{"id":41044,"date":"2026-04-01T22:05:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T14:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=41044"},"modified":"2026-04-01T22:05:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T14:05:36","slug":"apples-top-5-products-of-the-last-50-years-as-chosen-by-hardwarezone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=41044","title":{"rendered":"Apple\u2019s top 5 products of the last 50 years as chosen by HardwareZone"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">As Apple marks its 50th anniversary, it feels like the right moment to look back at the products that defined its journey. Trying to pick the top five products from Apple is a bit like arguing over your favourite food. Everyone has a strong opinion, and honestly, no one is entirely wrong. Over the decades, Apple has released devices that not only sold well but genuinely shifted how people use technology in their daily lives. <\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">As for this list, it\u2019s less about raw sales numbers and more about impact. We are looking at the products that made us stop and think, \u201cOkay, this changes things.\u201d To be fair, the history of Apple is chock-full of such products, and trying to pick five isn\u2019t easy. This list serves as snapshot of what stood out to us as writers who have followed Apple for years, tested its devices, and watched its evolution up close.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Some of our choices may be obvious. At least one might surprise you.<\/p>\n<section class=\"_expanded_lwxdk_22\"><button class=\"_title_lwxdk_1\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<p><default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"9\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\"><default:path d=\"M1 1L9 8L17 1\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/><\/default:svg><\/button><\/p>\n<ol class=\"_list_lwxdk_28\">\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">1. <!-- -->The Macintosh 128k<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">2. <!-- -->The iMac G3<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">3. <!-- -->The Original iPod <\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">4. <!-- -->The Original iPhone<\/li>\n<li class=\"_listItem_lwxdk_71\">5. <!-- -->The M1 Chip<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<h2 id=\"the-macintosh-128k\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">The Macintosh 128k<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"Macintosh 128K\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"1140\" height=\"760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/16c5dddbee7aec9b32a97ef03e76b22ea34d00c5586f714904801e985d5c37d3?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/16c5dddbee7aec9b32a97ef03e76b22ea34d00c5586f714904801e985d5c37d3?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/16c5dddbee7aec9b32a97ef03e76b22ea34d00c5586f714904801e985d5c37d3?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/16c5dddbee7aec9b32a97ef03e76b22ea34d00c5586f714904801e985d5c37d3 1140w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/16c5dddbee7aec9b32a97ef03e76b22ea34d00c5586f714904801e985d5c37d3?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.5;contain-intrinsic-size:1140px 760px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">This is the daddy of all Macs.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: Apple<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The Macintosh 128K may not be Apple\u2019s first computer, but it was the first-ever Mac, and it was widely regarded as one of the first successful mass-market all-in-one systems \u2013 the monitor and floppy drive were both integrated into a single case. In many ways, this was the genesis of the iMac. It also gave us that iconic \u201c1984\u201d commercial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">But more importantly, it introduced a new way of using computers. Instead of having users type complicated and difficult-to-remember commands, the Macintosh 128K had a graphical user interface. Users interacted with it by moving a pointer around the screen and clicking by using a new type of accessory called a mouse. Today, the mouse is ubiquitous, and the Macintosh 128K\u2019s GUI would later go on to inspire Microsoft Windows. In short, the Macintosh 128K didn\u2019t just lay the groundwork for future Macs; it also introduced new ideas that would come to revolutionise and define personal computing.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-imac-g3\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">The iMac G3<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"Apple iMac G3 Bondi Blue\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"1140\" height=\"760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/66814071ae3cbac62e61753e2469d365e9c607a45bfc6e63ab1076527e1c69a4?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/66814071ae3cbac62e61753e2469d365e9c607a45bfc6e63ab1076527e1c69a4?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/66814071ae3cbac62e61753e2469d365e9c607a45bfc6e63ab1076527e1c69a4?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/66814071ae3cbac62e61753e2469d365e9c607a45bfc6e63ab1076527e1c69a4 1140w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/66814071ae3cbac62e61753e2469d365e9c607a45bfc6e63ab1076527e1c69a4?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.5;contain-intrinsic-size:1140px 760px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">Few desktop systems are as iconic as this.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: Apple<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The iMac G3, launched in 1998, was Apple\u2019s first major product after Steve Jobs\u2019s return, pulling the company back from the brink of financial collapse. Designed by Jony Ive, the machine radically redefined the personal computer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Breaking convention, its translucent, egg-shaped shell came in bright colours like Bondi Blue and Tangerine, a stark contrast to the ubiquitous beige boxes of the time. This bold aesthetic choice immediately set Apple apart.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Beyond its looks, the G3 introduced forward-looking, though initially controversial, changes such as adopting USB-only connectivity and removing the floppy disk drive. These deliberate design choices simplified the user experience and made the machine more accessible for everyday users. Its striking appearance also made it a retail success, positioning the computer as both a functional device and a desirable lifestyle product.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Crucially, the G3 validated Jobs\u2019s core belief that exceptional design and superior usability could drive mass-market success. It restored consumer, developer, and investor confidence in Apple, generated essential cash flow, and established the design-led philosophy that paved the way for subsequent hits like the iBook, iPod, and iPhone.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-original-ipod\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">The Original iPod <\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"Original Apple iPod\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"1140\" height=\"760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/327d55b994f95bb6df1c324f1389205628d094ca5794bed87fc6589539091c4e?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/327d55b994f95bb6df1c324f1389205628d094ca5794bed87fc6589539091c4e?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/327d55b994f95bb6df1c324f1389205628d094ca5794bed87fc6589539091c4e?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/327d55b994f95bb6df1c324f1389205628d094ca5794bed87fc6589539091c4e 1140w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/327d55b994f95bb6df1c324f1389205628d094ca5794bed87fc6589539091c4e?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.5;contain-intrinsic-size:1140px 760px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">For many, this was the OG MP3 player. And if not for the iPod, one has to wonder where Apple would be today.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: Apple<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">While the iMac G3 ensured Apple\u2019s survival, <b>the<\/b> <b>original iPod<\/b>, launched in 2001, proved to be a more pivotal product, transforming Apple from a niche computer maker to a consumer electronics giant almost overnight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The iPod wasn\u2019t the first MP3 player, but its coherent design, where hardware and software worked together seamlessly, was revolutionary and set it apart from rivals. More significantly, the iPod helped Apple build its crucial ecosystem. The combination of hardware, software, and the iTunes Store created a frictionless experience for music lovers \u2013 buy music, sync it, carry it everywhere. This model later paved the way for the iPhone and defined Apple\u2019s business strategy for the next two decades.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The iPod\u2019s impact on the music industry was equally profound. Facing rampant piracy, Apple offered a legal and easy-to-use alternative. Selling individual tracks for US$0.99 shifted consumer behaviour from buying entire albums to purchasing singles, which fundamentally reshaped music distribution and monetisation, stabilising a struggling business in the digital age.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Crucially, the iPod demonstrated that superior design and user experience were as vital as technical specifications. It compelled the tech industry to focus not just on what devices could do, but on how people interacted with them, establishing the modern expectation that technology should be intuitive, personal, and desirable.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-original-iphone\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">The Original iPhone<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"Original iPhone\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"1140\" height=\"760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/43c2433b2ed2d273744951862df903b6f0712299dc4396346762955b05838569?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/43c2433b2ed2d273744951862df903b6f0712299dc4396346762955b05838569?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/43c2433b2ed2d273744951862df903b6f0712299dc4396346762955b05838569?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/43c2433b2ed2d273744951862df903b6f0712299dc4396346762955b05838569 1140w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/43c2433b2ed2d273744951862df903b6f0712299dc4396346762955b05838569?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.5;contain-intrinsic-size:1140px 760px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">Can any list of top Apple products be complete without the original iPhone? Nope, don\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n<p>Photo: Apple<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The <b>original iPhone<\/b> was incredible when it launched in 2007, and everybody was wowed by the touchscreen and multi-touch gestures used to control it. We could browse full websites, take photos with the 2MP camera and use it to listen to music, all in a single device that had a great UI, and was easy and fun to use.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Steve Jobs called it a revolutionary product, combining an iPod, a phone and an internet communicator. It was a game-changer, but it wasn\u2019t quite complete at launch.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The App Store came in 2008 with the <u>new iPhone 3G<\/u>, and that was when things really took off. It sparked a massive following and iconic moments like people queuing outside stores to be the first to get their hands on the devices.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">There\u2019s no question that the introduction of the iPhone was one of the biggest contributing factors to Apple\u2019s success, and the company\u2019s phones still are their best-selling products today.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Check out our coverage of the iPhone 3G here, and what we did for the <u>first 10 years of the iPhone<\/u>. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-m1-chip\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">The M1 Chip<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"_figure_wioo3_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"_base_12j3k_1\" alt=\"Apple M1 chip\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto\" width=\"1140\" height=\"760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/c541accff4e6ac6d2aa1660803bece66654bc8534ad325633ab2388cdaaea3fd?w=500&amp;q=85 500w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/c541accff4e6ac6d2aa1660803bece66654bc8534ad325633ab2388cdaaea3fd?w=800&amp;q=85 800w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/c541accff4e6ac6d2aa1660803bece66654bc8534ad325633ab2388cdaaea3fd?w=1000&amp;q=85 1000w,https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/c541accff4e6ac6d2aa1660803bece66654bc8534ad325633ab2388cdaaea3fd 1140w\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/hardwarezone\/c541accff4e6ac6d2aa1660803bece66654bc8534ad325633ab2388cdaaea3fd?w=1000&amp;q=85\" style=\"--custom-aspect-ratio:1.5;contain-intrinsic-size:1140px 760px\"\/><figcaption class=\"_figureCaptions_wioo3_158\">\n<p class=\"_imageCaption_wioo3_165\">Apple\u2019s first sillicon<\/p>\n<p>Photo: Apple<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The launch of the <b>M1 chip<\/b> must be regarded as a landmark event in Apple\u2019s history. It was the first Apple-designed chip to be used in a Mac, and it utterly rewrote the laptop rule book. Here was a mobile chip that was almost as fast as Intel\u2019s and AMD\u2019s high-end desktop chips, and it still offered up to 20 hours of battery life. This was at a time when most laptops struggled to even get 8 or 10 hours of battery life. That\u2019s how incredible its performance and efficiency were. And even now, nearly six years on, its competitors are still playing catch-up.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">It also transformed the way we shop for MacBooks. Because of the sheer performance of Apple\u2019s M-series chips, the MacBook Air became the default choice of laptop for a generation of Mac owners. It was ostensibly Apple\u2019s entry-level laptop, and it didn\u2019t even have a fan, but it was so capable that most users will be completely happy with it. Even many professionals rely on it for work. The MacBook Pros, on the other hand, became veritable portable powerhouses, offering performance that surpassed many desktop PCs. Now, there really isn\u2019t any MacBook that\u2019s bad, and it\u2019s not often that you can say that of any product line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Read our review of the <u>M1 MacBook Pro here<\/u>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hardwarezone.com.sg\/lifestyle\/apple-top-5-products-chosen-hardwarezone-50th-anniversary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Apple marks its 50th anniversary, it feels like the right moment to look back at the products that defined its journey. Trying to pick&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41045,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[4428,12591,2643,6214,75,59],"class_list":["post-41044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech-gadgets-reviews","tag-apples","tag-chosen","tag-hardwarezone","tag-products","tag-top","tag-years","wpcat-32-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41044"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41044\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}