TIME recognizes three Apple products as most influential of the 2010s

An Apple Pencil rests on a black iPad keyboard. The iPad screen displays colorful artwork and app icons including Google Drive, YouTube, and Audible. This scene highlights the integration of Apple products for creative and productive tasks, showcasing some of the most influential tech innovations of the 2010s.

Apple is featured three times in TIME Magazineโ€™s list of โ€œThe 10 Best Gadgets of the 2010s,โ€ with the news outlet recognizing the iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods in its roundup.

Other products featured include the Xbox Adaptive Controller, the Amazon Echo, and the Google Chromecast, though Apple is the only manufacturer to feature more than once.

Though TIME Magazine does not number its list and says that the set isnโ€™t ranked, itโ€™s great to see that Apple has featured three times on the list across various product categories, demonstrating the companyโ€™s stronghold over the technology industry and its growing influence.

โ€œEach gadget tells the story of a new way of thinking, a slow-moving paradigm shift set to change the way we approach the personal technology we interact with on a daily basis,โ€ writer Patrick Lucas Austin said of the top ten gadgets, adding that โ€œFrom smartphones and drones to consoles and cars, the past decade has more than enough life-changing devices to choose from,โ€ before selecting his top-ten choices, which included a Tesla Model S.

The iPad is the first product featured on the list, with TIME complementing its multitouch display and the introduction of iPadOS earlier this year, which no doubt gives the tablet an edge in an increasingly crowded market.

TIME says that the launch of the new operating system makes anyone โ€œoptimistic about the next decade of tablet computingโ€.

โ€œWhile many have tried, no one has been able to match the polish and performance of the Apple Watch,โ€ the company said of Appleโ€™s smartwatch concept, adding that โ€œitโ€™s gone from a device for early adopters and fashion-deficient nerds to a mainstream accessory, thanks to its smart software and ever-improving hardwareโ€.

And TIME wouldnโ€™t be wrong – Apple Watch is now the worldโ€™s best-selling watch, outperforming brands like FitBit and Rolex.

Finally, AirPods are given a mention, with TIME saying that they โ€œquickly became an icon in their own right, both for their aesthetic appeal as well as their larger cultural impact.โ€

The article does go on to criticize Apple for its lack of repairability on the AirPods, however, which is a valid concern and one that many environmentalists have been pushing for the company to change.

Whether Apple will be able to make AirPods more environmentally-friendly remains to be seen.

Are you pleased with this top-ten list? Do you think Apple has produced the most influential technology over the past decade? Let us know your thoughts and check back for more.

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