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3 nitpicky complaints about Apple's Peek Performance event

Apple released some great products at this year's March event. That will not stop the nitpicks and gripes that always follow after an Apple announcement. (Image source: Apple/author - edited)
Apple released some great products at this year's March event. That will not stop the nitpicks and gripes that always follow after an Apple announcement. (Image source: Apple/author - edited)
Apple products are known for giving off an air of sophistication that no other tech company has really managed to match. That being said, nothing is immune to criticism - and there is plenty of it to go around following the March 2022 Peek Performance event.
Article compiled by Julian van der Merwe
The choices and comments made on this list belong solely to the author.

1. The Studio Display could function independently

Starting at US$1,599, Apple's Studio Display may not be cheap, but that price is somewhat justified. It is not just a bright, colour-accurate, 5k, Thunderbolt display - it comes equipped with a 12 MP ultra-wide angle webcam with Center Stage and six-speaker setup. The Studio Display also features an Apple A13 Bionic SoC, which enables features like "Hey Siri," Center Stage, and optimises camera performance with the same image signal processor from the iPhone 11. 

Because of this A13 Bionic SoC, the Studio Display has no business being just a monitor. The A13 Bionic was used to power the iPhone 11 - Apple's 2019 mainstay device. The Studio Display could easily function as a smart display, having the display itself do simple things like video and music playback or displaying a recipe without having to wake the computer connected to it. 

The Apple Studio Display comes in at US$1,599 and only features tilt adjustment on the base model. The 32-inch Philips Momentum 5000 32M1N5800A launched for £760 (US$995) in the UK with similar specs and a 144 Hz refresh rate. (Image source: Apple, Philips)
The Apple Studio Display comes in at US$1,599 and only features tilt adjustment on the base model. The 32-inch Philips Momentum 5000 32M1N5800A launched for £760 (US$995) in the UK with similar specs and a 144 Hz refresh rate. (Image source: Apple, Philips)

If you must have the Studio Display, this monitor arm on Amazon is a much better value than the US$400 height-adjustable stand Apple will sell you. 

2. The graphs, again...

Apple is known for showing confusing and misleading graphs at events and this time is no different. The graphs in question used relative performance, which can be a confusing metric at times, but putting the variables on wacky axes just takes it to the next level.  

It has already been proven by the M1, M1 Max, and M1 Pro SoCs that Apple silicon is incredibly fast and efficient, so why would Apple intentionally provide indecipherable graphs? It could be that the M1 Ultra isn't all that great, which is unlikely given that it is two M1 Max SoCs glued together. What is more likely is that the graphs, like the event as a whole, are presented more for the "wow" factor than anything else and if Apple provided more details, the illusion would be broken and it would draw focus away from the products in question. 

What benchmark did Apple use? Why are there no actual metrics? Does Apple even understand these things? (Image source: Apple)
What benchmark did Apple use? Why are there no actual metrics? Does Apple even understand these things? (Image source: Apple)

3. The iPad Air muddies the water

Apple's iPad Air also received a refresh during the Peek Performance event, the most significant improvement being the inclusion of an M1 SoC - the very same processor as found in the most recent iPad Pro. On top of that, the new iPad Air now also features a 12 MP front-facing camera and the same Center Stage functionality as the iPad Pro, and it is even compatible with the levitating Magic Keyboard with included trackpad. The only major difference in everyday use is now the display, which lacks ProMotion and is a little dimmer, and the lack of Face ID on the iPad Air. 

This lack of a significant display upgrade over the previous generation is a let-down to prosumer users, especially since the Air still starts at US$599 and only features 64 GB of storage in the base configuration and the only alternative is 256 GB for US$749. At that price, it almost makes more sense to buy a 128 GB 11-inch iPad Pro for only US$50 more. That way, you at least get a 120 Hz ProMotion display, Thunderbolt, and an upgraded rear camera system. 

Say what you will about the 2022 iPad Air, the fun selection of colours is definitely something to be excited about. (Image source: Apple)
Say what you will about the 2022 iPad Air, the fun selection of colours is definitely something to be excited about. (Image source: Apple)
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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2022 03 > 3 nitpicky complaints about Apple's Peek Performance event
Julian van der Merwe, 2022-03-11 (Update: 2022-03-11)