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iMore Best of 2016 Awards
They’re what changed how we worked and how we played. They’re what compelled us to replace the devices on our wrist, in our pocket, on our laps or desks, and in our living rooms. They’re what dictated the look of our home screens and our docks.
They’re the devices and features, gear and accessories, and apps and games that filled us with surprise and delight, got us to forget what came before, and made it impossible for us to imagine how we ever lived without them.
They’re our 2016 iMore Award winners!
Best of the Year
Best Apple device:
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 7 Plus didn’t just bring a bigger screen and battery this year, it brought a significantly better camera with optical zoom and portrait mode. And that got everyone’s attention. — Rene Ritchie
Runner Up: iPad Pro 9.7-inch
Best iOS Feature
Portrait Mode
iOS packed a ton of great features into its 2016 update, but the best feature of all came in iOS 10.1. Portrait Mode exemplifies the best of Apple’…
They are what modified how we labored and the way we performed. They are what forced us to switch the units on our wrist, in our pocket, on our laps or desks, and in our dwelling rooms. They are what dictated the glance of our house monitors and our docks.
They are the units and lines, equipment and equipment, and apps and video games that crammed us with wonder and enjoyment, were given us to disregard what got here sooner than, and made it inconceivable for us to believe how we ever lived with out them.
They are our 2016 iMore Award winners!
Best of the Yr
Best Apple software:
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 7 Plus did not simply deliver a larger display and battery this yr, it introduced a much better digital camera with optical zoom and portrait mode. And that were given everybody's consideration. — Rene Ritchie
Runner Up: iPad Pro 9.7-inch
Best iOS Function
Portrait Mode
iOS packed a ton of nice options into its 2016 update, however the most productive function of all got here in iOS 10.1. Portrait Mode exemplifies the most productive of Apple's device engineering smarts, developing implausible pictures that, in some instances, rival DSLRs. It can be solely for the iPhone 7 Plus this yr, however it is a positive signal of what is to return for Apple's smartphone cameras. — Serenity Caldwell
Runner up: Differential Privacy Messages
Best macOS Function
Apple Pay
Get in a position to buy til' you drop, excluding you will not drop as a result of you will not be exhausted, as a result of all you need to do to shop for stuff on macOS now's click on on Apple Pay. You'll be able to ascertain the cost by means of Apple Watch or iPhone, and in case you have a MacBook Professional with Contact ID, all you wish to have is your fingerprint. It actually makes on-line buying groceries a breeze. — Lory Gil
Runners up: Auto Unlock Siri for Mac
Best watchOS Function
Activity Sharing
Of watchOS's many nice new options this yr, none were given me shifting and motivated greater than Process Sharing: If Rene can get a exercise in strolling 5 miles within the snow, I will be able to no doubt pick out up a couple of heavy issues. — Serenity Caldwell
Runners up: Fast Watch Face Switching Breathe
Best tvOS Function
TV app
The TV app became out to be a pleasing wonder, even for cable cordcutters. It makes it simple to stay monitor of presentations and films you watch with no need to keep in mind which app you have been gazing it in, and it additionally is helping you find new content material you did not know used to be to be had to you thru all of the more than a few products and services. — Lory Gil
Runners up: Siri enhancements
Tale of the Yr
FBI vs. Apple
The FBI sought after Apple to create a again door into iOS. Apple stated 'no'. The skirmish ended with the FBI discovering in a different way, however the warfare over privateness has simply begun. — Rene Ritchie
Runners up: Pokémon Go No new Mac desktops
Best of iPhone
Best iPhone app
Cardiogram
The Apple Watch measures your center beat, however Cardiogram is sensible of it: This iPhone app will give you detailed center historical past, averages, or even hooks into center research to help in making folks fitter around the world. — Serenity Caldwell
Best iPhone recreation
Pokémon Go
To name Pokémon Move a phenomena is to undersell it. A loved franchise discovered new lifestyles and the best spike in preliminary hobby conceivable in a contemporary, cellular, agumented fact, geo-location global. — Rene Ritchie
Runners up: Reigns Super Mario Run
Best iPhone accent
AirPods
Apple taketh the 3.5mm headphone jack from iPhone, however giveth AirPods, which use the brand new W1 chip to make pairing and switching between units more uncomplicated than ever ahead of. They usually shipped in time for this award! More... — Rene Ritchie
Runners up: Moment Lens Kit
Best images app
Prisma
In an international of fundamental filters, three-D canine faces, and oversaturated, overbearing modifying equipment, Prisma stood out like a white knight who simply destroyed a poorly-edited dragon. This extremely inventive cellular app shall we customers turn out to be true artists and manipulate their pictures in utterly new, non-cliche tactics. Plus, it is tremendous addicting. — Cella Lao Rousseau
Runners up: FiLMiC Pro Obscura Camera
Best Messages app
Square Cash
We use Sq. Money continuously when splitting dinner tests or paying hire, and its Messages app makes the method even more uncomplicated: Simply choose the volume you wish to have to ship, press pay, and watch it move! — Serenity Caldwell
Best sticky label pack
Grammar Snob
The funniest, worst factor you'll be able to do to a chum or enemy is to start out red-lining the errors of their messages. Grammer Snob permits you to do exactly that. I need to use it continuously... and punch it within the face each and every time it is used on me. — Rene Ritchie
Runners up: CARROT Weather Bitmoji
Best Maps app
Open Table
Why care for Open Desk's fussy internet interface when you'll be able to reserve a desk at once from Apple Maps? The large blue Reserve button seems for any eating place that helps the reservation carrier, permitting you to temporarily snag a desk at your favourite position. — Serenity Caldwell
Runners up: Uber
Best Siri app
Skype
"Skype Serenity." "Name Georgia on Skype." "Message Mikah the use of Skype" — Mix Microsoft's communicator with Apple's new Siri apps and also you get previous global networking with new global ease. — Rene Ritchie
Best 3-d Contact app
djay Pro
Now not handiest did Algoriddim organize to pack all of djay Professional's options into the much-smaller-than-iPad-or-Mac iPhone interface, they took merit of one thing distinctive to the platform: full-on Taptic enhance. So, now, you do not simply have to take a look at the beat — you'll be able to really feel it! — Rene Ritchie
Best iPhone case
Sena Lugano Wallet
With the iPhone 7 Plus's additional girth taking on more room in our baggage and wallet, a perfect pockets case used to be a will have to for decreasing muddle and having must haves for your individual always. The Lugano case is a gorgeous, narrow leather-based choice that permits you to raise your playing cards with out the majority. — Serenity Caldwell
Runners up: Journal Silk Grip Case
Best battery case
Mophie Juice Pack
Yr after yr, mophie hits iPhone charging instances out of the park. They are now not the most cost effective, however they are prime quality, top efficiency, and regularly those value looking ahead to. — Rene Ritchie
Runner up: Apple Smart Battery Case
Best headphones
Bose QuietComfort 35
There is not any different headphone I need to go back and forth house for the vacations with than the Bose QC35. Wi-fi, noise-cancelling, and battery for hours on finish — who may just ask for anything else extra? — Serenity Caldwell
Runner up: Liberatone Q Adapt
Best HomeKit accent
iHome Smart Plug iPS6
The iHome Sensible Plug is definitely the most productive begin to any HomeKit house, as a result of it is some distance more effective than twiddling with bulbs, thermostats, lovers, and so forth. You'll be able to simply flip anything else that plugs in right into a HomeKit-enabled software: It is responsive, it seems nice, and it is so simple to arrange! — Mikah Sargent
Runner up: August Smart Lock
Best of iPad
Best iPad app
Procreate
iPad Professional and Apple Pencil are unbelievable equipment, however Procreate harnesses them that will help you create unbelievable artwork. With its new display broadcast options and strengthen for the PSD layout, it is a very easy app of the yr in our books. — Serenity Caldwell
Runner up: Swift Playgrounds
Best iPad recreation
Human Resource Machine
"Coding can also be a laugh!" However you don't have any concept simply how a laugh it may be till you will have performed Human Useful resource Device: It performs like a puzzle recreation, all of the whilst educating you the fundamental basics of coding. — Lory Gil
Runner up: Severed
Best iPad accent and keyboard
9.7-inch Logitech Create
After running on an iPad Professional for a yr, there is not any different keyboard I would like through my aspect than the 9.7-inch Logitech Create. It is a nice keyboard, gives Pencil garage, and protects my iPad Professional like not anything else. — Serenity Caldwell
Runner up: Jot Mark
Best of Mac
Best Mac app
Spark
Spark used to be already a perfect e-mail app for iOS, however this yr Readdle introduced it to the Mac with lots of helpful options, together with a sensible inbox — my favourite solution to stay monitor of essential emails. — Lory Gil
Runner up: Capo 3.5
Best Mac recreation
Firewatch
Simplicity, surprising visible genre, and a in point of fact enticing tale make Firewatch our recreation of the yr: It is a delightful reminder that indie recreation studios can blow Triple-A studios out of the water. — Luke Filipowicz
Runner up: Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Best Mac accent
Twelve South Fermata
The large problem about Bluetooth headphones? Remembering to price them. Twelve South's Fermata takes that rigidity out of the equation with a beautiful desktop headphone stand that still packs in a integrated charger. — Serenity Caldwell
Runner up: LG 5K Display
Best Mac audio system
Libratone Zipp
The Libratone Zipp is an ideal speaker: Superbly designed and impeccably constructed, the rounded hollow space delivers 360-degree sound that works with Bluetooth, AirPlay and Spotify Attach. Mix two for whole-room or whole-house playback! — Daniel Bader
Runner up: UE Boom 2
Best Mac hub & dongles
OWC USB-C Dock
When USB-C on my own isn't sufficient, OWC's dock provides your MacBook or MacBook Professional extra ports than you'll be able to shake a dongle at! — Rene Ritchie
Runner up: USB-C to USB-A Adapter
Best Mac exterior force
LaCie Porsche Design USB-C Drive
Zoom zoom: Who does not need a arduous force with a race automotive identify? Porsche Design would possibly handiest be loosely affiliated with its sports activities automotive cousin, nevertheless it nonetheless makes darn great arduous drives — and the LaCie logo backs that graceful design up with a rock-solid USB-C choice for MacBook and MacBook Professional customers alike. — Serenity Caldwell
Runner up: G‑DRIVE USB‑C 1TB Drive
Best Mac bag
Waterfield Staad Attaché
If you wish to have a trendy bag for the brand new MacBook Professional or your iPad, you'll be able to't pass flawed with the Waterfield Staad: It has a cushioned compartment on your number one tool and wallet and pouches to spare. — Serenity Caldwell
Runner up: Pad and Quill Roll Top Backpack
Best of Apple Watch
Best Watch app
Breathe
Respiring is not just very important to lifestyles. You need to managing tension, nervousness, and your lifestyles. Breathe for Apple Watch is a terrific addition, reminding us all to easily prevent, turn out to be aware, and regain our center of attention. — Georgia Dow
Runner up: Streaks
Best Watch complication
Carrot Weather
Snarky and ever-present, Carrot's myriad headaches for Apple Watch gift you with a bit of climate for your lifestyles it doesn't matter what watch face you want to put on (now not that it is going to prevent, puny human). — Serenity Caldwell
Runner up: Fantastical
Best Watch accent
Time Porter
Touring for the vacations is rarely simple, particularly if you end up being worried about toting round charging equipment for your whole electronics. The Time Porter takes care of this in your Apple Watch, supplying you with a trip stand, charger, and accent case — multi functional! — Serenity Caldwell
Runner up: AirPods
Best Watch band
Woven Nylon
How do you beat the Game Band at its personal recreation? If you are Apple, you introduce the funner, extra breathable Woven Nylon. Purchased. So. Many. — Rene Ritchie
Best of TV
Best TV app
Hyper
The Hyper app for Apple TV gives up the most productive of the most productive movies on the web in a superbly designed interface. Skip sifting thru YouTube lists and Vimeo suggestions and get correct to the great things with Hyper! — Mikah Sargent
Runner up: Pokémon TV
Best TV recreation
Minecraft
Minecraft is an incredible recreation on any tool, however it's particularly glorious for your tv: It is the first primary recreation on Apple TV that calls for a separate recreation controller. We've got spent hours construction, tearing down, and exploring huge landscapes in Minecraft — and are positive to spend many extra. — Lory Gil
Runner up: Pokémon TV
Best TV accent
Studio Neat Apple TV Remote Stand
Easy and complicated, the Studio Neat Apple TV Faraway Stand provides your glass faraway a small picket house to name its personal. (It is a a lot better position than within the sofa cushions or beneath the espresso desk, consider us.) — Serenity Caldwell