It may be a little scary, but we’re rapidly heading towards the end of 2023. That means Apple is preparing to award App Store Awards to this year’s favorite apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. .
Apple just announced the “Finalist” stage for the App Store Awards. This means we have a shortlist of potential winners across several categories. While Apple recognizes his Mac apps, Apple TV apps, and games with awards, this guide focuses on his non-gaming iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch nominations.
So if you’re looking for a digest of all of this year’s best apps in these categories, and TechRadar’s thoughts on each one, look no further. You can navigate the list using the section links on the left. Finally, we also include a non-gaming app that was selected for Apple’s Cultural Impact Award.
Apple will no doubt announce the final winner of these nominees soon, but you can get a head start on choosing your favorite. For more app inspiration, check out TechRadar’s Homescreen Heroes feature and try out all the TechRadar team’s favorites. A little-known app.
iPhone apps of the year
1. All trails
Apple named AllTrails for “helping the world find its way outside” after being mostly shut down for the past few years, and we support that decision. AllTrails may already be one of the most popular activity tracking apps out there, and it’s no surprise that it’s so popular because it’s so easy to use for hikers and runners. Want to see how they stack up against their main competitors? Check out our detailed comparison of Strava vs. AllTrails.
2. Duolingo
Duolingo is another app you’ve probably already heard of, but it’s also a natural member of Apple’s shortlist. It might not top the list of best language learning apps (credit goes to Babbel), but it’s great for learning Spanish, French, Chinese, or any other language for your next trip. mobile app. But perhaps even more exciting is that Duolingo has added new music courses and updated math courses to the app to boost your brain.
3. Fluffy
This airport companion was already highly praised by Apple at the 2023 Apple Design Awards earlier this year, and now Flighty has also been shortlisted for the year-end gong.
According to Apple, it was nominated for “keeping travelers on time and stress-free at the airport.” It accomplishes this by providing flight maps, airport navigation, delay predictions, and also easily integrates with Apple Maps, Siri Shortcuts, and Live Activities.
iPad apps of the year
4. Concept
If there’s an app made for the new Apple Pencil, it’s this vector-based sketchbook. TechRadar hasn’t reviewed Concepts, but it has a 4.7-star rating on the App Store, and Apple named it a finalist for his iPad app of the year.
Rather than a drawing app like Procreate, Concepts is designed to capture ideas, notes, mind maps, and even product sketches and designs. According to its maker, the app is used by creators from Disney, PlayStation, Apple, and more, so if it’s good enough for them, it’s well worth a try (if you can stomach the subscription fee). Ba).
5. Da Vinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve has long been a popular desktop app for video editors, and it finally arrived on the iPad this year. This was a huge win for mobile YouTubers and content creators.
Our hands-on review of DaVinci Resolve for iPad praised its real-time color grading, multitrack audio, and timeline editing tools. Some powerful AI tools allow you to quickly edit videos without sacrificing precision or accuracy. There is no doubt that it is a strong candidate for the overall award.
6. Preta Makeup
We have to confess that Prêt-à-Makeup is not an iPad app that we’ve tried, but it seems like a very useful tool for makeup artists. Apple praises it for “bringing makeup design to life for all beauty lovers.” .
The app’s face charts are used to test, plan, or track products and combinations used in different artist-designed looks. Prêt-à-Makeup is obviously a subscription app, as it’s quite professional-focused, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the industry.
This year’s Apple Watch apps
7. Plan
Apple Watch already has a wealth of productivity apps, but Apple shortlisted Planny for the award because it “intelligently helps users stay on top of their tasks.”
Planny bills itself as a “calendar, to-do list, and productivity tool” all in one app, but its core skills are relegated to the shadows of a mountain of to-do lists. Instead, it’s about intelligently scheduling tasks. We’re big fans of Toggl Track for Android and iOS smartphones, but Planny seems like a good alternative for Watch fans.
8. Smart gym
Tracking your gym workouts with a smartwatch can be difficult. We’re big fans of the custom workout features built into the Apple Watch, but Apple also selected his SmartGym for its app award shortlist.
The app was nominated for “creating smart, targeted workouts for every skill level,” and while it’s been around for a while, this year the app has undergone a major redesign, with new monthly summaries. and updated routines and exercises. The app’s Year in Review feature works like Spotify Wrapped for workouts.
9.Tide guide
It may sound a bit niche, but Tide Guide has long been considered one of the best iOS apps for checking local tide times, making it useful for watersports fans and photographers planning their shoots. is.
Now, the Apple Watch version of the app has been nominated for Apple’s Smartwatch App of the Year award, and for good reason. The app is well designed and recently updated with new tips and tricks guides for beginners.
Cultural impact award
Last year, Apple introduced a “Cultural Impact Award” for apps that are less mainstream, but perhaps more influential, than other award winners. This year again, several apps were nominated for excellence in a variety of fields, from personal finance to bedtime stories about heroic women.
All five non-gaming apps on the list are: balance Nominated for “making menopause support more comprehensive and accessible to all.” co-pilot (which has an impressive 5-star rating on the App Store) is praised for its features that help you track and budget your money.
In other places, proloquo is an AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) app that, as its creator describes, is designed to “meet the diverse needs of non-speaking people who can use an iPad independently.”
level girls This is a brilliant adaptation of the award-winning podcast Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, which provides stories of real women that inspire and empower children.And finally, a TechRadar favorite Too Good to Go We deserve recognition for our contribution to reducing food waste in restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets.
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