The Apple ecosystem is a term used to describe
Apple Inc.'s
digital ecosystem of products and services, including the
iPhone,
iPad,
Apple Watch,
HomePod, and the applications that run on them.[1] It is often praised for its seamless integration and optimization between various networks of devices, software and services,[2] and is largely emphasized by Apple's focus on privacy,[3][4] but criticized for its closed system and lack of customer control.[5][6]
Apple products often unlock extra features when paired with other Apple products, as opposed to devices from other companies.[7] Privacy is also considered a major perk of the ecosystem, as Apple markets its products with high standards of privacy, sometimes using it as a selling point over competitors.[8][9][10][11]
Apple's ecosystem is often described as a walled garden.[12][13] While peripherals such as
AirPods,
HomePods and
AirTags integrate complementarily into the ecosystem, with products such as the
iPhone, it does not function as well or with as many features with competitive devices such as
Android smartphones.[7] Also, it is not easy to switch from the ecosystem once users have immersed themselves into it, as it is designed to keep users from leaving.[5][6]