TheApple ecosystemis a term used to describeApple Inc.'sdigital ecosystemof products and services, including theiPhone,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 asAirPods,HomePodsandAirTagsintegrate complementarily into the ecosystem, with products such as theiPhone,it does not function as well or with as many features with competitive devices such asAndroidsmartphones.[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]
