Archive chapter
What changed across Apple in 2020: ecosystem turning points, hardware launches, software releases and the support boundaries that moved with them.
Historical context
Curated, source-backed moments that explain how products, software and technologies changed direction together. These records add context without duplicating the canonical product or OS facts below.
Apple announced a two-year transition away from Intel processors toward its own Mac silicon, creating a common architecture across product families and pairing the change with macOS Big Sur, Universal 2, and Rosetta 2.
Related software
Technology threads
Software history
Verified public releases in 2020, including major-version milestones, maintenance updates and products that lost major-version support.
iPhone OS / iOS
16 public releases in this major line · 15 point updates
Redesigned widgets could be placed alongside apps on Home Screen pages.
App Library automatically organized installed apps and provided a new end-of-page app view.
App Clips exposed a small part of an app exactly when it was needed without requiring the full download first.
Calls and Siri adopted compact presentations while Picture in Picture kept video or FaceTime visible over other apps.
iPadOS
15 public releases in this major line · 14 point updates
Small, medium and large widget sizes allow you to pick the amount of information to display
Siri has a compact design that allows you to refer to information onscreen and seamlessly launch into your next task
One place where you can find everything: search for apps, contacts, files, quick information like weather and stocks, common knowledge questions about people or places, or even quickly start a web search
Write in any text field with Apple Pencil and your writing automatically converts to typed text
Smart selection makes it easy to select text, distinguishing handwriting from drawings
An all-new compact design surfaces results in the bottom right corner of the screen in a new layout
Pinned conversations keep up to nine of your favorite message threads at the top of the list
11 new hairstyles and 19 new headwear styles to customize your Memoji
Cycling directions provide routes along bike lanes, bike paths, and bike-friendly roads, taking into consideration elevation or how busy a street is
Suggested automations help you set up automations with just a tap
Apple TV Software / tvOS
9 public releases in this major line · 8 point updates
Share audio: Enjoy movies and TV shows with a friend without disturbing others around you. Connect two sets of AirPods or compatible Beats products to your Apple TV 4K to share a viewing experience with separate volume controls.
Picture in Picture: Watch a movie while you keep an eye on the latest sports, check the weather while binge watching a TV series, or play a video game while watching content by your favorite gamer—now with supported third-party apps.
Home: Get notifications when someone rings your doorbell and see a live view of who's there. Or ask Siri to show any of your HomeKit-enabled cameras and trigger scenes in the new Home view in Control Center.
Multiuser for gaming: Switch users in Control Center to access just your game progress, achievements, and friends. Then pick up where you left off from Continue Playing in Apple Arcade.
Game controllers: Apple TV supports even more controllers like the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and Xbox Adaptive Controllers. And now you can create custom button mapping for your controllers in Settings.
Screen savers: Get lost in space, take to the air, or dive deep in the sea by choosing only the locations you want to see. From Settings, select which types of Aerials will cycle onscreen.
AirPlay: Use AirPlay to stream content from the Photos app on your iPhone to your Apple TV 4K so you can share your favorite photos and videos in full 4K resolution.
watchOS
16 public releases in this major line · 15 point updates
New Stripes face that lets you select the number of stripes you want, choose colors, and rotate the angle to create a watch face that reflects your style (Series 4 and later)
New Sleep app to help you meet your sleep duration goal with sleep tracking, custom sleep schedules, and a view of sleep trends over time
Automatic handwashing detection using motion sensors and microphone
Use your iPhone to pair and manage a watch for your family members, with their own phone number and Apple ID
New Memoji app to create new Memoji or customize existing Memoji
Turn by turn directions with larger font sizes that are easier to read
On-device dictation for faster and more reliable request handling and further protecting privacy (Series 4 and later, US English only)
Change goals for exercise minutes and stand or roll hours in the Activity app
Major-version support ended
Mac OS X / OS X / macOS
34 public releases in this major line · 33 point updates
Big Sur introduced a broad visual redesign across windows, controls, icons, and system chrome.
Control Center brought common system controls together while Notification Center combined notifications with redesigned widgets.
Safari added a customizable start page, stronger privacy reporting, improved tabs, and built-in translation.
Messages and Maps gained major feature upgrades aligned more closely with their iOS counterparts.
Major-version support ended
Public release history
70 public point updates are recorded for this year. Expand a platform to inspect the version-by-version release dates.
Hardware releases
Filters below affect the hardware list only. Product relationships and generation deltas still come from the canonical lineage catalog.
16 catalogued products
iPad · Pro
Introduces the LiDAR Scanner and dual-camera array to Apple hardware, pioneering hardware depth sensing and trackpad cursor interaction in iPadOS.
Measures distance to surrounding objects up to 5 meters away at photon speed in nanoseconds, operating at indoor and outdoor ranges to revolutionize augmented reality and scene geometry.
12MP Wide camera (f/1.8) joined by a 10MP Ultra Wide camera (f/2.4, 125-degree field of view) with 2x optical zoom out.
Studio-grade five-microphone array for capturing clean audio and vocals.
Enhanced thermal architecture and an enabled 8-core GPU (up from 7 cores in A12X), paired with an 8-core CPU and 8-core Neural Engine.
6GB unified memory standard across all storage tiers (previously limited to 1TB models).
Entry capacity doubled from 64GB to 128GB at the same $799 starting price.
Introduces Wi-Fi 6 support for speeds up to 1.2Gbps.
Floating cantilever design, backlit keys, 1 mm travel scissor mechanism, USB-C pass-through charging, and integrated trackpad designed for iPadOS cursor support.
Doubled from 64GB to 128GB.
Slight increase to 471 g (Wi-Fi) / 473 g (Cellular) (from 468 g / 470 g).
Replaced by 128GB entry baseline.
Superseded by dual-camera + LiDAR housing.
2388 x 1668 resolution at 264 ppi, ProMotion 120Hz, True Tone, P3 wide color, 600 nits brightness.
Multi-orientation facial recognition.
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps).
Magnetic attachment and wireless charging.
Anodized aluminum unibody enclosure in silver and space gray.
Delivered by a 28.65-watt-hour battery.
iPad · Pro
Adds a LiDAR Scanner, Ultra Wide camera, studio microphones, and A12Z Bionic with 8-core GPU to the 12.9-inch pro workspace.
Time-of-flight depth sensor measuring reflected light from up to 5 meters away, enabling instant AR placement and advanced scene reconstruction.
12MP Wide (f/1.8) and 10MP Ultra Wide (f/2.4, 125-degree FOV) cameras with 2x optical zoom out.
Multi-mic array for studio recording and background noise suppression.
8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 8-core Neural Engine, and enhanced thermal architecture.
Unified memory baseline raised to 6GB across all storage capacities.
Entry capacity doubled from 64GB to 128GB.
High-speed Wi-Fi 6 connectivity up to 1.2Gbps.
Floating cantilever design with full-size backlit keyboard and trackpad support in iPadOS.
Doubled from 64GB to 128GB at the same $999 entry price.
641 g (Wi-Fi) / 643 g (Cellular) (from 631 g / 633 g).
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2732 x 2048 resolution at 264 ppi, ProMotion 120Hz, True Tone, P3, 600 nits.
Preserves dimensions of the 3rd generation.
7MP front camera with Portrait mode.
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps).
Magnetic wireless charging.
Powered by a 36.71-watt-hour battery.
iPhone · SE
A13 performance is transplanted into the familiar 4.7-inch Touch ID design.
The value/compact line jumped to the A13 while retaining a Home-button design.
SE moved from the 4-inch iPhone 5s-era chassis to the 4.7-inch glass-backed Touch ID form.
Apple Watch · SE
Apple's first dedicated value-tier smartwatch merges the modern Series 4/5 industrial design and S5 SiP with the Series 6 always-on altimeter, establishing the entry platform for Family Setup.
Established a distinct value branch priced at $279 (GPS) and $329 (GPS + Cellular), eliminating the need to rely solely on aging prior-generation hardware (such as Series 3) as the mid-market offering.
Positioned explicitly as the primary hardware recommendation for watchOS 7 Family Setup, enabling children and older family members without an iPhone to utilize communication, Activity rings, Schooltime, and Emergency SOS.
Adopted the same next-generation energy-efficient barometric altimeter introduced on Series 6, providing real-time continuous elevation tracking accurate to 1 foot.
S5 SiP dual-core processor delivers up to 2x faster performance than Series 3; display area is over 30% larger with curved borders.
Available exclusively in 100% recycled aluminum (Silver, Space Gray, Gold); premium stainless steel, titanium, and ceramic finishes were omitted to maintain tier separation.
Shipped without physical Force Touch hardware, conforming to the watchOS 7 touch interaction guidelines.
Utilized the 40mm and 44mm case dimensions (10.7mm depth), speaker 50% louder than Series 3, haptic Digital Crown, and ceramic and sapphire crystal back.
Display is a 1000-nit LTPO OLED Retina panel, but operates purely via wrist-raise wake rather than remaining continuously illuminated, maintaining a sharp functional boundary with Series 5 and Series 6.
Retained the second-generation optical heart sensor (high/low heart rate and irregular rhythm notifications), accelerometer (fall detection up to 32 g-forces), gyroscope, and compass.
Intentionally excluded the electrical heart sensor (no ECG app) and blood oxygen sensor to preserve differentiation with the Series line.
Omitted the U1 Ultra Wideband chip and 5GHz Wi-Fi; Wi-Fi remains single-band 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n with Bluetooth 5.0 and the W3 wireless chip.
Retained the full 32GB storage tier standard across contemporary Apple Watch lines.
Apple Watch · Series
The introduction of blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring, the A13-derived S6 SiP, and the U1 Ultra Wideband chip establishes Apple's modern sensor and spatial computing wearable platform.
Redesigned back crystal houses four clusters of green, red, and infrared LEDs and four photodiodes measuring reflected light from blood to calculate oxygen saturation (SpO2) between 70% and 100% on demand and in background/sleep sessions.
New 64-bit dual-core processor based on iPhone 11's A13 Bionic architecture runs up to 20% faster than S5, accelerating app launches while maintaining 18-hour battery life.
First wearable to feature Apple's U1 Ultra Wideband chip, enabling precise spatial awareness and support for digital car keys.
Dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHz) added to alleviate 2.4GHz band congestion on modern wireless routers.
Dedicated energy-efficient barometric altimeter operates continuously all day alongside GPS and Wi-Fi networks to detect elevation changes down to 1 foot.
Re-engineered charging architecture enables a full 0% to 100% charge in under 1.5 hours (or 80% in 1 hour).
Always-On Retina display is up to 2.5 times brighter outdoors when the user's wrist is down; users can interact with complications, Notification Center, and Control Center without waking the screen.
(refinement): Introduced new Blue and (PRODUCT)RED aluminum cases; Graphite and updated Yellow Gold stainless steel; debuted clasp-free silicone Solo Loop, Braided Solo Loop, and magnetic Leather Link bands.
Redesigned optical sensor package integrates the heart rate and pulse oximetry photodiode array into a unified rear crystal cluster.
(refinement): Casing depth slimmed from 10.74mm (Series 5) to 10.70mm.
(refinement): USB power adapter removed from the box packaging; product incorporates 100% recycled rare earth elements in the Taptic Engine and nearly 100% recycled tungsten throughout.
Physical force-sensitive gasket layer removed from display assembly; watchOS 7 phased out Force Touch interactions across all models in favor of long-press interactions.
(refinement): White ceramic case option discontinued from the Edition line, leaving titanium (natural and space black) as the sole Edition material.
Series 5 removed from sale immediately upon Series 6 and SE launch.
Retained electrical heart sensor built into the Digital Crown and back crystal for single-lead ECG and irregular heart rhythm notifications.
Retained 18-hour battery life standard despite driving a brighter always-on display and additional background health sensors.
Maintained 32GB internal storage across all models.
iPad · Standard
Brings Apple's Neural Engine and a 40% CPU jump to the budget iPad line via the A12 Bionic processor.
First entry-level iPad to feature Apple's Neural Engine (8 cores, 5 trillion operations per second), enabling advanced on-device machine learning such as handwriting recognition, photo editing, and motion tracking.
Includes Apple's 20W USB-C wall charger and USB-C to Lightning cable in the retail box.
Delivers 40% faster CPU performance and 2x faster graphics processing compared to the A10 Fusion in iPad 7th gen.
490 g (Wi-Fi) / 495 g (Cellular) (slight increase from 483 g / 493 g).
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Replaced by 20W USB-C power brick.
Non-laminated LED-backlit Multi-Touch display (2160 x 1620 resolution at 264 ppi, 500 nits, non-P3, no True Tone).
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Proprietary connector retained on device.
Side contacts support full-size Apple Smart Keyboard.
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8MP rear camera (f/2.4) and 1.2MP FaceTime HD front camera.
32GB and 128GB storage starting at $329 (US) / $299 (US) education.
Powered by a 32.4-watt-hour battery.
iPad · Air
Debuts Apple's 5nm A14 Bionic chip and pioneering Top Button Touch ID, bringing the modern all-screen design and USB-C to the mid-tier iPad Air.
First Apple product to integrate a compact next-generation Touch ID fingerprint sensor into the top power button, preserving biometric authentication within an all-screen design without TrueDepth hardware.
World debut of Apple's first 5-nanometer chip (ahead of iPhone 12), with 11.8 billion transistors, 6-core CPU (2 performance, 4 efficiency), 4-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine capable of 11 trillion operations per second.
2360 x 1640 resolution at 264 ppi with narrow uniform borders, precision rounded display corners, P3 wide color, True Tone, full lamination, and anti-reflective coating (500 nits brightness).
Replaces Lightning with USB-C (USB 3.1 Gen 1, up to 5Gbps), enabling external drive access, camera connection, and up to 4K external display output.
Magnetic attachment, wireless inductive charging, and double-tap tool selection.
Rear Smart Connector enables floating cantilever Magic Keyboard compatibility with built-in trackpad.
Anodized aluminum finishes in silver, space gray, rose gold, green, and sky blue.
High-speed Wi-Fi 6 networking.
Dual speakers re-engineered for true stereo sound in horizontal orientation.
Upgraded to 12MP Wide camera (f/1.8 aperture) with 4K video recording at 24/30/60 fps (from 8MP on Air 3).
Increased from 10.5 inches to 10.9 inches.
Increased from $499 to $599 (US).
458 g (Wi-Fi) / 460 g (Cellular).
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Powered by a 28.6-watt-hour battery.
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HomePod · mini
Condensed Apple's computational audio into a 3.3-inch spherical design powered by the Apple S5 chip, introducing the Apple U1 Ultra Wideband chip for proximity handoff, Thread mesh networking, and a $99 price point.
Compact spherical form factor (84.3 mm tall, 97.9 mm wide) wrapped in seamless 3D-knitted acoustically transparent mesh fabric, weighing only 345 grams.
Apple S5 System in Package (SiP) running complex computational audio tuning models over 180 times per second to optimize loudness and dynamic range.
Full-range neodymium driver firing downward into an acoustic waveguide that disperses sound evenly across 360 degrees.
Dual force-cancelling passive radiators delivering extended bass frequencies without cabinet vibration.
4-microphone array (three outward-facing microphones for far-field "Hey Siri" voice capture, and one inward-facing microphone to cancel out internal audio).
Apple U1 Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip providing directional proximity awareness, dynamic haptic handoff, and personalized lock-screen media controls when paired with a U1-equipped iPhone.
Thread mesh networking radio (acting as a HomeKit and Matter Thread border router).
Built-in ambient temperature and humidity sensor (embedded at launch; enabled via software in audioOS 16.3).
captive braided cable terminating in a USB-C connector, powered by an included Apple 20W USB-C power adapter.
Edge-to-edge backlit capacitive top touch disc illuminating with dynamic multi-color Siri waveforms.
Intercom messaging platform for family voice announcements across Apple devices.
Retail price lowered by 71% from the original HomePod ($99 vs $349).
Acoustic architecture transitioned from a multi-tweeter/large-woofer array to a single full-range driver with dual passive radiators and waveguide.
Processor transitioned from an iPhone-derived A-series SoC (A8) to an Apple Watch-derived S-series SiP (S5).
Power delivery moved from an internal AC mains supply to an external 20W USB-C power brick.
Multi-tweeter beamforming array.
Internal AC power supply.
Seamless mesh fabric aesthetics, multi-room AirPlay 2 streaming, stereo pairing capability, and computational acoustic optimization.
iPhone · Standard
5G, OLED across the standard tier, flat edges, Ceramic Shield, and MagSafe open a new design cycle.
5G became available across the iPhone 12 family.
The standard iPhone moved from LCD to OLED.
A magnetic alignment system created a new wireless charging and accessory layer.
iPhone · mini
The full flagship platform is compressed into a new 5.4-inch mini branch.
A new small flagship branch delivered the iPhone 12 platform in a much smaller body.
iPhone · Pro
5G, LiDAR, Apple ProRAW, and a flat stainless-steel design advance the Pro camera workflow.
Depth sensing improved low-light autofocus and AR capability on Pro models.
Apple combined computational photography with RAW workflow flexibility.
iPhone · Pro Max
The Max model becomes a camera differentiator with a larger sensor and sensor-shift stabilization.
The largest Pro received a distinct sensor-shift stabilization system.
Mac · Mac mini
The Mac mini became part of Apple’s first M1 Mac generation, bringing Apple silicon to the compact desktop.
Apple M1 chip, integrating CPU, GPU, Neural Engine, I/O, and unified memory.
Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports alongside HDMI 2.0 and two USB-A ports.
Mac · MacBook Air
The 2020 MacBook Air made Apple silicon available in a fanless notebook, using M1’s integrated architecture in the Air form factor.
Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU, up to 8-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine.
Fanless thermal design for the M1 MacBook Air.
Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports.
Mac · MacBook Pro
The 13-inch MacBook Pro joined the first M1 generation, applying Apple silicon to the compact professional notebook.
Apple M1 chip with an 8-core CPU, up to 8-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine.
Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports.
Up to 20 hours of battery life, as measured by Apple for video playback.
AirPods · Max
Dual Apple H1 chips, custom 40mm dynamic drivers, a Digital Crown, and luxury materials bring computational audio to high-fidelity over-ear headphones.
Apple-designed 40mm dynamic driver with dual neodymium ring magnet motor, maintaining total harmonic distortion of under 1 percent across the entire audible range even at maximum volume.
One dedicated H1 headphone processor in each ear cup, harnessing 10 audio cores per chip (20 audio cores total) for computational audio processing.
Borrowed from Apple Watch for tactile, precise volume adjustment, track playback, call management, and Siri activation.
Dedicated button on the right ear cup for immediate toggling between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode.
Eight microphones dedicated to Active Noise Cancellation; three microphones dedicated to voice pickup (two shared with ANC, one dedicated).
Breathable knit mesh canopy distributing weight to reduce on-head pressure, stainless steel headband frame with smooth telescoping arms, and acoustically engineered anodized aluminum ear cups.
Detachable cushions engineered with acoustic memory foam and breathable mesh fabric.
Slim protective cover that automatically places AirPods Max into an ultra-low-power sleep state to preserve battery charge.