Apple is a technology giant that has been leading the industry for decades. With its constant innovation and cutting-edge technology, the company has released numerous software products that have changed the way we use technology. In this article, we will discuss the best software releases from Apple in the last five years and compare them in a detailed table.
- iOS 13 (2019)
- iOS 13 is one of the most significant software releases from Apple in the last five years. It introduced several new features, including a system-wide dark mode, improved privacy settings, and a revamped Photos app. Additionally, iOS 13 brought significant updates to Apple’s native apps, such as Reminders, Maps, and Messages.
- Key Features:
- System-wide Dark Mode
- Improved privacy settings
- Revamped Photos app
- Updated native apps (Reminders, Maps, Messages)
- macOS Catalina (2019)
- macOS Catalina was another significant release from Apple in 2019. This update brought several new features, such as the Sidecar feature that allows users to extend their Mac’s display to an iPad, the ability to use an iPad as a second display, and the breakout of iTunes into three separate apps: Music, TV, and Podcasts.
- Key Features:
- Sidecar feature for extending Mac’s display to an iPad
- Use iPad as a second display
- Breakout of iTunes into Music, TV, and Podcasts
- watchOS 6 (2019)
- watchOS 6 brought numerous new features to the Apple Watch, including an App Store directly on the watch, new watch faces, and the ability to stream music and podcasts directly from the device. Additionally, this update introduced several new health and fitness features, such as the Noise app and Cycle Tracking for women.
- Key Features:
- App Store on the watch
- New watch faces
- Stream music and podcasts directly from the device
- New health and fitness features (Noise app, Cycle Tracking)
- iPadOS 13 (2019)
- iPadOS 13 was a major release for the iPad, introducing several new features tailored specifically for the device. These include a new Home Screen layout, improved multitasking, and the ability to use an external mouse or trackpad. Additionally, iPadOS 13 brought support for USB drives and external storage devices.
- Key Features:
- New Home Screen layout
- Improved multitasking
- External mouse or trackpad support
- USB drive and external storage device support
- macOS Big Sur (2020)
- macOS Big Sur is the latest macOS release from Apple, featuring a completely redesigned user interface, including new icons, menus, and windows. This update also brought several new features, such as Control Center, Notification Center improvements, and Safari updates, including the ability to translate web pages.
- Key Features:
- Completely redesigned user interface
- Control Center
- Notification Center improvements
- Safari updates (translation, privacy report)
Now that we’ve discussed the top software releases from Apple in the last five years, let’s compare them in a detailed table:

Apple has consistently released innovative and user-friendly software products over the years. In this article, we discussed the best software releases from Apple in the last five years and compared them in a detailed table. From iOS 13 to macOS Big Sur, each release brought significant improvements and new features that have enhanced the user experience. As Apple continues to innovate, we can expect even more groundbreaking software releases in the future.
