Everyone Warned Me About Switching to Apple, but I Did It Anyway — 1 Year Later
Around this time last year, I decided to finally replace my ageing Windows gaming PC with the M1 MacBook Air, and that sparked a series of events which caused me to be fully integrated in the Apple ecosystem again.
I know what you’re thinking, a gaming PC to an M1 MacBook Air? Well, for starters, my requirements have drastically shifted since building my gaming PC many years ago. At the time of the upgrade, I was barely playing any games. Instead, I was using the PC for basic video editing and writing blog posts.
The reason for getting an M1 MacBook Air, was the offer I found it for. I know that it wasn’t the latest model at the time, but it was more than enough for my needs, and it still is.
The decision was difficult, especially as everyone around me warned me about switching to the MacBook and iPhone, but I decided to do it anyway and here’s my story…
The Device That Sparked the Move: M1 MacBook Air
I know I’ve already talked about switching to the M1 MacBook Air, but this is the device that started this entire switch for me, and I want to discuss it in more detail.
I decided to go with the base model, which only has 8 GB of memory and 256 GB of storage space. This was the first thing that people warned me about. But here’s the thing, while this sort of hardware specification is considered low, it suits perfectly my needs for writing blog posts and basic video editing.
In terms of performance, I haven’t really faced any issues when using the MacBook on a daily basis. There have been rare times, when I was doing high-performance tasks and multitasking, where I have felt a decline in performance, but those occasions were rare.
Several people have also warned me about macOS itself, but the truth of the matter is that I seem to be more productive on it and I enjoy using it more compared to other systems.
Like with any system, not everything is perfect, I preferred the snap layout feature within Windows, but I was able to fix that using BetterSnapTool, which makes a huge difference. But apart from that, it’s been a mostly smooth experience.
iPhone 14 Pro Max
After upgrading to the MacBook Air, it didn’t take long for me to get an iPhone. The iPhone I went with was the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which I got on a pretty good deal.
I knew that moving to an iPhone would effectively mean that I would be closer to locking myself into the Apple ecosystem, but that didn’t defer me, even though many people around me were telling me to stick to Android.
The change to the iPhone was unplanned, my contract was up for renewal and I decided to see whether it will improve my experience with the MacBook Air. I think it’s fair to say that it has, especially with the Universal Clipboard and AirDrop. These two features are seriously underrated!
I am fully aware that the iPhone 14 Pro Max won’t see Apple Intelligence, and that it’s a much older model. However, I’m likely to upgrade my phone to a newer one in 2025.
In terms of user experience, I’ve been extremely satisfied with the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The battery still lasts a decent amount of time, and it performs extremely well. After a year with the phone, the maximum capacity has dropped to 94%, but it’s not noticeable.
On an average day of my life, the battery lasts me throughout the entire day and I either charge it in the morning or the late evening, there is no need for me to charge it in the middle of the day, which I had with other phones. Furthermore, there are times when the battery lasts me over a day.
Apple Watch SE 1st generation
After upgrading to the iPhone, it didn’t take long for me to buy an Apple Watch. The Apple Watch I went with was a second hand Apple Watch SE 1st generation, which I’ve used for most of last year.
I picked the watch up from CEX for £120 in condition B, which was a pretty decent price. Considering the price I paid for it, I think I got a pretty good bargain, especially as I used it as my primary watch throughout the first part of 2024. I later decided to upgrade to an Apple Watch Series 9 Cellular, but we’ll get to that later in this article.
I’ve used the Apple Watch SE for various things, including the standard smartwatch features including text messages and calls, as well as seeing notifications. I also used it to track my fitness, and I think it’s fair to say that the watch has never let me down on longer cycling trips or hiking activities.
In terms of battery life, I could comfortably get a day’s worth of battery life out of the watch. On some days, I could get more, around a day and a half, that thanks to an effective charging routine.
I was very satisfied with the watch, but I knew that it was only going to be a temporary solution, especially since the original Apple Watch SE no longer supports the latest version of watchOS.
AirPods Pro 2nd generation
I decided to get the AirPods Pro 2nd generation to go with my iPhone and MacBook Pro, and it was a great decision as they sound fantastic.
Starting with the active noise cancellation (ANC), it’s just phenomenal. With the help of these, I am easily able to block out the surrounding noise. As someone who travels a lot and commutes via public transport weekly, they allow sitting down, relax and get on with work if I need to.
The Transparency mode works really well too. I can easily order a coffee at the café without taking my AirPods out of my ears. It also works great when walking in the streets as it allows me to listen out for cars.
More importantly, they have outstanding sound quality. When it comes to sound quality, we all have different tastes in sound, some people prefer the sound to be flat, some prefer strong bass and some want it to be in the middle.
I like the sound to be clear so that I can clearly hear all the instruments, but at the same time, I like to be able to feel that bass. I think that these deliver on that incredibly well.
Vocals sound incredibly clear, too, especially when listening to audiobooks or when I’m on calls.
They also have some cool features, such as the ability to move your head up and down to accept a call or side to side to decline a call. I also can’t wait for the hearing test feature to become available.
Overall, I am incredibly satisfied with these. I honestly don’t understand why I didn’t even consider getting these earlier, as they are incredibly good and fit my lifestyle perfectly!
Apple Watch Series 9 Cellular
The Apple Watch Series 9 is the newest addition to my Apple setup.
After thinking about it for a long time and considering my options, I decided to upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 9 Cellular back in July. Before that, I never owned a cellular smartwatch before, so I decided it was about time I gave one a go.
It’s now been around four and a half months since I upgraded to this watch and I honestly think it was worth it, especially if you’re a runner, as the fact that it’s cellular stops me from having to take my phone running with me.
Initially, I felt that there weren’t any major differences compared to my old Apple Watch SE, and that the only difference was the fact that the Series 9 was cellular.
I remember the first time I left my phone at home, I was only popping to the local shops and on my way to the shop I received a notification. I don’t remember what the notification was, but I have to admit that it felt really cool. On top of that, I was able to use the watch to pay for my shopping. How cool is that!
I use my Apple Watch for numerous things, especially when it comes to tracking my fitness, and I think that this watch does a phenomenal job. I know that you don’t get Garmin level stats, but it’s more than enough for my needs.
Overall, I believe that the Apple Watch Series 9 is a fantastic watch, I know it’s no longer the latest, but it’s still perfectly capable.
How Apple Transformed My Daily Life
To many people, these devices are just that, but technology can really have an impact on peoples lives, especially if they use the right tools that work for them.
Somehow, Apple has transformed my life by not only helping me be more productive, but also by motivating me to do more work and to focus on my health and fitness.
It could be that mentally when I look at Windows and Android I think gaming, customisation and relaxing, whereas when I look at macOS and Apple devices, I think work and getting things done.
When using Android phones, I’ve always played around with the features and customised my setup with the help of launchers, custom icons and widgets. Looking back at those times, they didn’t provide me with an output that I was satisfied with. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed customising my setup, but if I compare it to my experience with iOS, I’m not spending time customising my setup because everything works as I want it to.
I don’t think the reason for me constantly customising my Android setup was to do with the way the interface looked, but just by having the option to customise there. I was spending too much time customising things instead of being productive.
Looking at the apps that are available on Apple devices, they all follow a similar design language, and they feel pleasant to use. I know that there are many apps in the same boat on Android, but for some reason I seem to prefer the design language of iOS apps.
Speaking about apps, there are many iOS apps that I simply enjoy using. I am referring to apps that aren’t available on other platforms. For example, my favourite habit tracker remains Awesome Habits. I like it due to its clean interface and the fact that it connects to Apple Health. This allows me to set fitness targets which get automatically completed based on the activities I track with my Apple Watch.
But there are many other great apps. I’m a big fan of the Apple Fitness ecosystem, I think it’s considerably better than the one provided by Fitbit. Don’t get me wrong, Fitbit has a nice-looking app, but I don’t like the idea of paying extra for features you get free on other platforms. As of recently, I’ve subscribed to Fitness+ so to help me with workouts at home. I think that Apple Fitness+ works really well for me. But I haven’t tried similar features on other platforms.
I’m also a big fan of Apple Notes, I believe that Apple has nailed it with the design and they way it functions. Having been using Android for a long time, I haven’t discovered a note-taking app that I enjoy to that extent. I also like the idea of organising notes into folders within the app. In comparison, I’ve always liked the idea of Google Keep, but I never liked the idea of using it for organising my notes, I used it for making quick notes instead.
But the truth of the matter is that there are many apps and services that I prefer on Apple, but I’ll dedicate a separate article for that.
Whatever it is, it’s working for me as since switching to Apple, I’ve been a lot more productive than I was before making the switch, and that means a lot to me. It has helped me focus on my side hustle and creating content in my spare time, and it has helped me improve the quality of my life.
That is not to imply that Android and Windows can’t do the same for other people because it definitely can. It’s all about what works for you best, life is too short to force yourself to use apps and systems that you don’t enjoy using.
Have you ever heard of that famous phrase by Mark Twain: “Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” The same can be said about the technology and the apps you use. If you enjoy using a particular app, operating system or device, it’s likely that you will automatically be more productive than using something you don’t enjoy using.
How the change impacted my workflow
I’ve tried various operating systems, apps, and services over the years, but at the end of it all, I discovered that I was more productive when using Apple devices. A lot of this has to do with a pleasant interface, as well as the apps and services I use that are only available on Apple devices.
It could also have something to do with the fact that I’ve been brought up on Windows. I’ve used most if not all Windows desktop operating systems, starting with Windows 95. Some of my earliest computing memories are on Windows, I’ve learned on Windows decides at school and done huge chunks of both of my computer science degrees on Windows.
One of the key features that has transformed the way I work is AirDrop. When reviewing products on my blog, I can use my iPhone to take a photo of the product and quickly send it to my MacBook and instantly use it. I know that there are services that can do this on other platforms, and I am aware that I can use cloud storage to automatically sync my photos between the two devices. But I find AIrDrop to be quicker and stress-free as I don’t have to wait around for the photos to become available in the same way. I guess it’s all about the experience.
The Universal Clipboard is an exceptional feature that allows you to copy and paste from one device to another with easy. For example, if I copy a link from my iPhone, I can paste it in the browser of my MacBook.
I’ve already mentioned that I prefer the universal design language provided by Apple devices. But I want to elaborate on how it makes me more productive.
Have I looked back?
To be truthfully honest, yes, I have looked back. As someone who’s primarily been using Google Pixel devices over the last couple of years, I do miss the Google experience and the excitement of seeing monthly updates. That is why my secondary phone is still the Google Pixel 7 Pro. But I primarily use that for my side hustle and for taking photos from time to time. I still use the iPhone as my primary phone.
In terms of Windows, I use Windows 11 at my day job, so I can’t give up on it that easily. At home, I have a Windows 11 virtual machine on my Proxmox server, but I very rarely use it. I also use Linux virtual machines, but that’s a story for another day.
I’ve also thought about investing in a foldable phone, but after long thought, I decided against it with the main reason being price, but also the fact that I can’t see myself from benefiting from it. But I must admit, they are cool!
Thinking about the way I use these devices, I think that I would benefit from upgrading my ageing iPad Pro to the latest iPad mini and upgrading my iPhone when I feel it’s the right time to upgrade.
I just realised that I haven’t talked about my iPad Pro. For those of you who are interested, I use the 11-inch iPad Pro 2nd generation, which was released back in 2020. I still think it’s a great iPad, but the battery is starting to drain faster.
Have I faced any challenges?
As it goes with these types of transitions, people often face various challenges, from incompatible software to learning new operating systems. But the truth of the matter is that back then, I wasn’t new to iOS or macOS, so I didn’t have to spend time learning the operating system.
However, as an IT professional, I always like to keep a backup of everything if I need it. That is why I converted my old gaming PC into a Proxmox Hypervisor, which I primarily use for learning and testing in my IT home lab. I’ve also set up a Windows 11 virtual machine if I ever require it, but I barely ever use it.
The greatest challenge I faced was the fact that I tend to use at least two monitors on my desk setup. However, the M1 MacBook Air, only seems to support one additional monitor. To overcome this, I currently use the BenQ beCreatus DP1310 Hybrid Dock, which is a DisplayLink docking station that allows me to use my MacBook with two external monitors.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, my switch to Apple has simplified my workflow, boosted productivity, and has made working more enjoyable.
I know that there are people moving away from Apple, but there are also people moving to Apple. It’s just how it goes in life, people’s requirements and preferences change and so does the way people work.
Just because somebody moves, doesn’t mean that they won’t move back in the future. I mean, technology just keeps getting better and better, and I aim to make the most of what works for me.
In the future, I am very likely to upgrade my iPhone 14 Pro Max to a newer model, especially if I find using Apple Intelligence useful to me. At present, I am considering just the Pro version as I find the iPhone 14 Pro Max a bit big.
I am also considering upgrading my iPad Pro to the latest iPad mini.
My M1 MacBook Air, still seems to be functioning perfectly well for me with the current specs, so I don’t think I will be upgrading that any time soon. But if I do finally decide to upgrade, it will likely be to a newer MacBook Air. I really think that it’s an underrated device.
If I had any tips, I would definitely recommend thoroughly researching the devices and systems you are thinking to move to. This includes watching YouTube videos, reading reviews and visiting local tech stores to see if you can have a go on the display models.
If you are moving to macOS, I recommend checking out Setapp, which is a service where you pay a set monthly fee and gain access to over 250 apps. I pay $12.49 per month and that provides me with access to apps for iOS and macOS, and it includes apps like Ulysses, CleanMyMac, Spark Mail, Craft and more. Great if you are new to the platform.
I’ve been using Setapp from the very beginning of this transition, and I found it incredibly useful. It all started from a 7-day trial, which allowed me to have a go and see if I find it useful, and it turns out that I did. As a paying customer, I can’t stop singing its praises, that is why I decided to become an affiliate, so if you are interested it checking it out, I am leaving my affiliate link which will support my work.
Have you ever jumped ship from one platform to another? What were your thoughts, was it a good move? Let us know in the comments!
Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links.