Apple accessories to watch out for in 2020

Apple is probably the most famous digital corporation in the world. Each of their new presentation becomes a sensation. Almost the whole world is following the release of new gadgets from Apple, and Cupertino has become a new Mecca for the army of apple products fans.

This was entirely due to the marketing genius of Steve Jobs, one of its founders. It is thanks to unconventional marketing moves and an unsurpassed advertising campaign that Apple products soared to the very top of the world business.

The release of the first iPhone was a watershed moment in the history of mobile phones. Incredibly talented engineers and programmers worked on its creation, but without Steve Jobs it would not have become so popular. It is to him that Apple should be grateful for its rapid growth in the global market.

With the death of Steve Jobs, the situation has changed not for the better, nevertheless, Apple is still at its best and their new products undoubtedly deserve attention.

Everyone knows their products such as iphone, ipad, ipod and other popular Apple devices, but in addition to those listed there is a whole mountain of accessories for them that you might not have heard of. We will analyze some of them in this article..

Apple watch

And first on the list will be the Apple watch, which has become one of the most popular Apple accessories since its release.

The first model of this watch was released in 2015 and, despite the fact that by that time Samsung, LG and other well-known companies had released their smartwatches, the apple watch easily surpassed them in sales.

Since 2015, they have undergone many changes: the design has changed a lot, the hardware has become better, the errors and software bugs have been fixed, and in general they began to work much faster.

Even the synchronization time speaks for this. In the first version, you had to wait at least an hour for the clock to adjust. IN Series 4 synchronization takes no more than 10 minutes

Today we will consider the fourth and latest version of this watch.

The watch has become a little larger than the old models. From 38/42 mm they have grown to 40/44 mm. This is especially noticeable when you look at the display. It really became 30% larger, and because of the thin bezels, this is especially noticeable.

The design has hardly changed, except that the power button was sunk a little more into the body, and the back side has become ceramic, so as not to scratch the hand. The branded scroll wheel on the right side remains unchanged.

The watch is dust and moisture resistant, it can be immersed to a depth of 50 meters.

There are a huge variety of watch faces that display:

• Weather information;
• The calendar;
• Contact list;
• Sports apps.

And much more.

Among other things, they have a built-in gyroscope, accelerometer, light sensor, Wi-Fi, GPS, heart rate monitor and other sensors.

You can talk on them calmly without fear that the interlocutor will not hear your voice.

They also have an interesting function that allows you to make a kind of ECG. To do this, you need to put your finger on the crown of the watch, it will pass a weak current through the body, and you will see the results on the screen.

And although this technology is still very far from perfect, its functionality is very limited and does not work anywhere except in the United States, the idea itself is quite interesting.

• Huge functionality. The watch contains a whole sea of ​​necessary and not very indicators.
• High standard dust and moisture proof
• Ease of use. Apple watch has always been convenient to use, and the new version also has a larger display.

• The battery life is only 16-17 hours, so you have to constantly charge them;
• Many functions do not work in Russia, for example LTE;
• Some complained about the lack of security of personal data.

Price - from 31,000 rubles.

To summarize, this is probably one of the most useful accessories from Apple, if not the most useful.

Headphones

EarPods

Over the long period of existence of the "company with a bitten apple", the design of their headphones has changed many times. There were both successful models and outright hack (hello, Apple In-Ear Headphones).

But in 2012, that all changed with the release of the EarPods headset. The redesigned design marks a new milestone in headphone production. Designers from Cupertino worked tirelessly for 3 years on the design of the headphones and created their own reference standard, which they still adhere to.

The headphones come in a beautiful white box with a tightly closed lid.

The design at the time of release was very unusual, and now no one except apple produces headphones of this shape. They fit comfortably in the ears, do not fly out and do not create any discomfort. They have a built-in microphone so they can be used as a headset.

There is a control panel on the wire. Its functionality has not changed in comparison with other models.

With it, you can also increase / decrease the volume, switch tracks by pressing the middle button (twice - the next track; three times - the previous one), answer calls and discard unwanted calls (by long pressing the middle button).

If everything is fine with the design and functionality, then with the sound everything is not so simple. If low frequencies are reproduced with a bang, then lovers of heavy music will obviously not like the sound.

But if you are a fan of acoustic music with bass lines or pop music with electronic music, you will be pleasantly surprised.

• Convenience and design. The earbuds sit in your ears like a glove, while not delivering any inconvenience when wearing. The ears do not get tired even after 5 hours of listening to music.
• A control panel that allows you to do a lot of things without reaching the phone is a plus for them.
• Mostly good sound
• High build quality. The earphones are not scratched, the cable does not break, does not get confused and generally has a long life.

• Bad treble. Metal lovers are better off choosing something else, as at high frequencies the sound merges into a mess.
• Lack of soundproofing. In noisy rooms or the subway, the sound will have to be turned to the maximum, but even this may not be enough.
• Inconvenient straight plug.

EarPods are high quality headphones. Cupertinos worked for a long time to give them the desired shape and they did it. Most styles of music, especially those with predominant bass, are perfectly reproduced. Wearing them is a pleasure, and their price, oddly enough, is not high. In 2020, they can generally be purchased for $ 15-20.

AirPods

Having become the next link in the evolution of the EarPods, Apple's wireless headphones, released in 2016, immediately caused a real controversy around themselves.

Someone did not like that the new design was not delivered, someone complained that they could fly out when walking, but very soon after going on sale, the critics had to admit they were wrong.

Convenience, simplicity and rich functionality have always been the stumbling block of all Apple products.

These headphones Is a great example of this.

They come in a convenient and beautiful case, which is also a charger. At the bottom it has a Lightning connector for charging, and in the middle there is a button for synchronizing with the phone when you first connect or connect to another device.

Despite the fact that they have a button to synchronize with the device, they are determined by the iPhone, you just have to bring the case with the headphones to it. After that, the headphone and case charge level is displayed in the notification line.

It can also be viewed through any device synced to your phone.

A full charge of each earbud is enough for 5 hours of continuous use. If you store them in a case, then this time will be 24 hours.

The charging module does not take up much space, you can carry it with you all the time and from time to time put your headphones into it to recharge. And if they are still discharged, then it supports the fast charging function, allowing you to charge the headphones for another 3 hours of work in 15 minutes.

By doing these simple manipulations and charging the case at home, you can generally forget that they can be discharged.

Air pods not only allow you to listen to music, but are also a full-fledged headset that is very convenient to control.

When you take one earbud out of your ear, the music is automatically paused.

To receive a call, you need to knock on the earpiece twice, the same thing to hang up the call. You can call Siri with the same double tap, right? she does not understand Russian very well.

If you don't want to talk to Siri, you can change the double-tap functionality to different options in the settings. For example, you can turn off the music with this gesture.

Those people who said that the earpiece with this design can easily fall out of the ear can calm down. They lie tightly in any ear and can fly out only if you shake your head very hard. But yes, you shouldn't take them to a metal concert.

During a conversation, the interlocutor hears you perfectly, and you also hear him perfectly, the microphone works flawlessly.

The sound in the air pods is impressive for open-back headphones.

A large volume reserve allows you not to worry about audibility on the street or in strong winds. The built-in W1 audio processor is responsible for clear and high-quality reproduction of speech and music.

The sound, of course, does not reach the level of professional headphones, but for everyday use they give out excellent sound.

Oddly enough, they can even be connected to android devices, although the ability to pause music is lost by taking out the earpiece and the charge level cannot be checked. Otherwise, everything works fine, even "Ok Google" is turned on by voice instead of Siri. So they can be considered as an option even if you don't have an iphone.

• Fully intuitive connection to Apple devices;
• Good autonomy, fast charging option;
• Clear and dense sound;
• Incredibly natural voice quality;
• Simple control, work with a voice assistant (for example, the "Stop music playback" command pauses the current audio file in any application);
• Ease of use of the headset and charging module (even a child will understand everything);
• No difficulties with communication, activity during the day and duplicated connections;
• Despite the lack of specialized protection against sweat, the headset can be used for running, since they do not have a cord, they do not cling, they are comfortable to wear for a long time.

• After connection (for Android phone), the display does not accurately show the charge level of the headset, which requires reconnection;
• If you use AirPods on various gadgets of the "apple" company, then after returning to work with the iPhone, the tiny headphone indicator, which is usually located in the device's notification panel, may disappear;
• In the process of connecting to the iPhone, all signals from the gadget are audible in the earbuds, for example, if you dial SMS, you will hear key sets, but the volume level is allowed to be reduced;
• If you open the case without the headset inside, the display does not show charging information for the case itself;
• The headset cannot be used with several devices at the same time, so the user will have to choose whether it will be an iPhone or TV.

The cost of the gadget is about 12,000 rubles.

The Air pods 2 version went on sale in 2019. This device has increased battery life and improved sound quality.

Air pods can rightfully be considered one of the best accessories for apple (and not only) products, which will undoubtedly make your life much more convenient.

Apple pencil

Back in 2007, at the Apple presentation, Steve Jobs asked the legendary question "Do you need a stylus?" In 2015, the guys at Apple responded to it by saying, "Yes, we do."

Only if you are a professional artist or intend to become one.

To begin with, you can only use it with iPad Pro and iPad 2018 by purchasing the Pro creative app.

For artists, this accessory has many pros and cons. Let's look at them

• Response speed. The high-performance processor delivers up to 240 reads per second, so latency is completely overlooked. It interacts with the tablet just like a pencil and paper;
• Sensitivity. The pencil distinguishes up to 2048 degrees of pressure and can distinguish between the angle of inclination. This further enhances the feeling that you are holding a pencil in your hands;
• High autonomy. A full charge gives the pencil 12 hours of continuous use. You can charge it by simply inserting it into the iPad via the Lightning connector;
• Convenience and neatness. When drawing an apple pencil, you can rest your hands on the screen. This will not affect the quality of the drawing in any way. It will not rub off or smudge;
• Carbon copy function. Now you can redraw images by putting the drawing sheet on iPad. The pencil will scrupulously transfer each outlined line;
• Advanced functionality. With apple pencil, you can not only draw in Pro creative, but also take notes in a special note-taking application, as well as highlight interesting places in the text and on screenshots, add your illustrations and comments.

Of course, the apple technique is not the embodiment of the divine on earth, and it also has disadvantages.

• Lack of support for other devices except iPad pro and iPad 2018;
• The need to buy a separate case for the stylus or a special case for the ipad with a compartment for this pencil, since these two iPad models do not have a special holder for it;
• When working only with a stylus, the functionality of the ipad itself is limited. Without a finger, it is impossible to swipe from above or below, you cannot work with Slide Over and Split View modes;
• Many Wacom styluses have the back that doubles as an eraser, allowing you to erase what you draw. When working with Apple pencil, you have to select a special mode for this in your drawing program.

The Apple pencil is undoubtedly a very useful accessory for illustrators. Its main advantage is that it does not need a computer connection to draw. You can draw on it right away, like on a piece of paper.

At the same time, because of such sensitivity, working with it is almost no different from working with a regular pencil, but at the same time you will not ruin the drawing by awkwardly sliding your hand over it.

The price is about 8,000 rubles.

Docking stations

If the usual method of charging a phone or other accessory from a special adapter seems inconvenient and / or boring to you, then there are a huge variety of different docking stations for Apple products. We will now consider some of them.

Apple branded docking station

The first step is to pay attention to the Apple branded product.

The station looks extremely minimalistic. It is a simple plastic or metal stand with a lightning connector and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It can be connected to an outlet or to a computer and the gadget can be installed on top in a vertical position at a slight tilt.

The wire for connection, however, will have to be purchased separately.

• The station is quite weighty, and almost does not slide on the table;
• Headphone connection;
• The height of the connector allows you to connect your phone right in the case.

• The phone / tablet is held only by the connector, there are no devices holding it;
• Price - 3600 rubles.

Coteetci 3-in-1 docking station

Not only the brand itself has a desire to join Apple accessories.Many third-party firms create accessories for apple products.

One of the best is the little-known Chinese firm Coteetci.

One of their inventions was hybrid charging for 3 apple devices at once: Apple watch, iphone and air pods.

The device is made of aluminum and comes in 3 different colors: Silver, Space Gray, and Rose Gold.

All wires are initially integrated into the station, except for the apple watch tablet. It should be put into a special mount and lead the wire down through a special channel. The charging station is powered by a power bank or computer.

All accessories are securely fastened and will not fall, moreover, the iPhone can be safely removed with one hand.

This device costs 3900 rubles, which is equal to the cost of the original station from apple, but here you can charge 3 devices at once and there are wires included.

Advantages and disadvantages:

• The ability to charge 3 devices at once;
• Includes wires for iPhone and AirPods;
• Sturdy aluminum base.

• Price. Although this station is well made, its price is still too high compared to its Chinese counterparts.

Belkin express dock

Another alternative to the proprietary docking station is the Belkin charger.

Despite the fact that it is made of plastic, it weighs quite perceptibly and does not slip on the table because of the plate made of soft and elastic material.

The connector itself protrudes slightly above the body. Thanks to this, you can install an iPhone on it in a case. However, only if it is not too thick. Some types of covers with a wide bottom will not work for this station.

The wire is built-in, quite long and of good quality.

The connector itself can be moved back and forth by adjusting the angle of the device.

• A design feature thanks to which the phone can, if necessary, abut against the back cover, which increases its stability;
• The ability to change the angle of inclination of the device.

• Built-in cable.

The cost is about 3000 rubles.

Covers

Apple appliances, like all other smartphones or tablets, tend to scratch, break, or otherwise react to rough handling.

To protect against accidents, engineers and designers from Cupertino, and not only them, have come up with many different covers.

Silicon case and Leather case

The most popular iPhone cases at the moment are these models. They are made of silicone and leather, respectively. It's a timeless classic for all apple owners. Their design practically did not change from model to model, except that the iPhone X has a cutout at the bottom for more convenient installation of the phone in the Doc station.

These 2 cases are distinguished by the material from which they are made. The color palette can also be different depending on the model.

Although a leather case is traditionally more expensive, it wipes off faster and loses its presentation than a silicone one. But it looks much better and the dust does not stick to it. The average price for it is 4000 rubles

Silicone is stronger, but incredibly easy to collect dust. If you need to dust off your pocket, the silicone case is your choice. It literally magnetizes to him and it is not so easy to remove it.

It is also heavier than leather, but protects the phone itself better. It costs an average of 3000 rubles.

As a result, the choice of a case is the envy of the user himself: If you like the style and feel aversion to dust at the genetic level - your choice is Leather case.

If you want to throw your iPhone on the asphalt on a dare and don't care about the dust - your choice is a silicon case.

Apple Leather Folio

In 2017, Apple suddenly decided to release its own version of the book cover, which is quite popular in the post-Soviet space. The Chinese have already made an innumerable set of such covers of different designs, colors, shades and designs.

And what's so unusual about an apple case?

Well, perhaps the prohibitive cost of 7,000 rubles. Otherwise, this is a regular flip-flop with credit card pockets, which should be closed with magnets.

But he is not very good at it.The magnets do not magnetise well, the lid dangles and is generally inconvenient to use.

Buy this case only if you have nowhere to put 7,000 rubles, for which, by the way, you can buy some Xiaomi. Or you need to launder the money obtained illegally.

In other cases, there is no point in acquiring it.

Smart Battery Case

If you still have the desire to spend 7000 rubles for a case, you should take a closer look at the Apple Smart Battery Case.

Apple only released these cases for the iphone 6 and 7, but there are similar third-party versions for other iphone versions as well. Which, moreover, are much cheaper.

The inside of this case is lined with soft microfiber, and it itself is made of silicone. The case has a built-in 1800 mAh battery, which protrudes like an impromptu hump on the back.

Not the best design solution, of course, but the autonomy of the phone increases significantly.

The case has built-in antennas in order to eliminate the loss of communication quality, as well as a built-in microphone and a hole that outputs sound from the speaker through a special grill, so that the sound quality does not drop, and the interlocutor will always hear you perfectly.

The case battery takes 2 hours to charge. When in contact with a smartphone, it gives it all the energy in 1 hour and 15 minutes, allowing it to charge it by another 70%. The notifications show the charge level of the case and phone.

By connecting the charger, the iphone itself and the case begin to charge.

One of the drawbacks of the case is the inconvenient headphone jack, which most L-shaped devices won't fit into. However, with the Earpods, these problems won't arise.

Apple iPad Smart case

If the iPhone can do without a case, then the iPad is simply vital, especially if you carry it in a bag with various items that pose an immediate threat to the screen.

Of course, the Apple company has foreseen this too and released its own version of what the perfect case for their product should look like.

There are a ton of different third-party cases for iPad that deserve a separate review. One of the most popular is the case from apple - iPad Smart case.

It is made, depending on the model, from polyurethane or leather in the form of a book. The back, like a silicone case, completely hugs the iPad. There are only cutouts for the connectors for the camera, charger and headphones. The inside of the cover is covered with microfiber.

From above, it is closed by a cover with built-in magnets, thanks to which it fits snugly enough to the screen, so it does not need any additional fasteners.

The lid can be transformed into a convenient stand that you can use to place iPad on a table and watch videos, or tilt it for ease of use.

When closing the lid, the screen is automatically locked. To unlock it, it is enough to open it slightly.

Only the price is disappointing. It reaches 7500 rubles for the latest iPad models.

For at least half the amount, you can find a worthy alternative in the Chinese market, but if you don't want to bother with the search and money allows, this case will be a good option for your iPad.

Summing up

Almost all Apple products are expensive. This is partly justified by the fact that Apple is scrupulous about the little things. Their products always look elegant, pleasant to the touch, reliable and packed in beautiful boxes.

However, most of the price tag is definitely the markup for the brand and the cost of the advertising campaign. Nevertheless, every year there are millions of people willing to overpay for convenience and comfort.

Can we blame them for that, we don't think so.