I like Apple merchandise. They’re modern, they’re highly effective, and within the immortal phrases of Steve Jobs, they “simply work” (properly, more often than not). However their naming technique? It is a wild trip.
Take the iPhone lineup, for example. Bear in mind when it was simply “iPhone” adopted by a quantity? These had been easier occasions. Now together with the iPhone 16 we just lately bought the iPhone 16 Professional Max, the iPhone 16 Professional and the iPhone 16 Plus. Plus proper now, we’re anticipating the approaching look of the iPhone SE 4; like that cousin no-one’s fairly positive how you can introduce at household gatherings.
And let’s speak about these chips. The M1 made sense as a place to begin. Then got here M1 Professional and M1 Max – okay, nonetheless following. However then Apple threw within the M1 Extremely, which is actually two M1 Max chips fused collectively. Simply once you thought you had it discovered, they launched the M2 collection, and now we’re deep into M3 and M4 territory, every with their very own variants. It is like a Russian nesting doll of processing energy.
The iPad household tree is one other puzzle altogether. We have the iPad Professional (in two sizes), iPad Air, iPad mini, and simply… iPad. However wait – this primary / commonplace / entry-level iPad is available in totally different generations, and a few older fashions are nonetheless offered new. Attempt explaining to your non-tech-savvy aunt why the Ninth-generation iPad Air may truly be a better option for her than the Tenth-generation iPad Professional, relying on her wants and finances. To be trustworthy, even your tech-savvy teenager may get misplaced at this level.
I might go on, however you get the purpose. Principally it is all a sizzling mess. So I set myself the problem of making an attempt to create a decoder for Apple’s product naming system. This is what I got here up with.
| Naming ingredient | Which means | Latest examples |
| Professional | Signifies a higher-end, extra highly effective model. Often the most costly mannequin in a collection. | Apple MacBook Professional 14 (M4 Professional, 2024), iPhone 16 Professional, Apple iPad Professional 11-inch (M4) |
| Air | Suggests a thinner, lighter, extra moveable model. Was a lot much less highly effective than the Professional variations, however the hole has narrowed in recent times. | Apple MacBook Air 13in (M3, 2024), iPad Air M2 2024 |
| mini | Denotes a smaller, extra compact model. Sure, the ‘m’ is supposed to be decrease case. | Mac mini M4 Professional, iPad mini (2024) |
| Max | Signifies the most important and/or most feature-rich model. | iPhone 16 Professional Max |
| Plus | Signifies a bigger display screen dimension and/or barely enhanced options. | iPhone 16 Plus |
| SE | Stands for Particular Version: a extra inexpensive model with some options of higher-end fashions. | iPhone SE (2022) |
| [Number] eg, 16 | Used to indicate the collection {that a} product sits inside. | iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14 |
| Collection | With the Apple Watch particularly, the phrase ‘Collection’ is hooked up to the quantity. Do not ask me why. | Apple Watch Collection 8 |
| [Generation] eg, sixth era | Signifies a model or iteration of a product. | iPad Air 13-inch (sixth era) – aka iPad Air 13-inch (2024) |
| [Year] eg, 2024 | Various approach of describing the era. Typically Apple consists of the yr and the numbered era in a product identify, generally solely one in all these. | iPad Air 13-inch (2024) – aka iPad Air 13-inch (sixth era) |
| [Storage capacity] eg, 256GB | Pretty easy this one: specifies the quantity of storage. | iPhone 16 Professional (256GB) |
| [Processor] eg, M1 | Refers back to the Apple-made processor contained in the system. | Apple Mac Studio M2 (2023) |
| [M1/M2/M3/M4] Professional | Extra highly effective model of the bottom M chip. Extra CPU and GPU cores. | MacBook Professional (M2 Professional) |
| [M1/M2/M3/M4] Max | Much more highly effective than the “Professional” model. Highest core depend, extra reminiscence bandwidth. ‘Max’ may suggest ‘most’ however this isn’t truly probably the most highly effective M-chip. That is the Extremely, beneath. | MacBook Professional (M2 Max) |
| [M1/M2/M3/M4] Extremely | Probably the most highly effective M-series chip. Combines two M-Max chips. | Mac Studio (M2 Extremely) |
This decoder, I ought to stress, is on no account good or foolproof. And it is definitely not one thing that is been authorized by Apple. As a result of whereas the broad rules I’ve outlined on this desk will get you a few of the approach, the corporate themselves does not apply them universally throughout the board.
For example, generally “Professional” means it is probably the most highly effective possibility (like with iPhones), however generally there’s an much more highly effective “Max” or “Professional Max” model. Typically “Air” means it is the slimmer, lighter possibility (MacBook Air), however the iPad Air truly sits in a center floor between primary and Professional fashions.
It will get even worse on the subject of Apple’s equipment. For example, AirPods are available common, Professional and Max varieties – however the Max is definitely over-ear headphones, not pods in any respect. The Apple Pencil, in the meantime, has 4 variations that look totally different and cost otherwise, and so they’re not appropriate with all iPads.
The naming conference right here (and I am not making this up) begins: Apple Pencil (1st Technology), Apple Pencil (2nd Technology)… up to now so good. However then abruptly it veers off into Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Professional. Would that the third of those was the finances mannequin, simply from the identify? After all not. And also you want a spreadsheet to determine which Apple Pencil works with which iPad: the names right here are not any use in any respect.
Ardour for simplicity?
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Personally, I usually discover myself having to create psychological maps and charts simply to maintain observe of which system is which, and extra importantly, to clarify these variations to readers in a approach that is sensible. It is like being a translator for a language that retains altering its grammar guidelines each few months. Life should not be this tough!
The irony is not misplaced on me that Apple, an organization well-known for its clear, intuitive interface design, has created a product naming system that requires a decoder to grasp. Steve Jobs was recognized for his ardour for simplicity, famously paring down Apple’s product line to a easy quadrant when he returned to the corporate. I’m wondering what he would make of all of it right now.
Sure, Apple’s product line has grown and diversified over time. However I am unable to assist however suppose there should be a clearer solution to set up and identify these merchandise. Till then, for those who actually need to know the variations between Apple merchandise, it is best to learn our in-depth opinions, together with our guides to the totally different iPad generations, the greatest iPhones and the greatest MacBooks.