The 10 Devices Leading Apple’s Mobile Arsenal: The 2022 Mobile 100
Armed with its latest A15 Bionic Chip, Apple has set out to redefine an industry it defined in the first place. The company took a huge gamble with its decision to develop proprietary chips for its computers and mobile devices. CRN examines whether the move is paying off. (Spoiler alert: It’s paying off).
There’s no denying that Apple jumpstarted the mobile device industry with its smartphones and tablets. And the company had up until very recently enjoyed a booming tech market spurred by the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Even as sales begin to cool off as the world adjusts to a new normal, demand for Apple’s latest tablet offerings is always high. Cupertino, Calif.-based tech powerhouse Apple maintained a 31.5 percent market share with 12.1 million units shipped in the first quarter, making the company the undisputed king of the tablet space, IDC said. Based on shipments alone, Apple has been the tablet leader since 2011.
In the smartphone space, it’s Samsung that maintains the lead for smartphone market share. But Apple held a strong No. 2 position with first-quarter shipments reaching 56.5 million units, taking 18 percent of the market share and beating the prior year’s shipments by 2.2 percent, according to IDC. “Our research tells us Samsung and Apple have navigated the supply chain situation better than their competitors…” said IDC’s Ryan Reith in a statement. “We remain of the opinion that any diminished demand will not be lost, but rather pushed forward. It’s just a matter of when that demand resumes.
As part of the 2022 Mobile 100, CRN checks out the 10 devices shaping Apple’s mobile lineup:
* iPad Air
iPhone 13 Pro Max
The ghost of Steve Jobs looms large over any new Apple release. Such is the legacy of the industry icon and trailblazer who brought us the first smartphone. But with Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro Max, CEO Tim Cook and his merry band of engineers prove they are still playing at the top of the game. The iPhone 13 Pro Max is a worthy flagship in the company’s legendary mobile canon, sporting Apple’s own blazing A15 Bionic chip, up to 1TB of storage, a screen size of 6.7 inches, and resolution of 2778x1284 pixels and active refresh rate of up to 120Hz. The camera quality is excellent, with three back lenses led by a 12-megapixel lens and a 12-megapixel front camera. Don’t let the megapixel count fool you, the Max Pro delivers excellent image quality and controls. The company’s flagship smartphone starts at $1,099.
More Specs and Features on Apple.com
iPhone 13 Pro
Before the iPhone Pro Max was introduced, the public had to settle for what many reviewers thought was the best smartphone ever made: the iPhone 13 Pro. This was the first glimpse of the company’s new Super Retina XDR OLED technology and it wowed at first site with 2,352x1170 pixels and a smooth refresh rate of 120Hz. It packs a lot of the same wallop as it’s Max counterpart, with a smaller 5.7x2.8x0.3-inch frame. The phone also shows off the A15 Bionic chip, up to 6GB of RAM and storage of up to 1TB. Sporting the same camera setup as the Max, the Pro can handle 4K videos at up to 60fps. This groundbreaking smartphone weighs in at just 7.19 ounces and costs $999.
More Specs and Features on Apple.com
iPhone 13
Let’s get what’s lacking on the regular release out of the way first: This phone does not share its premium siblings’ third telephoto lens or 120 Hz screen refresh rate. If those are deal breakers for you, just move on up to the Pro or Pro Max. But if you want an excellent phone with a couple less bells and whistles, the regular iPhone 13 still brings a lot to the table. The main star of the show with Apple’s latest release is its competitor killing A15 Bionic chip handing over raw performance that exceeds every benchmark. That you are essentially getting all the features of the more premium iPhone offerings at a discount should be plenty enticing. It is arguably the best phone in its class for the starting price of $699.
More Specs and Features on Apple.com
iPhone SE 2022
When Apple started releasing SE models (ones that use an older frame with newer tech at a cheaper price) they had a surprise hit on their hands. It turned out people still love a good value, especially in the hyper-competitive smart phone arena. Apple released this year’s budget beater SE during its springtime Peek Performance event. Don’t let that nostalgic iPhone 8 body fool you, the SE 2022 packs in the zippy A15 Bionic processor and 64GB of storage – basically the same specs as found in the iPhone 13 line. Camera nerds will be underwhelmed here, since you only get one rear 12-megapixel lens and a 7-megapixel front camera. And what you gain in performance, you lose in display – the SE uses the large-bezel, 4.7-inch retina screen that may have some squinting to read their texts. But with pricing starting at $429, there’s plenty of value to be had with this entry.
More Specs and Features on Apple.com
iPhone 13 Mini
Apple’s entry in the compact space is distinctly Apple. The iPhone 13 Mini gives you just enough specs in a smaller frame with only a couple of stubborn withholdings. The 13 Mini gets that industry best 5 nm A15 Bionic Chip, Apple’s proprietary speedster. It also allows enough room for up to 512GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. Dual main cameras come in at 12-megapixels a piece with a front-facing 12-megapixel lens to match. Video sings with the Super Retina XDR OLED display. At a starting price of $675, the 13 Mini is big on value.
More Specs and Features on Apple.com
iPad Air
Much of the 2022 iPad Air’s features won’t seem new to owners of the 2020 model, but there’s one feature that makes this compact iPad worth the upgrade: it contains Apple’s excellent M1 chip that powers the pricier iPad Pro. This new tablet also gives you the all-important 5G upgrade for better out-of-WiFi-range surfing. Apple split the difference with the iPad Air, giving people who don’t want to shell out the extra money for its top-of-line tablet enough bells and whistles to make the $599 entry price tag palatable. The Air adds some very nice new colors as well.
More Specs and Features on Apple.com
iPad Pro 12.9-inch
There’s a lot of chatter about a new 2022 iPad Pro offering that might make you want to hold off on grabbing the current iPad Pro. But the current model is simply one of the absolute best tablets in any category, so you certainly can’t go wrong, either. Released in 2021, the iPad Pro was the first tablet to house Apple’s Arm-based M1 chip, which offers blazing performance along with reduced power consumption. At a starting price of $999, this is also the most expensive tablet in Apple’s lineup. But it gives you a gorgeous display via the new Liquid Retina XDR Mini LED setup, a long battery life, and more processing power than some competitor’s laptop computers.
More Specs and Features on Apple.com
iPad Pro 11-inch
The iPad Pro 11-inch matches its larger sibling in just about every way, but in a lighter package that may entice those looking for a portability upgrade to go along with the M1 performance boost. The Pro 11-inch lacks the Liquid Retina XDR display of the 12.9-inch model, and that is a shame because that is by far the best display Apple has produced for its tablets. The Pro 11-inch shaves more than weight – it also slims down in the cost department with a $799 price tag for the entry specs. You’ll need to shell out $200 for 5G connectivity, putting it right back up to the price level of the 12.9-inch model.
More Specs and Features on Apple.com
iPad 10.2-inch (2021)
The 10.2-inch iPad version is the best-value out of the lineup and features some noteworthy upgrades from its predecessor. It has a faster processor, (but not the M1), and an upgraded selfie camera that makes for sharper video conferencing. The newer base model can also be used with some of Apple’s latest tablet accessories, including the awesome Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard (both sold separately). Seems like a pretty sweet deal for a price of $329 directly from Apple.
More Specs and Features on Apple.com
iPad Mini
Don’t let iPad mini’s diminutive size fool you, this compact tablet packs a big punch and racks up lots of features to make it a great tablet for those who want a smaller experience. With an 8.3-inch screen, you won’t be getting a cinematic experience out of the Mini, but its big enough to give your squinting eyes a rest after glancing at your phone. The Liquid Retina LED display is very good, but not quite up to par with the XDR display. Apple’s A15 Bionic chip is still excellent, even though nowhere near as powerful as the M1 chip starting to make its way into more Apple products. Starting at $500, the value proposition is pretty strong considering the quality of front and rear cameras, an ample 4GB of RAM with up to 256 GB of storage, and excellent stereo speakers.
More Specs and Features on Apple.com