Tag: ipad

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Mobile Syrup

How to use Apple’s Universal Control with a Mac and iPad

Apple’s new ‘Universal Control’ feature has rolled out, and after spending some time with it, I recommend taking it for a spin if you have two Macs or a single Mac and an iPad.

What you need

  • Mac computer(s)
  • iPad(s)

At the bare minimum, you need at least one Mac computer to start. All Apple devices also need to be updated to iPadOS 15.4 or newer and macOS 12.3 or newer.

Universal Control can work with two other iPads/Macs or a total of three connected devices. To be clear, this can be a combination of Macs and iPads or Macs and Macs, but not iPads and iPads.

How to start

Starting can be a little tricky since Universal Control is still in beta. Ideally, you should be able to drag your mouse from your Mac towards your iPad, and the cursor should pop up a little resistance barrier and then slide over to the iPad.

In my case, it wasn’t that easy since my Mac and iPad don’t line up perfectly all the time. To remedy this, you need to open up System Preferences on a Mac. Navigate to ‘Display,’ and you should see your iPad as a tiny screen that you can move around. In my case, it doesn’t always move to where I want it to, but in theory, it should be able to be placed anywhere. Now that you know where the computer thinks the iPad is, it should be easy to drag the mouse between devices.

If it’s not working, there should be a small box in the bottom right-hand corner of your Mac’s Display settings called ‘Universal Control.’ Click on that and make sure the first two checkboxes are selected. It’s also worth clicking the third box if you want your devices to connect automatically.

The first time I updated my devices, I needed to reset them, but they connected automatically after that.

To check if it’s enabled on your iPad, open the ‘Settings’ app. Select ‘General’ and then ‘AirPlay & Handoff.’ Inside that sub-menu, you’ll notice a new section called ‘Cursor and Keyboard (Beta).’ This is the Universal Control on/off switch.

This is the Menu Bar icon on Mac that appears when Universal Control is enabled.

If everything is turned on, you should be able to move freely between all of your devices and use the same keyboard to type on more than one.

On your Mac, you’ll also notice a new icon in the Menu Bar that signifies when Universal Control is on. It looks like a little rectangle that’s cut in half with a mouse on one side and two dots on the other. Clicking on it allows you to enable or disable Universal Control if you choose not to enable your devices to connect automatically.

Potential use cases

So far, I’ve enjoyed how easy this makes dragging photos and screenshots from my iPad onto my Mac desktop and into Photoshop.

It’s also nice to be able to answer emails on my iPad with the same keyboard and mouse as my MacBook. It’s not a revolutionary experience, but it’s handy during the workday nonetheless.

I also found a random use case for people who film themselves sitting at their desk a lot. If you use an iPad as a teleprompter, you can use your mouse to control it. This is a very niche use case, but it blew my mind when I discovered it.

If you have Universal Control set up to connect automatically, it’s also more convenient than Sidecar if you want your iPad to be a display on the go.

I found the most useful use case for Universal Control to be moving between two Macs and not a Mac and an iPad. Imagine having a powerful Mac Studio at your desk with a multi-monitor setup but without a mouse and keyboard. Instead, you place a MacBook Air down and control the Mac Studio through it. Then, when you’re on the go, you can just carry your files and do some light work on the MacBook Air.

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Mobile Syrup

Which iPad is right for you? [SyrupCast 256]

On this week’s SyrupCast, the team takes a look at Apple’s iPad and breaks down how each tablet fits into the tech giant’s lineup.

This week’s pod squad — Patrick O’Rourke and Brad Bennett — also outline their favourite iPads, what they use the iPad for and discuss whether macOS is ever coming to Apple’s tablet line (spoilers: it isn’t).

For more iPad buying guide greatness, check out Bennett’s story focused on helping you decide what Apple tablet is right for you.

As always, you can listen to the show on your favourite podcast platform or watch the video version on our YouTube channel.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Direct download link

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Mobile Syrup

Apple possibly planning 15-inch MacBook Air, larger entry-level iPad for 2023

Apple may release a larger 15-inch MacBook Air next year alongside an entry-level iPad with a bigger display, according to a report.

The news comes from Display Supply Chain Consultants’ (DSCC) ‘Quarterly Advanced IT Display Shipment and Technology‘ report. Although the report is only available to members of the display industry, a DSCC analyst shared Apple-specific tidbits with 9to5Mac.

Specifically, DSCC supply chain information points to Apple planning a new MacBook Air variant for 2021 with a screen size of around 15-inches. Additionally, the DSCC report notes that Apple plans to bump up the current MacBook Air display size from 13.3 inches to something “slightly larger” but still between 13- and 14-inches.

As an interesting aside, 9to5 notes that internal Apple emails revealed during the Epic v. Apple lawsuit suggested Apple planned to release a 15-inch MacBook Air back in 2008 but opted to launch an 11-inch model instead.

The DSCC report also mentioned Apple may plan to launch a slightly bigger entry-level iPad next year. The current iPad sports a 10.2-inch display — it’s unclear how much bigger the new variant would be.

I also wonder if that means we’ll see a refreshed design for the entry-level iPad. It’s sported the same dated look for years and while that likely helped keep the cost low, I’d love to see a refreshed, modern design that better matches what’s available from Apple’s other iPad offerings. If the company already plans to alter the display size, I think it’d make sense to make other changes, too.

Of course, both the iPad and MacBook Air changes are speculation based on the DSCC report, so take the information with a grain of salt. That said, people seem to like the idea of a larger MacBook Air, and with Apple doing a better job of listening to customers, maybe that will actually happen.

Source: 9to5Mac

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Mobile Syrup

iPad Air (2022) Review: Flying faster than ever

There’s not a lot to say about the iPad Air that hasn’t already been said. This year, the refreshed model features 5G, new colours and the same M1 chip we saw in last year’s iPad Pro.

The addition of the M1 chip to the iPad Air is the most exciting twist in 2022 and makes me wonder what device Apple might put its powerful M1 chip in next. That said, the addition of Apple’s new favourite processor makes the Air even closer in features and specs to the pricey iPad Pro.

But at least the iPad Air is a little more affordable, making it one of the best iPads on the market right now — but one that also contradicts itself just as much as it blows away the competition.

Why it’s the best

Note: This iPad Air (2022) unboxing was edited on the iPad Air.

As with all of Apple’s iPads, context provides the best answer for what tablet will work for you.

Nonetheless, there’s no denying that the iPad Air with M1 bridges the gap between the base model iPad and the iPad Pro so effectively that it almost negates the need to buy an iPad Pro unless you really want the bigger 12.9-inch screen.

If you have the iPad Air (2020) you don’t need to upgrade to this new model just for 5G or the M1 chip because it looks identical to its predecessor (even the case and accessories still work). That said, anyone with an older iPad Air or who really wants an Apple Pencil 2 will get a really meaningful upgrade with the new iPad Air (2022).

This iPad Air features the same smart connector as the iPad Pro (top left) and the same camera as the iPhone 11’s main lens. It also offers Touch ID in its side power button (pictured right).

The iPad Air has always been a better tablet than the base iPad model, but it doesn’t offer more value for what most people use an iPad for, and that remains the case in 2022. However, if you do want to use your iPad as a more computer-like device for work, the Air is remarkably capable.

The screen on the iPad Air is still the brilliant 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display from last year’s model, and it looks as crisp and vibrant as ever. I often complain about wanting every display to be top-level HDR compliant, but realistically, even at 500 nits of brightness, the iPad Air’s screen is totally fine.

The very thin form factor makes this iPad easy to take on the go. It’s no iPad mini, but the larger screen is more productive than the smaller 8.3-inch display on the small iPad.

The fact that it works with the Apple Magic keyboard is also a great feature. It’s a little cramped, but the clickiness of the keys, the astounding trackpad and the extra charging port it adds to the Air can even turn this machine into a competitor to the M1 MacBook Air in some ways.

Would you still love me if I called these keys deep?

For its $399 price tag, the Magic Keyboard needs to be this good, but it’s still an amazingly productive accessory that I didn’t foresee myself liking as much as I have.

The USB-C port is another feature that makes the iPad Air the best iPad around. While this isn’t an iPad Air exclusive feature, it makes it tempting over the base 10.2-inch iPad that still features a Lightning connector. Being able to plug my camera directly into my iPad and transfer photos is something I enjoy as an avid photographer. On the other hand, I have a dongle that lets you plug an SD card into a Lightning port that could work well with the base model iPad.

Where it can stand to improve

The Magic Keyboard features a second USB-C port on the other side that can only be used for recharging.

I’ve really enjoyed my time with the iPad Air (2022) so far, but I think a few minor features should be upgraded in the next model.

First off, the rear camera is, in short, boring. I understand that most people don’t use the back cameras on the iPad, but it wouldn’t be that difficult for Apple to include a flash like the iPad mini or a more modern sensor from a newer iPhone.

What you do get with the new iPad Air’s camera array is ‘Center Stage,’ which keeps you in the frame when you’re using the front-facing camera during FaceTime calls.

The iPad Air (2022)’s speakers are passable, but not particularly impressive. This is a bit of a nitpick, but speakers in Apple devices often surprise people with their loudness and clarity. The new iPad Air, on the other hand, offers decent sound, but the quality is closer to the iPad mini than the iPad Pro – I expected more from a device in this price range.

Why is it the worst?

The thin size of the iPad Air is a joy to hold without a case.

The things that frustrate me about the new iPad Air are less about the experience of using it and are more focused on its cost and the pricey accessories Apple sells alongside it.

The iPad Air starts at $749 for the base model with 64GB of storage, which is a decent price for a powerful tablet in 2022, but 64GB isn’t as much as it used to be. I understand that Apple likely has data that indicates most people underutilize their iPads and don’t need tons of storage. When I first used an iPad as a teenager in high school, I mostly relied on the cloud for saving documents and other light tasks so this can be the case for a lot of users.

Also if you’re a student (or anyone, it seems), you can get the iPad Air discounted to $689 from the Apple Education store.

“…there’s no doubt iPadOS is getting more and more capable every year and can do a lot of things just fine.”

However, that was over ten years ago, and files, music, apps and games are now considerably larger. I’ve had the iPad Air (2022) for a week, and after editing two videos with it, downloading my favourite apps and the 17GB game Divinity 2: Original Sin, I’ve used up 74GB of my review unit’s storage.

I’ll mention that the model that I’m reviewing is the larger 256GB Purple option with cellular connectivity ($1,149), white Magic Keyboard ($399) and an Apple Pencil 2 ($169). This entire setup costs a total of $1,417 in Canada.

A MacBook Air with a Wacom tablet costs $1,269, illustrating that once you spend over $1,000, both Air devices offer 256GB of storage and an M1 Chip. They excel at different things, of course, but with Apple pricing the MacBook Air and the iPad Air so competitively, this really becomes a question of whether you would rather work on an iPad or a MacBook.

I think most people my age and above would choose a laptop due to the slower speed of life on an iPad, but there’s no doubt iPadOS is getting more and more capable every year and can do a lot of things just fine.

This new subtle Purple colour is a great look on the iPad Air.

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Mobile Syrup

Xbox Cloud Gaming gets ‘major performance improvements’ on iPhone and iPad

Xbox has said it has made “major” improvements to its Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming service on iPhone and iPad.

Per the company, these updates “should” enable a “smoother and more responsive gameplay experience.” It’s unclear what, specifically, has been tweaked, but in general, it seems like the overall streaming quality should be better.

Based on its testing, Microsoft says it’s seen a “significant increase in positive player feedback” and 35 percent longer playtimes since it’s made these changes.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is included with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which costs $16.99 CAD/month. Members can access the service on supported iPhones and iPads by visiting Xbox.com/play using Safari. From there, sign in with your Microsoft account and pin the website to your Home screen.

Source: Xbox

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Buying guide: What Apple Pencil is right for you?

This guide is pretty straightforward since each Apple Pencil is only compatible with specific iPads and they’re not interchangeable.

The newer 2nd-gen Apple Pencil that pairs and connects to your iPad via magnets only works with newer iPads that don’t feature a physical ‘Home Button.’ If you have a Home Button and a Lightning port on your iPad, then you’re stuck with the more awkward 1st-gen Apple Pencil.

That said, both pencils function as a pretty great stylus, but the 2nd-gen version offers several improvements that may even tempt some towards buying a more expensive iPad to take advantage of the additional features.

The Apple Pencil showdown

When it comes to navigating iPadOS using an Apple Pencil as a pointer or taking notes, both options hold up well.

They work with minimal lag, feel reassuring in your hand and last a reasonably long time per charge. I will say that the matte texture on the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil feels nicer, but it’s not a game-changer.

What does add considerable value to the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil is that it features an integrated touch button. This button isn’t active in every app since developers need to give it a function, but it can help improve your efficiency, which can sometimes be hard with an iPad.

For example, with apps like Procreate, you can swap tools on the fly and with Photoshop, you can zoom in and out more quickly. Other apps even allow you to customize what the button does. To be clear, the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil doesn’t feature a physical button. Instead, a small section near the bottom of the pencil is tap-sensitive. This works similarly to the back-tap on modern iPhones.

As far as I can tell, drawing is the only professional instance where you’ll really want a 2nd-gen Apple Pencil over the original. Both Pencils feature built-in palm rejection and the same great tip that holds up to years of use and glides over the display with ease. However, due to the nature of the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil being newer and working with modern iPads, it’s rated for lower drawing input latency.

Still, to my eyes, both are great styluses and it’s difficult to notice motion differences between the two Apple Pencils.

Convenience is the real winning factor?

When it comes down to it, the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil includes one major feature that makes me prefer it — magnets.

It may sound simple, but having the Apple Pencil almost always attached to the top of my iPad so I can just peel it off and jot something down, makes it far more convenient. Sure, if you have both Apple Pencils in front of you, they both work very similarly, but good luck finding your first-gen Apple Pencil since there’s no way to attach it to the iPad (unless you have a specific case with a storage slot).

Obviously, I’m overplaying this feature a bit, but over the past few years, I’ve found myself rarely using the 1st-gen Apple Pencil since it was always in another room when I wanted it. By contrast, the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil feels like a natural extension of the iPad since it’s almost always attached to my tablet.

If you want to learn more about what iPad is right for you, check out this guide I put together. The 1st-gen Apple Pencil costs $129 and the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil costs $169 at the Apple Store.

A tale of too many iPads

1st generation Apple Pencil

  • iPad (6th generation)
  • iPad (7th generation)
  • iPad (8th generation)
  • iPad (9th generation)
  • iPad Air (3rd generation)
  • iPad mini (5th generation)
  • iPad Pro 10.5-inch
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)
  • iPad Pro 9.7-inch

2nd generation Apple Pencil

  • iPad Air (4th generation)
  • iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
  • iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)
  • iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)
  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)
  • iPad mini (6th generation)
  • iPad Air (5th generation)

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

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Buying Guide: How to choose the right iPad for you

Apple has pulled back the curtain on a refreshed iPad Air that packs phenomenal specs, but it’s not the perfect iPad for everybody.

If you’re looking to get a new iPad this spring there are four main models to choose from: the new iPad Air, the regular iPad, the iPad mini and the iPad Pro, which comes in two sizes.

This guide pushes users towards certain Apple tablets, but it’s important to think about what you want the iPad to do and try to buy the one that fits your needs (and wallet) the best. Even as someone who loves iPads, I often struggle to find good use cases for mine since I already spend so much time on my smartphone and laptop.

For those reasons, the iPad mini has fit my needs lately since it allows me to watch YouTube and edit photos when I’m on the go. However, when I was in high school, I used a basic iPad as my main computer since my work was mostly writing and research. If I wanted to go full iPad now, I’d lean more towards an iPad Air or an iPad Pro.

Keep reading to see where the other iPads fit into Apple’s current product lineup and what one is best for you.

The iPad

For most people, the base-level $429 iPad is perfect. It’s a large tablet with a 10.2-inch display and while it looks a little retro, it packs pretty modern Apple components and features.

It’s the only iPad with the traditional chin/forehead design and a home button. It’s also the only iPad that still uses a lighting connector. That said, this device looks more outdated than it is. The latest model features an A13 Bionic chipset, and in my experience, it’s more than fast enough to use as a media consumption device, web browser and mobile gaming station.

It even works great as a word processor, but the lack of a USB-C connector may limit its computer potential for some. This means that you also need to use it with the awkward Apple Pencil 1. It’s actually a decent pressure-sensitive stylus, but it’s annoying to charge.

The larger screen and low cost make this the ideal entry-level iPad for most people. if you’re on the fence about whether or not an iPad will fit into your lifestyle, I’d suggest starting with one of these. This is a starting option if you need it to be your main PC. However, if you’re going to be using the tablet full-time or on the go a lot, keep reading.

This iPad, and all following iPads, have a 12-megapixel front-facing selfie camera that features ‘Centre Stage’ tech that can track the user as they move around during video calls.

Read our 2021 iPad review.

Buy the base-level 10.2-inch iPad for $429 here.

iPad mini

Conceptually this is my favourite iPad. Its 8.3-inch screen is portable but still large enough to get work done with. It also doesn’t feel large enough to carry in a bag. This might seem minor, but since larger iPads more often need to be tossed in a backpack it makes me ask myself, will my laptop be better to carry around instead? Since the mini is so much smaller, it fits in a jacket pocket and really helps me slim down my mobile content creation toolkit.

It’s also more powerful than the previously mentioned iPad. I never had any issues with its performance and it constantly surprises me how much I can get out of this tiny machine.

It’s not really for editing intricate videos because it’s so small. However, it excels at drawing, photo editing, gaming and reading. It slyly excels at mobile gaming and reading by being a larger screen than a phone, but still more comfortable to hold in your hand over time than a full-sized iPad. If you even spend an hour reading on your iPad every night I’d recommend maybe saving up the extra few hundred to get this over a base model. Over the years, your wrists will thank you.

This iPad mini also features a USB-C port, allowing it to be used with more professional accessories, but not older Apple Lighting connector-based dongles. This iPad also has a magnetic dock on the side so it can be used with the Apple Pencil 2. This magnetic connection makes it a lot easier to always have the Apple Pencil with your iPad and is a massive improvement over the first Apple Pencil.

If you live life on the go and your tablet tasks don’t revolve around needing to type on the screen, this iPad is for you. That said, if you want a larger screen, keep reading.

Read our iPad mini review.

Buy the 8.3-inch iPad mini for $649 here.

iPad Air

Stepping up in price and size, the iPad Air is a larger and more cable iPad mini. Stretching out to encompass a 10.9-inch footprint, it offers a more traditional iPad form factor, but with several modern bells and whistles.

This includes a USB-C port (2x faster than the mini’s), Apple Pencil 2 support and the coveted Apple M1 desktop-class chip. This should future-proof this upper-midrange Apple tablet, and might even allow it to compete more evenly with devices like the M1-equipped MacBook Air.

This means that the iPad Air will likely be a capable content creation machine when it releases later in March. It also means that it’s rather costly starting at $750 for a 64GB model — which isn’t a passable amount of storage — I’d expect most would want the 256GB model that starts at $950.

This isn’t bad, but if you do plan to use it as a computer replacement, you could easily find yourself with a few hundred dollars spent on accessories as well. For example, adding an Apple Magic Keyboard and an Apple Pencil 2 tacks on $569.

Regardless of this, if you’re deciding between a MacBook Air and an iPad, the iPad Air is a great option. We’ve yet to go hands-on with the new version of the tablet, but since it features Apple’s powerful M1 chip, it should offer more than enough for content creation. It’s just up to you to choose if you’d rather use iPadOS or macOS.

Read our story focused on the iPad Air (2022)’s announcement.

Buy the 10.9-inch iPad Air for $749 here.

iPad Pro

iPad Pro

There are two sizes of iPad Pro and as of March 2022, they both run on the M1 chip, but they’re not the same.

The more expensive 12.9-inch model starts at $1,399 in Canada and comes with a Liquid Retina ‘XDR’ display, which means that it offers better dynamic range and deeper blacks. It can also get brighter, allowing creators to make content in proper HDR. However, Apple is known for making great screens, and the 11-inch model’s regular Liquid Retina display is no slouch either.

Both iPad Pro models have 120Hz screens so they should feel as smooth as an iPhone 13 Pro or the new Apple MacBook Pro models. All of the other iPads in Apple’s lineup feature 60Hz displays.

One of the most ‘pro’ aspects about the iPad is that you can outfit them with 2TB of storage. If you really need this to be a laptop replacement or you handle a lot of large files, these are the best iPads for that.

However, since you can use USB-C-based hard drives with most iPads now, it’s a lot easier to offload and move files around than it has been in the past.

The iPad Pro models also pack the most robust rear cameras of any iPad thanks to their two rear shooters, including a single 12-megapixel wide camera and a 10-megapixel ultrawide. Like the iPad mini, the Pros are also equipped with a flash and the augmented reality (AR) focused LiDAR sensor.

The iPad Pro also features the best speakers and mic array you can get on an Apple tablet — and maybe even on any tablet period.

Still, unless you know you need the Pro for its Lidar sensors or 120Hz XDR screen, I think most users would get more value out of the iPad Air.

Read our iPad Pro review here.

Buy the 11-inch or 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $999 or $1,399, respectively, here.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

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Apple reveals a new iPad Air with M1 chip

There’s a new iPad Air coming out this year with modern specs that bring it back in line with Apple’s pricing scheme.

The updated unit has an M1 chip bringing it in line with the iPad Pro and the MacBook Air. While we were expecting to see the tablet get bumped up to the Apple A15 Bionic chipset, this signifies an even more aggressive tablet strategy for Apple. Suggesting that the next time we see an iPad Pro, it might have an M2 chip.

This year, Apple also added a larger 12-megapixel selfie camera, so every iPad model has the cool centre stage feature for video calls. The iPad Air is also being bumped up to support 5G.

As with the previous model, the iPad Air supports Apple Pencil 2 and even a USB-C port, but this post is 2x as fast as the previous model. The screen on this model appears to be the same anti-reflective liquid retina display as the previous version. None of this is a letdown considering how good the iPad Air has been for years.

One of the cooler updates is a new update to iMovie that makes it easier for JR filmmakers to make professional-looking content. This is less of an iPad update, but since iMovie comes free with all iPads, it is neat to see it getting some new features.

There are some new colours as well that are somewhat pastel looking but not as vibrant as some of Apple’s other products. The colours are Blue, pink, purple, Starlite and space grey.

More to come…

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Apple’s iPad sales fell in Q4 but still saw growth in yearly sales

Barcelona, Spain – June 7, 2018: Logo of Apple Inc. on a Apple store. Apple is the multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California and sells consumer electronics products.

Shipments of Apple’s iPad fell in Q4 of 2021, according to a new report from the International Data Corporation (IDC), falling in line with the company’s recently released quality results.

The IDC report shows Apple shipped 17.5 million units in Q4 2021, an 8.6 percent decrease compared to Q4 2020.

Apple’s Q1 2022 earnings show sales grew by 11 percent to hit $123.9 billion USD (roughly $157 billion CAD), but the iPad was not a helping factor.

The report shows iPad sales resulted in $7.25 billion (roughly $9.2 billion CAD) worth of revenue, a 14 percent downturn year-over-year.

The iPhone 13 contributed to a revenue increase of 9.2 percent, its accessories division contributed to a rise of 13 percent, and its Mac division contributed to a 24 percent increase in sales.

Apple wasn’t alone in experiencing the decline. According to the IDC, 46 million tablets shipped in Q4 2021, representing the second decline since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

Despite the decline, the tech giant still led the pack in sales. Apple was far ahead with its 17.5 million unit shipment, compared to Samsung, which trailed behind at second. The company shipped 7.3 million units, a 21.6 year-over-year decline.

Tablet shipments of the top five companies. Credit: IDC

Lenovo saw a 25.4 percent decrease, and Chromebooks declined by nearly 64 percent.

Tablets from Amazon saw an increase with 1.3 percent growth. But with only 3.6 million units shipped, it was far behind Apple, Samsung and Lenovo.

Disappointing quarter aside, the yearly growth numbers were much more substantial, with an overall increase of 3.2 percent among the top five companies, the highest level seen since 2016.

Apple saw an 8.4 percent growth in shipments in 2021 compared to 2020, with 57.8 million units shipped compared to 53.3.

Senior research analyst Anuroopa Natarah says the Q4 decline is because many areas have moved past their peak demand. However, shipments will stay above pre-pandemic levels because of the need to work remotely, virtual learning, and media consumption.

Image credit: ShutterStock

Source: IDC

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63 percent of all iPhones are now running iOS 15

Four months after the launch of its latest operating system update, Apple has updated its support page to reveal the iPhone and iPad’s iOS 15 installation numbers.

According to the data, 72 percent of all iPhones introduced in the last four years, including the iPhone 13 series, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 11 series and the iPhone X series, are now running iOS 15 and 63 percent of all iPhones are on Apple’s latest OS.

Only 26 percent of iPhones released in the past four years are running iOS 14, whereas 30 percent of all iPhones are still running iOS 14. Further, 2 percent of iPhones released in the last four years are on iOS 13 or lower, and 7 percent of all iPhones haven’t upgraded to iOS 14 or higher.

The latest OS installation numbers are much lower on iPad. Only 57 percent of iPads released in the last four years are running iPadOS 15, whereas 39 percent are using iPadOS 14 and 4 percent on older versions.

Forty-nine percent of all iPads are currently running iPadOS 15, while 37 and 14 percent are on iPadOS 14 and iPadOS 13 and lower, respectively.

If you compare these numbers to last year’s data, it’s evident that a lower percentage of users have decided to upgrade to Apple’s latest mobile OS. For reference, last year’s report showed that 86 percent of iPhones introduced in the previous four years (from the date of the report) were running iOS 14, 14 percent higher than iOS 15’s data. Similarly, 84 percent of iPads introduced in the last four years (from the date of the report) were running iPadOS 14, 27 percent higher than iPadOS 15’s data.

The cause of this OS update decline is a little unclear. However, it might be because Apple introduced its latest update as ‘optional’ when it was first released. According to Apple, iOS 14 won’t receive new security updates, so users who want the latest security updates will have to jump to iOS 15.

Source: Apple Via: MacRumours