As 2025 draws to a close, a year of remarkable innovation from Apple comes into focus. From groundbreaking iPhones to powerful new chips, the company delivered a wave of products that redefined expectations. This is a look back at the releases that truly resonated, the ones that pushed boundaries and captivated users throughout the year.
The iPhone 17 wasn’t merely the best iPhone of 2025; it represented a five-year leap forward. Apple finally unleashed features long considered standard for a premium smartphone – double the storage, a fluid 120Hz ProMotion display, a stunning 50 percent increase in peak brightness, and an always-on display. Coupled with improved cameras, blazing speed, and extended battery life, all without a price increase, the iPhone 17 made the “Pro” models feel less essential.
iOS 26 brought a welcome relief to a common frustration: unwanted calls and messages. The new Call Screening feature silently answers unknown numbers, displaying the caller’s reason for calling directly on your screen. Combined with enhanced spam filtering in Messages, Phone, and FaceTime, Apple finally began to seriously address the pervasive issue of smartphone spam, offering a noticeable improvement in daily peace of mind.
In a vibrant departure from recent trends, Apple reintroduced bold color choices with the iPhone 17 Pro’s Cosmic Orange. This wasn’t just a new hue; it was a statement, a return to the playful spirit of the original Bondi Blue iMac. The striking color quickly became a sensation, with the Apple Store buzzing with customers eager to claim the vibrant new device and its accompanying accessories.
A surprising and whimsical release, the iPhone Pocket – a 3D-knitted enclosure for your iPhone – captured the imagination of Apple fans. Designed in collaboration with Issey Miyake, this unexpected accessory came in a range of vibrant colors and, against all odds, sold out almost instantly, proving Apple’s ability to create desire for even the most unconventional products.
Liquid Glass, Apple’s ambitious new design language for OS 26, unfortunately missed the mark. While intended to create a more “magical” experience, it ultimately prioritized style over substance. The result was a visually flamboyant but functionally frustrating interface, a departure from the user-friendly philosophy that defined Apple’s earlier successes.
The Mac Studio, powered by the M3 Ultra chip, emerged as the standout Mac of 2025. Released slightly ahead of schedule, it delivered unparalleled performance, surpassing even the M2 Ultra Mac Pro by a significant margin. At a considerably lower price point, the Mac Studio effectively redefined the high-end Mac landscape, rendering the Mac Pro less compelling for most users.
Apple’s silicon continued its reign with the M5 chip, debuting in the MacBook Pro. This chip wasn’t just an incremental upgrade; it represented a breakthrough in processing speed, graphics power, and energy efficiency. So impressive was its performance that Apple opted to delay the release of the M5 Pro and Max variants until the following year.
The Mac Pro, despite its premium price tag, felt conspicuously outdated in 2025. While other Macs benefited from the latest M4 and even M5 chips, the Mac Pro remained stuck with the previous-generation M2 Ultra. With the Mac Studio offering superior performance at a lower cost, the Mac Pro’s value proposition became increasingly difficult to justify.
The iPad Pro M5 stood out among a year of iPad updates. While other models received modest chip refreshes, the M5-powered iPad Pro delivered a truly noticeable performance boost. Combined with increased RAM, faster Wi-Fi, and fast charging, it solidified its position as the premier iPad for professionals and power users.
iPadOS 26 was a transformative update, finally addressing long-standing requests from iPad users. The new interface introduced resizable windows, macOS-like multitasking, and a host of productivity enhancements, breathing new life into the iPad experience and unlocking its full potential.
The Apple Watch SE 3 proved that premium features don’t always require a premium price. Offering nearly the same functionality as the higher-end Series 11, the SE 3 delivered exceptional value with the addition of an always-on display, improved battery life, enhanced durability, and new health features – all at an incredibly accessible price point.
Amidst the popularity of Apple TV+ and Apple Music, Apple News+ quietly emerged as a standout service in 2025. The introduction of the unique Emoji Game and a clutter-free recipe search function, complete with integrated timers and shopping list creation, transformed News+ into a genuinely useful and entertaining resource.
“Pluribus,” the sci-fi drama on Apple TV+, captivated audiences with its unpredictable narrative and compelling characters. From Vince Gilligan, the creator of “Breaking Bad,” this series seamlessly blended humor, suspense, and emotional depth, earning critical acclaim and establishing itself as Apple’s most compelling original show of the year.
