The best Apple gadgets, ranked | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Apple gadgets, rankedComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...PodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechApple gadgets, rankedOn The Vergecast: it’s iPads vs. iPhones vs. AirPods vs. everything else Apple makes.On The Vergecast: it’s iPads vs. iPhones vs. AirPods vs. everything else Apple makes.by David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceDec 2, 2025, 3:07 PM UTCLinkShareDavid PierceCloseDavid PiercePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.Apple makes a lot of gadgets. Most of them are very good! You’d frankly be hard-pressed to find a company with a better track record, especially across so many categories. But only one Apple gadget can be the best Apple gadget, and it’s time for us to decide which one it is.On this episode of The Vergecast, The Verge’s Victoria Song and Allison Johnson join David to come up with a definitive ranking of Apple’s best gadgets. (We did this with Google’s gadgets a few months ago, in case you missed it.) In this case, “best” is defined quite broadly: it includes a product’s inherent quality, the quality of its competition, its cultural and economic relevance, the size of its target market, and many other things. Best is not an exact science.

Subscribe: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Pocket Casts | MoreWe started with a list of products, in no particular order, mostly lifted straight from Apple’s own website:iPhoneiPadMacApple WatchAirPodsApple TVHomePodVision ProAirTagOur job, as always, was to put those nine products in their correct order. After more than an hour of arguing, debating, and occasional name-calling, though, we came up with a list we (more or less) agreed on.We want to know what you think! What did we get right? What did we get wrong? Whose picks do you agree with most? You can leave us a comment here, call the Vergecast Hotline at 866-VERGE11, or drop us an email at vergecast@theverge.com. This was a tough one, and we’d love to hear your thoughts. Also, if you want to know more about all the products we debate, here are some links to get you started:Apple Vision Pro review: magic, until it’s notApple HomePod (second-gen) review: playing it safeApple TV 4K (2022) review: unmatched power, unrealized potentialApple Watch SE 3 review: major glow-upApple iPad Pro (2025) review: fast, faster, fastestAirTag location trackers are smart, capable, and very AppleApple iPhone 17 review: the one to getApple iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max reviewApple AirPods (third-gen) review: new design, same appealApple MacBook Air M4 review: a little more for a little lessFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceAppleCloseApplePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppleGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsPodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechVergecastCloseVergecastPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All VergecastMost PopularMost PopularNetflix kills casting from phonesThe Nintendo Switch 2 got its first-ever discount during Cyber MondayThese last-minute Cyber Monday deals will likely be gone tomorrowMKBHD is taking down his wallpaper appApple’s smallest iPad just got its biggest price cut for Cyber MondayThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in PodcastsPlayIBM CEO Arvind Krishna says there is no AI bubble after allI just want AI to rename my photosThe geek’s guide to running fasterVine walked so TikTok could runAI agents are invading your PCPlayThe DoorDash Problem: How AI browsers are a huge threat to AmazonPlayIBM CEO Arvind Krishna says there is no AI bubble after allNilay PatelDec 1I just want AI to rename my photosDavid PierceNov 30The geek’s guide to running fasterDavid PierceNov 25Vine walked so TikTok could runDavid PierceNov 23AI agents are invading your PCDavid PierceNov 21PlayThe DoorDash Problem: How AI browsers are a huge threat to AmazonNilay PatelNov 20Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop Stories52 minutes agoIt’s their job to keep AI from destroying everythingAn hour agoMetroid Prime 4 excels when it’s actually being MetroidTwo hours agoThe Nikon ZR gets surprisingly close to a real RED camera (for a lot less money)11:40 AM UTCOpenAI declares ‘code red’ as Google catches up in AI race1:00 AM UTCSamsung’s Z TriFold is official and it looks like a tablet with a phone attached3 minutes agoThe best thing I bought this year: a Zippo-sized rechargeable flashlightThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2025 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Apple’s diverse product portfolio presents a complex challenge when determining a definitive “best” gadget. This analysis, based on a lengthy debate among The Verge’s Victoria Song, Allison Johnson, and David Pierce, aims to establish a ranked order of Apple’s offerings, recognizing the multifaceted criteria used: inherent quality, competitive products, cultural and economic relevance, and market size. The discussion ultimately arrived at a specific ranking, prompting reflection on the reasoning behind each placement and soliciting feedback from readers.

The core of the debate centered around evaluating nine products: the iPhone 17, iPad Pro (2025), Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV 4K (2022), HomePod (second-generation), Vision Pro, and AirTag. Each product was considered against the established criteria, revealing significant differences in strengths and weaknesses. The discussion highlighted Apple’s continued dominance in smartphones with the iPhone, driven by its ecosystem, brand loyalty, and innovative features. However, there were reservations regarding the Vision Pro, which was acknowledged as “magic, until it’s not,” implying significant hurdles to widespread adoption due to its high cost and usability challenges.

The debate further illuminated Apple’s strategic positioning within the smart home market. The HomePod (second-generation) was viewed as a “safe” option, prioritizing reliability and established functionality over radical innovation, in contrast to the ambitious Vision Pro. The Apple TV 4K (2022) was recognized for its unmatched power but also for unrealized potential, a sentiment echoed across several product evaluations. The AirTag consistently garnered praise for its smart, capable design and integration within the Apple ecosystem, demonstrating the company’s prowess in tracking and security technology.

The ranking ultimately placed the iPhone 17 at the top, reflecting its irreplaceable role as Apple’s flagship device and cornerstone of its business. Following closely was the iPad Pro (2025), representing Apple’s commitment to performance and creative capabilities, underscored by its focus on speed and processing power. The Mac secured a solid third position, consistent with Apple’s brand reputation for professional-grade computing. The Apple Watch occupied fourth place, highlighting its integration with the Apple ecosystem and its critical role in health and wellness tracking. The AirPods secured fifth, supported by their widespread appeal and improvements in audio quality and design, despite concerns noted within the discussion. The Apple TV 4K (2022) followed, acknowledged for its performance but tempered by a conviction that its full potential hadn’t been realized. The HomePod (second-generation) and AirTag completed the top six, followed by the Vision Pro and, lastly, the Mac.

This process provides a nuanced view of Apple’s product landscape. It emphasizes not only the company's technical achievements but also its strategic decisions regarding market segments and product differentiation. The debate’s reliance on multiple criteria – encompassing both objective performance and subjective factors like cultural relevance – lends credibility to the final ranking.