Apple's Most Questionable Design Decisions in Recent Memory

[Reggaenald]

I think the Magic Mouse could be improved by adding wireless charging. Then Apple could provide a mouse mat with built in charging coils so it charges as you use it. I’m trying to think of a good name for the mouse mat, maybe… AirPower? ?

I’m glad the Touch Bar on the MacBook wasn’t in the list. I know most people don’t like it, but I’ve always got on very well with it, especially on my first MacBook. The one on my second MacBook is sometimes not very responsive though…

IMO the Touch Bar was always doomed to flop on “Pro” devices. Pros mostly use keyboard shortcuts and the like. Most don’t really do or want to look at their keyboards/beneath the screen while working on the screen. The TB also didn’t introduce much features that were both unique to it and useful only with it.
Also, the fact that there was never an external keyboard with a TB meant that had you gotten used to using it for a lot of essential stuff for your workflow, using a machine that didn’t have a TB, like a Mac Pro or iMac Pro, which a lot of professionals do, they switch machines for different workloads, locations, etc., they couldn’t continue as they were. Keyboard shortcuts were always more “universal” and it didn’t matter what Mac you were on. That’s the reason why I always called the TB to flop as long as there wouldn’t be an external TB Keyboard. For normal people it might be very handy, as it essentially visually displays shortcuts and other functions and features in a very simple and easy to access way. Apple got the whole thing wrong.
That you couldn’t get specific models without one and basically had to pay for an expensive “new” technology that you might never use or like never made much sense either. Luckily it’s gone (for now).

 

[tardegrade]

I would have thought that had Apple put the charging port in the end of the Magic Mouse that would have resulted in thousands of returns for broken mice and frayed lightning cables. We all know how susceptable to wear the lightening connector is. Seems like by removing the option to use it on charge, Apple limited what would have been a significant problem. Yes it looks daft, but it's certainly the lesser of two evils.

 

[cmcbhi]

1). When I bought my first iMac, the store consultant said "buy the trackpad instead" Advice taken, never regretted it.
2). I LIKE the first Apple TV remote.
3). I prefer the old Apple Pencil BECAUSE of its removable cap. I immediately replaced the cap with a capacitive tip which I use constantly. I don't like dieting up my iPad screen with my fingers.

 

[Tozovac]

5. Apple Pencil 1 — I'm terrified to charge it in an iPad, which means I have a fiddly mess of parts to track.

I think the bigger miss was not using a female lightning port instead of male. I’d have done it the other way around, where the adapter is needed to gain a male port.

 

[Jim Lahey]

Definitely lost their mojo in recent years. In 2022 they can’t even ship a web browser with a properly functioning bookmarks sidebar.

 

[jlc1978]

But then you couldn't use it either while charging. Also the Magic Mouse charging situation is such a none issue in real life, unless you're dumb enough to ignore the low battery warning for days or weeks. ?‍♂️

Same here. Let it charge when not in use and it is a non-issue. Personally, though, I find the Logitech M720 a better mouse in terms of ergonomics and buttons.

A few weeks ago I went to my local Apple reseller and bought a gender changer for my Apple Pencil 1 for a few bucks. It's an unofficial Apple article. I can highly recommend it to everyone with a 1st generation Apple pencil.

I bought an extension cable to do the same thing.

The Siri Remote seems to be one of those devices you either love or hate. I find it a pain to use, the trackpad too sensitive and responds if it is accidentally touched, buttons too easy to push the wrong one and think the new one is far better. To each his own.

 

[VerizonLover]

You can add the train wreck that is the 6th-gen MacBook Pro to the list.

 

[femike]

I have a 1st generation Magic Mouse and I love it. I have two pairs of rechargeable batteries that I just swap as needed. I’ve been using the same two pairs of rechargeable batteries for eight years.

Me too. I'm still using my first gen Magic Mouse with the same silver rechargable batteries that Apple sold. There was no need to put Li batteries in this, and then to have the charge on bottom is way too much.

 

[David1964]

What about the silicone case for the iPhone 5c with all those holes in it that collected pocket lint like hell !?

 

[nvmls]

And to think some still defend these abominations ?. It’s as if they enjoy buying overpriced flawed products… oh wait!

 

[Morgenland]

Wow, this is the article where the young Apple critics get horny again. (I am not one of them).
How to generate clicks...
It is impressive with how much hubris young people see "mistakes" without being able to make constructive meaningful counter suggestions. That separates them from professional adult minds.

 

[videosoul]

The Magic Mouse is an example of something that looks like poor design, but honestly isn't.

1. You can't use it while charging, which is by design. That should be obvious.
2. It's supposed to be a wireless mouse, and leaving it plugged in all the time is what most people would do. So ergonomically, forcing people to unplug it to use it is the intended use case.
3. Leaving the mouse plugged in all the time would also have implications for the battery; constant charging would be bad for it. Letting it drain while plugged in would be confusing.

Should Apple have made a charging dock or something similar? Probably. But making it impossible to use while charging is exactly what was intended, and it was executed quite well. And I've never met anyone who has one that cared one lick about it.

Excellent points!

 

[Digital Dude]

Definitely lost their mojo in recent years. In 2022 they can’t even ship a web browser with a properly functioning bookmarks sidebar.

Recent years? If that encompasses the last decade, then I agree with you.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Q: And how many of these did Sir Jony Ive have a hand in?
A: All of them!

 

[jlc1978]

And to think some still defend these abominations ?. It’s as if they enjoy buying overpriced flawed products… oh wait!

People have different opinions. If something works for you then the design decision is no big deal. I never had an issue with the butterfly keyboard other than the feel was not to my liking; but mine never broke in the 3 years I owned it. I, OTOH, don't like the old Siri Remote because I find it a pain to use. A friend loved his trash can Mac Pro. I liked the original Pencil because it made writing on an iPad useful while other companies tried and fell short; though I thought the charging design was a bad one.

In the end, no one is "right," they are just opinions based on experience and preference.

 

[jbattan]

Great article! Agreed that they go too far in form over function. I’d love to see a similar article about their software. For example in the iPadOS Calendar monthly view, the name of the month goes away way too soon when you’re scrolling, all in the name of aesthetics.

 

[dukeblue219]

The trashcan is the only real choice for champion here, right? What an awful product...

 

[Morgenland]

Excellent points!

Silly points, non topics for me, but everyone is differently gifted to approach systems.

 

[Alexander_im]

An excellent and witty recollection of memories. Thanks MR! And good riddance to all these champions (although that 2017 MBP I had with 2-nd gen butterfly keyboard was not as horrible as I thought. Just two occasional sticky keys here and there...well, just lucky, I guess).

 

[sracer]

An interesting article. I'd be curious to see a companion piece describing the most innovative design decisions. The thing about a good design is that it can offer a superior form AND function. The devices on this list were form at the EXPENSE of function.

I've always appreciated Apple's "THINK DIFFERENT" approach to product design... because the designs improved both form and function compared to the others. But there has been an increasing emphasis in their design ethos to value form over function.

For those who agree, we'll have different opinions as to when that tipping point was, but things like notched displays seem to fit well within that.

 

[azentropy]

I know this is “recent" memory, but I’d make an exception for the iPod Socks!

1. Never really found that to be much of an issue. Mouse charges fast and give plenty of warning before it gives out. Take a 5-10 minute break and it was good for the rest of the day and then charge it overnight. Bigger issue is the actual ergonomics of using it.
2. Absolutely hate that design. It was so problematic in so many ways. On my main TV I gave up using it completely and got a Roku instead.
3. Never had one or any Apple Pencil. Somewhat clever but yeah would have been a pain although some of the workarounds is the same for the Mouse above.
4. Looks ridiculous and doesn’t provide much protection anyway.
5. Skipped these completely after trying it out in store. Regardless of reliability it just felt horrible. It is the largest gap in my Macbook/MBP history as I kept my early 2015 pre-butterfly 13” MBP until they did away with that keyboard.
6. Looked cool but was it was a mess to begin with. It took the best features of a Mac Pro and just eliminated them! Skipped completely and kept using my 2010 until giving up and just getting a higher end 27” iMac.

 

[Maestroso]

The Mac Pro 2013 was not a mistake! By far the most reliable and best Mac Desktop I've had. And yes, I'm using it in a professional environment (audio AND video production - incl. heavy CGI). The article states that memory was not upgradeable, which is wrong. You could easily add memory and even swap the CPU (I installed a 12 core Xeon many years later). Also, expandibility was significantly less limited by Apple's ecosystem, giving it an etch over previous generations. Combined with TB 3 and an affordable PCIe stack this could have become the absolute best system ever in existence.

The MP2013 is my favourite Mac, by far and it's a shame that others cannot see its greatness.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

So... was the Apple Pencil Gen 1 released without the adapter?
When I bought my first iPad in 2020 the Pencil came with an adapter in the box. But since a lot of people act as if charging it via the iPad was the only way to charge it, I was unsure if maybe the adapter was Apple trying to do some damage control.

Pairing is still awful with it having to be plugged in like that.
And I would go as far as saying that the Gen 2 Pencil only charging and syncing when attached to the iPad is not ideal, either.

The mouse on the other hand... yeah, that's bad.
I also don't particularly like using a mouse in macOS. It always feels sluggish to me, like it's extra slow when I'm only moving it a short distance. Broad, fast stroke are fine, it's really just the small distances that feel like I have to make an effort.
(If that's a user error, please feel free to let me know what I'm doing wrong.)

 

[Daalseth]

The two I have actual experience with:
The Magic Mouse: I dislike everything about it. The idiotic placement of the charging plug is only one of the reasons. Each has gone into the pile of unused Apple Mice and been replaced with a NORMAL two button scroll wheel mouse. It works, and has become the standard throughout the industry because it WORKS.
Apple Pencil 1: The pencil worked great. The charging was always scary as hell. Yes it charged quickly, but the whole time I was always worried that a coffe cup set down in the wrong place, or a dropped something on the desk would snap the plug off, destroying both the Apple Pencil and the iPad I had it plugged into. The pencil came with an adapter that allowed you to connect the Apple Pencil to the iPad's charging cable, but I almost never got the pencil to successfully charge from the wall-wart.

 

[xxray]

Butterfly keyboard was biggest mistake on this list imo.

I think the hate over the AirPods Max case isn’t justified though. Yes, it could protect the headphones better, but I like its slim lightweight profile and prefer it over a case that would make the already big AirPods Max larger. It feels like it just became a circlejerk hate meme just because it kinda looks like a bra.

I also don’t get why people are so obsessed with the AirPods Max “needing” an on/off switch. You don’t have an on/off switch for any of the other AirPods products. That’s part of what makes it so nice - just put them on and go. When I’m using my AirPods Max, I just put them on, and then when I’m done, I put them in their case to “turn them off.” This feels like another tech circlejerk where a few people mentioned they would like an on/off switch and then, all of the sudden, it’s taken as gospel anytime the headphones come up in online discussions.