1. Pricing of Accessories

Let’s examine a couple of instances:

• Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable (1.2m) - White (£35): This is undoubtedly the most regrettable purchase I’ve ever made. It’s flimsy, unattractive, and lacks any redeeming qualities. A braided option could have mitigated some regret.
• Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad (£199): If I’m spending that much on a keyboard, I’d rather opt for an IQUNIX F96, thank you.

And then there are the absurdities: the notorious £949 Pro Stand for the Pro Display XDR, nearly £700 for four wheels for the Mac Pro, and the ridiculously overpriced £19 Polishing Cloth.

I’ve recently discovered that they still sell a security lock adapter for the ‘trash can’ Mac Pro for £49. I’ll take two, please.

This either reflects extreme arrogance or a blind belief in their product quality. Perhaps Tim and his team simply don’t care; their revenue streams primarily come from the iPhone, services, and Macs — if you want a cloth with an Apple logo, pay up or move along.

2. Subpar Mac Webcams

No one can convince me that there’s a decent webcam within the Studio Display (believe me, they’ve tried).

It simply doesn’t exist.

The camera quality in devices like the 16-inch MacBook Pro and the M1 MacBook Air makes it clear that Apple remains unconcerned about webcam quality. The now-discontinued iMac Pro, oddly, boasted a superior 1080p webcam compared to the Studio Display’s in various tests I’ve seen.

For a company capable of so much with limited smartphone camera hardware, this is unacceptable. I’m thoroughly frustrated with the overly smooth images produced by Apple’s FaceTime cameras on their Macs — we deserve better.

3. Discontinuing the iPhone 13 Mini (Likely)

The iPhone 13 Mini is the most thrilling iPhone I’ve ever owned, yet it appears to be nearing its end.

Apple is notoriously secretive about its iPhone sales data, but analysts have long indicated that the iPhone Mini series typically lags behind in sales. For some reason, neither the 12 nor the 13 version of this compact powerhouse seems to gain traction.

I just don’t understand it. This device is fantastic.

This confusion deepens when I consider that my most successful YouTube video to date is my iPhone 13 Mini review, which has garnered over 460,000 views, with weekly comments pouring in. When I tally the views from all four of my videos about the iPhone 13 Mini, it totals just under 600,000.

Clearly, there’s significant interest in this product, and judging by the feedback I receive, people genuinely love it. However, that enthusiasm hasn’t been enough to secure more production of this model.

Well, it was nice while it lasted.

4. Relentlessly Using Old Designs

Despite my enthusiasm for the iPhone 13 Mini, it has been overshadowed by the 2022 iPhone SE. I can’t stop using Apple’s budget smartphone.

While the iPhone SE’s ‘just get it done’ mentality is commendable, it undeniably looks outdated compared to its competitors. Those large bezels, Touch ID button, and mediocre display feel like relics.

Apple often exploits designs to their utmost before refreshing them. The iPhone SE is just one of many products that have undergone this treatment, alongside the impressive MacBook Air and the equally fantastic Mac Mini.

One could argue that the Apple Watch also falls into this category. Despite being a great wearable, it has largely maintained the same appearance since launch, merely growing slightly larger with each release.

This issue is unlikely to change. It’s a major factor in Apple’s profitability. Yet, arguably, it doesn’t matter; the M1 MacBook Air is an example of a superb product housed in a somewhat outdated design; somehow, it still performs wonderfully.

5. The Magic Mouse

Let me explain.

My go-to mouse is the exceptional Logitech MX Master 3. It’s pricier than Apple’s standard offering but arguably the best peripheral I’ve ever purchased, with incredible ergonomics, build quality, and functionality.

In stark contrast, the Magic Mouse (priced at a not-so-insignificant £99) is a contender for the title of Worst Product Ever Released, battling it out with the aforementioned Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable.

The Magic Mouse has several flaws. Firstly, it’s all too easy to accidentally use it upside down. Similar to the dreadful first-generation Apple TV Siri Remote, there’s no clear indication of the correct orientation, aside from the Apple logo.

Secondly, it isn’t truly ‘magic.’ I’ve always found the use of that term in Apple’s product naming dubious. If you’re going to label something as ‘magic,’ at least have it perform a card trick or pull a rabbit out of a hat.

Thirdly, it’s too compact. I don’t have large hands (please refrain from laughing), yet the Magic Mouse still feels cramped in my palm, turning gesture controls into a painful exercise in finger gymnastics.

Lastly — and you knew this was coming — the charging method.

I can’t let this go, as it’s incredibly frustrating.

To charge the Magic Mouse, you must flip it over and connect — you guessed it — a Lightning charging cable.

This makes the mouse completely unusable during charging. No amount of “the battery lasts for weeks” can justify this, because you will inevitably need to charge it while working on something important.

Every other wireless mouse I’ve used can function while charging. When the Magic Mouse needs power, you’re forced to stop using your computer. How can that be acceptable? Coupled with its poor ergonomics, the Magic Mouse stands as the most user-unfriendly Apple device I’ve owned, and it rightly earns every meme, GIF, and Windows fan joke it receives.

Alright, I’ll take that beer back — thanks.