Over the years, Apple has come up with excellent names for its products. Monikers like iPhone, Mac, and iPad are immediately recognizable and descriptive enough to know what these products are.
When it comes to sub-branding in the product lines, Apple is clumsy. And this clumsiness leads to consumer confusion. For instance, what “Air” means for MacBook is different from what “Air” means to iPad. Another example: “Pro” and “Max” relating to iPhone is very different from what these terms mean for the M-series chips that Apple installs in the Mac, iMac, and MacBook products.
Every now and then, confusion due to clumsy marketing creeps into conversations I have with friends and family members who are seeking input on Apple products.
Them: “So MacBook Air and iPad Air are the least expensive models, right?”
Me: “Not exactly. The MacBook Air is the least expensive MacBook, but the iPad Air is more expensive than the base model iPad.”
Them: [Looking at me confused]
So one day I found myself thinking about the Apple product lines as they are and how I wish they were. Yes, this probably sounds dumb. I don’t have all that much free time in my day, but I can’t stop thinking about such dumbness in the universe, especially when said dumbness comes from a company with a multi-trillion dollar market cap.
My Wish List for Apple Product Names
iPhones
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPads
- iPad Air [formerly base iPad)
- iPad mini
- iPad [formerly iPad Air]
- iPad Pro (11″ & 12.9″)
MacBook Laptops
- MacBook Air
- MacBook (13″; M1-based) [formerly MacBook Pro 13″]
- MacBook Pro (14″ & 16″; M1 Pro & M1 Max)
iMac All-in-One Desktops
- iMac (24″; M1-based)
- iMac Pro (27+”; M1 Pro & M1 Max)
Mac Desktops
- Mac mini (M1-based)
- Mac Pro (M1 Pro & M1 Max)
- Mac Pro Max (multiple M1 Pro & M1 Max chips)
M-Series Chips
- M1
- M1X [formerly M1 Pro]
- M1Z [formerly M1 Max]
Okay, it’s off my chest. I’ll let you know when Tim Cook calls to express his gratitude to me…