2025 Apple Product Rankings: The Year the Base Models Won

Apple Vision Pro

You can’t talk about Apple’s modern lineup without mentioning the Vision Pro. Apple updated this device near the end of 2025, but we can't blame you if you didn't notice.

While the Apple Vision Pro remains one of Apple’s most futuristic products, its initial launch in 2024 wasn't as well-received as the company may have hoped.

The problem is that for most people, it remains more of a fancy product than a daily tool. The price is still sky-high, the battery pack is awkward, and even with visionOS updates making multitasking and Mac mirroring better, you essentially need to redesign your workflow around it to justify the cost. It’s also not the kind of device you’ll wear for eight hours a day, the way you use an iPhone or Mac; most users find it too heavy and uncomfortable.

Despite all of these issues, the only upgrade in the 2025 Vision Pro was the M5 chip. While it's nice to have a more powerful, energy-efficient headset, the design remains unchanged, which means the update failed to address one of the most critical issues. After all, a new processor doesn't make it any lighter.

iPad Air and iPad Pro

On paper, the iPad line in 2025 is in great shape. The latest iPad Air gives you laptop-class power with an M4 chip, Apple Pencil support, and a bigger display option, while the current iPad Pro brings an ultra-thin chassis and an even more powerful M5 chip.

The main issue is that, as an update, you get almost nothing for the same price. The biggest difference is the chip, which is the same issue as with the Vision Pro. It seems Apple doesn't know what to do with the iPads to make them feel brand new.

To be fair, Apple kind of redesigned the iPad Pro in 2024, but it only made it thinner. While it does look cool, it's a new design that nobody was asking for.

With all of that said, if you love drawing, handwriting notes, reading, or editing photos on the couch, the new iPad Air and iPad Pro are fantastic. The Air is the default iPad for most people because it hits a sweet spot on price and power, while the iPad Pro is for artists, video editors, and anyone who will really push that OLED screen and M-series chip to the limit. They rank low here, not because they’re bad—they’re some of the best tablets ever made—but because they don't really bring anything new to the table.

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro

Apple’s laptop focus in 2025 was all about minor improvements. The MacBook Air now runs on Apple’s powerful M4 chip, delivering even better performance and battery life that still surpasses the majority of Windows computers. The 13- and 15-inch models give you plenty of options depending on how much screen you want without adding a lot of weight to your bag.

On the Pro side, the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models continue to be the most powerful machines in the market thanks to the M5 chip. Combine that with mini-LED displays with ProMotion, serious multicore performance, and you get the best portable computers you can ask for.

With that said, the reason the MacBooks weren't that good a product this year is that, just like the other products, it's only a spec bump. You're probably starting to see a pattern here.

Sure, it's great to have Apple's latest and greatest, but there's no other reason to update your current MacBook if you're looking for something else besides more power. On the other side, that's actually a good thing, as that means you can buy one MacBook today and expect 5–7 years of solid performance before it even starts to feel old.

iPhone Air

The iPhone Air was supposed to be the next best thing from Apple, featuring a new design that made it the thinnest Apple product ever. Not only that, but it also featured the more powerful A19 Pro chip, a large, high-refresh-rate display, and the best camera Apple has ever put in a single-lens iPhone.

That all sounded great on paper, but the reality was quite different. The iPhone Air wasn't as big a hit as Apple and many of us expected. At best, it delivered poor value for the money, but many found it downright disappointing. 

Still, we have to give credit where it's due; this is the first iPhone in quite some time that actually felt new and premium, and that's why it's a bit higher on the list. Sure, battery life could be better, and you only get one camera for a price dangerously close to that of an iPhone 17 Pro, but the thin body makes up for those compromises for those who prioritize style over power.

iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max

The iPhone 17 Pro line gets the A19 Pro chip, an even more advanced camera system, and Apple’s best displays. On the iPhone 17 Pro Max, you get Apple’s highest optical zoom ever in an iPhone, which ensures long-distance shots look crisp rather than mushy.

Everything around the edges gets better, too. You get improved durability and slightly slimmer bezels. On the back, Apple tried to switch things up by adding a camera system that goes all the way horizontally. To say that this was received poorly is an understatement.

Besides these changes, the iPhone 17 Pro lineup didn't bring many other new and exclusive features to the table. Not only that, but some users of the new Cosmic Orange color reported some discoloration issues seemingly out of nowhere.

Overall, the iPhone 17, which we'll talk more about in a moment, outshone them with all the new things Apple finally added.

iPhone 16e

In 2025, Apple made the jump from its "SE" iPhones to a new "e" model, which is meant to be a more budget-friendly alternative.

You might assume older-name phones automatically belong at the bottom of the list, but the iPhone 16e proves that Apple can make a solid, cheaper iPhone without many compromises.

With the iPhone 16e, you get a modern design, solid camera system, and enough performance to run iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence features for years to come, all at a noticeably lower price than the iPhone 17 lineup.

For someone coming from an iPhone XR, 11, or a much older device, 16e feels like a huge leap forward without the price point of a flagship device. You still get Face ID, a bright display, strong battery life, and support for all the new iOS features that matter most.

Is it as exciting as an iPhone 17 Pro? Not really. But in day-to-day use, you probably won’t notice the performance gap unless you’re pushing AAA-tier games or heavy video editing.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11

While on the outside, both models still look and feel pretty much the same, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11 are so high on the list because they finally got a brand new health feature that could potentially be a big help for Apple's users.

We're obviously talking about the new hypertension alerts. Unfortunately, we didn't get a complete blood pressure sensor, but these new features will alert you when it detects signs of hypertension.

It will try to detect patterns in your heart over periods of 30 days. If it detects that something is off, it will alert you so you can go and check your blood pressure with a doctor.

Unfortunately, Apple confirmed that this new feature will not detect all types of hypertension, but it's still a meaningful addition that will help many users stay healthy.

Another useful change is that both Apple Watch models come with a new speaker that can let you listen to music. You no longer need your iPhone or your AirPods to listen to your favorite songs or podcasts.

Additionally, both models get a new Sleep Apnea detection feature, which tracks things like your breathing and any disturbances in your sleep to help you find out if you have it or not.

Besides this change, both Apple Watch models continue to try to improve your health, fitness, and safety every single day, which is always a good thing.

Apple Watch SE (3rd Generation)

If the Ultra and Series models are the flashy options, Apple Watch SE 3 is the quiet MVP. The newest SE keeps the core experience that makes an Apple Watch worth owning. For instance, you get activity rings, notifications, safety alerts, seamless Apple Pay, and basic health tracking.

You still get heart-rate monitoring, temperature sensing, crash detection, fall detection, GPS, and all the key watchOS 26 features, including mental health check-ups and enhanced fitness coaching. However, Apple also added other features like Sleep Apnea detection, and fast charging, thanks to the new S10 chip (which is the same as the more expensive Series 11 and Ultra 3 have).

Unfortunately, Apple didn't add all health features, so you won't get the new hypertension notifications. Still, if you just want basic health features and a way to keep track of your fitness life, the Apple Watch SE is the best bang for your buck in 2025.

AirPods Pro 3

Near the top of the list sits the product you’ll probably use more hours per day than many other devices: the AirPods Pro 3. Apple’s third-generation Pro earbuds finally received the big overhaul everyone was waiting for, with improved active noise cancellation, better transparency, and a noticeable audio upgrade.

Sound quality is way better now. Bass has more presence, the mids are clearer, and spatial audio feels more natural. Battery life was also improved, and fast charging is better than ever.

Live Translation is also now a reality. You can use it with your AirPods Pro 3 and get a complete translation in a matter of seconds. You can then talk normally and show the other person your iPhone so they can understand you in their language. Or, if they also have AirPods, you can have a casual conversation without worrying about language.

Thanks to the new features, the new design, and the improved sound and noise cancellation quality, the AirPods Pro 3 are one of the best pairs of earbuds you can get right now.

iPhone 17

The base iPhone 17 finally gives the base iPhone some true improvements that we fans wanted for years.

Apple’s A19 chip brings performance and efficiency improvements, and the display now uses tech that used to bereserved for Pro models. That's right, you finally get ProMotion and an Always-on Display on the regular iPhone 17.

This change was long overdue, and it closed the gap between the Pro models and the cheaper alternative. These changes alone made the iPhone 17 the best iPhone of this year's lineup.

But besides that, there were camera upgrades that focus on low-light performance and smarter computational photography. Plus, the front-facing camera got upgraded as well with Center Stage, which is a great upgrade if you love taking selfies or making video calls.