There was a time when Apple was considered the most innovative tech company. They developed the iPod, the iPhone, the iPad, and they were definitely on a roll. And while they’ve had new devices since, they don’t seem like they’ve had quite the same impact.
However, Fast Company has decided Apple is the World’s Most Innovative Company for 2018, and that’s thanks to AirPods, ARKit, and iPhone X, when none of these seem to have taken the world by storm.
We asked some of our writers, “Do you think Apple can still be considered the most innovative?”
Our Opinion
Miguel answers “not by much.” He sees Apple as a definite “force to be reckoned with” yet doesn’t feel they’ve done anything real game-changing in the last few years, finding that their peak moment was with the iPhone phenomenon.
Fabio doesn’t feel Apple is the most innovative anymore, noting that while they were at one time, lately “they haven’t done much to be described that way.”
Alex has trouble with this whole question altogether. He figures Fast Company must believe that being the most innovative means “launching successful tech products that are excellent examples of the existing product types.”
He doesn’t feel wireless earbuds can be considered a category-shaping product, so it’s hard for him to see them as innovative. “Innovation sounds like setting the world on its head, not making a slightly better mousetrap.”
Ryan says right off the bat, “If by innovative you mean releasing half-baked products for exorbitant amounts of money, then yes, I suppose Apple is still innovative.” He sees the appeal of the Apple ecosystem to be that it just works, is easy and intuitive, and that “makes the barrier to entry low.” He thinks they’re selling brand recognition now more than anything else, so there isn’t much incentive for them to be innovative.
He sees the iPhone X as an example of how they’re still trying to take risks but notes they released it along with the iPhone 8, allowing customers to choose. He wonders if they’ll go back to something more traditional the next time around because of the issues the iPhone X has faced, reasoning the “shareholders will value higher profit margins over flashy innovation any day.”
I’m a huge Apple fan, and that’s a well-known fact. Since 1989, it’s been all Apple and nothing else for me. But even I see that they aren’t nearly as innovative as they once were, and I also think that innovation died in some way with Steve Jobs. They seem to be doing a lot of catchup right now, putting out devices after everyone else does, such as the HomePod.
Your Opinion
Whether or not you’re an Apple fan, how do you feel about this? Do you feel Fast Company is on the right track, or do you think they are way off naming Apple the most innovative? If not Apple, who should it be? Do you think Apple can still be considered the most innovative? Let us know your thoughts by adding a comment below!
Laura has spent nearly 20 years writing news, reviews, and op-eds, with more than 10 of those years as an editor as well. She has exclusively used Apple products for the past three decades. In addition to writing and editing at MTE, she also runs the site’s sponsored review program.
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