, and in theory, it should be great.

But in reality, the whole thing is quite inconsistent. I don’t know if it’s a problem with Wifi technology or with the Siri smart assistant or if smart home technology just isn’t ready. But it feels like about a third of the time I try to do something with my smart home, it fails. And often, it will work but lie and say that it failed. It doesn’t make a lot of sense.

I spent 2019 tinkering with the smart stuff, trying to get it to all work properly, and for the most part, it does. As long as I stick to my regular routine and don’t poke anything, the house performs as expected. But it feels like the whole thing is held together by thread and could shut down at any minute. That’s not the kind of reliability you want when it comes to something as important as your house.

To be fair, this problem isn’t exclusive to HomeKit. All smart home platforms have their issues, and Apple’s is the most private and secure of all of them. But the company really needs to invest some time and money into getting this thing right, and recent rumors and job listings seem to indicate that that’s the direction they’re going. Maybe my rating will be higher in this category next year.

One last HomeKit-related note: The HomePod smart speaker is amazing. In doing my research before buying one, I read that everyone who buys one ends up buying more, and that’s been true for me. I now have three: one in my bedroom and two in my living room. They’re great for music, podcasts, and watching TV. I’m hoping 2020 brings us a chapter HomePod Mini so that I can put one in every room of my house.

Hardware Reliability

My Rating: 5 | Average Score: 3.9

Apple’s hardware is as good as it’s ever been. The iPhone 11 is the most well-built phone I’ve ever seen. iPad design is in a great place. Apple is slowly but surely fixing its unreliable keyboards on the MacBooks. And have you seen how cool the Mac Pro looks (not to mention how functional the design is)? It was a great year for Apple hardware.

Software Quality

My Rating: 2 | Average Score: 2.7

Software, on the other hand, was a mess. Both iOS 13 and macOS Catalina had convoluted, bug-ridden rollouts that have left a bad taste in the mouths of Apple’s users. Adoption rates are getting better as the bugs get worked out, but these updates are nowhere near the no-brainers that 2018’s operating systems were. Here’s to hoping that Apple learned their lesson and will focus on software reliability before releasing anything new this year.

One more complaint on this issue: Apple promised that we would be able to share calendars stored in iCloud with other users this summer, and that feature is still nowhere to be seen. I need it! Please, Apple, get this one shipped soon.

Developer Relations

My Rating: 3 | Average Score: 3.4

As a non-developer, I can’t really comment on this topic other than what I read in the news and hear on podcasts. Apple has put so much money into the app economy through its app stores and made space for companies and careers that never would have exited otherwise. In that sense, they should be applauded.

On the other hand, 2019 was the year that some of Apple’s policies were seriously called into question on a grand scale. Spotify is officially suing the company for discriminatory app policies, claiming that Apple holds a monopoly over the software marketplace on its devices. We’ll see where that goes, but the idea of breaking the app store monopoly has become quite popular in the tech world as of late.

Also, it seems that Apple did a poor job of providing developers the tools they needed to adopt the latest technologies released this year. Documentation for Mac Catalyst (the tool for porting iPad apps to the Mac) and SwiftUI (a new, simpler app development workflow) were either missing, vague, or downright wrong. This has led to poor adoption of the technologies and a general consensus that they are dead in the water.

Apple relies on developers to keep its app stores relevant and lively, so they need to prioritize them a little more, or there could be a reckoning on the horizon.

Environmental/Social/Societal Impact

My Rating: 3 | Average Score: 3.3

It’s hard to argue that Apple hasn’t done a lot of good for the world. Specifically, their efforts in environmental-friendliness and accessibility have had a major impact across the industry, and I think they deserve credit for it.

However, 2019 was a tricky year for Apple when it comes to international politics. Between the Hong Kong protests, Russia-Ukraine land dispute, and U.S.-China trade war, Apple found itself in a middle of a many hotly contested issues. And a lot of Apple customers were not big happy with the way the company handled these situations.

It’s tough trying to do international business in a world with so many competing interests, and Apple has to toe a lot of lines. But for a company that claims to have such strong principles, they seem to be willing to make compromises so long as they benefit the bottom line. Maybe that’s just good business, but for people like me who value integrity, it can definitely hurt a company’s reputation.

I gave Apple a three because I still think their impact is a net good for the world. They’re pushing accessibility and privacy as human rights, which I am completely on board with. And I try to understand that some of their international decisions are complicated, even if I don’t necessarily agree with them. But Apple should be doing a better job of consistently applying their principles to these situations, even if they result in a loss of profits. That’s what an ethical company does.

Wow, that was a lot. I didn’t realize I had so much to say about Apple in 2019, but I hope this gives you a snapshot of where the company is and how I feel about what they accomplished last year.

I’d love to hear what you think. Are you an Apple fan? How do you think they did in 2019? And if you’re not an Apple user, what is it like watching all of these things happen from the outside? Do you think we’re weird for caring so much? Let me know in the comments or on social media.

If you got this far, thanks for reading my Apple report card for 2019! It was really fun to put together. I’ll see you next week for something different. Until then!