The Vergecast: Ad-Free Edition Choosing Apple's 50 best products ever (subscriber exclusive)
Mar 27, 2026
Two tech journalists argue over which Apple products truly belong in a top-50 list. They spar about defining a "product," pick iconic Macs, iPhones, iPods, AirPods, and the M1 chip, and debate software, peripherals, and retail as milestones. The conversation revisits choices, trims duplicates, and settles contentious inclusions before sending the list to readers to rank.
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Pick Milestones Not Every Incremental Rev
- The panel agrees not every incremental rev should be listed, but picking form-factor or milestone models (e.g., iPhone X form factor) captures lasting significance.
- They use product selection rules to avoid overcrowding the list with minor spec bumps.
iPhone X Form Factor Set The Modern Standard
- The iPhone X (and XS) represent the design pivot that defines modern iPhones: bezel-less displays and Face ID.
- David prefers X as the form-change; Nilay argues XS mainstreamed production and added computational photography.
LaserWriter Fueled Desktop Publishing
- LaserWriter printers were foundational to desktop publishing and the Macintosh's professional adoption.
- Nilay explains LaserWriter plus PostScript enabled WYSIWYG printing, creating a desktop publishing revolution for Mac users.