Switching completely to the Apple ecosystem

Only a few years ago I had Android, Windows and a Garmin watch. Today I have an iPhone, a MacBook, an Apple Watch and AirPods. Switching completely to the Apple ecosystem happened gradually, and it was one of the best moves for my work as a travelling photographer. Here's why, and what bothers me about it.

How it started

It started with the iPhone 13 Pro, which I bought for its camera. Then came the MacBook Pro M1 Pro for editing photos, the Apple Watch Series 8 for the mountains and AirPods for long journeys. And suddenly everything started working together.

What works brilliantly

AirDrop

I send a photo from the iPhone to the MacBook in two seconds, with no cable and no internet. On the road without Wi‑Fi, that's priceless. And I can send photos to guests on northern lights trips right on the spot.

Handoff and the shared clipboard

I copy text on the iPhone and paste it on the Mac. I finish a half-written email on the other device. Small things that save tens of minutes a day.

iCloud Photos

Photos from the iPhone sync everywhere. Edits in the Photos app on the Mac show up on the phone too. For RAW files from the camera, though, I use Lightroom, not iCloud.

Continuity Camera and Sidecar

The iPhone as a webcam for the Mac and the iPad as a second display. When editing photos on the road, I have the tool palette on the iPad and the photo on the Mac.

Unlocking with the watch

The Mac unlocks when I walk up to it with my Apple Watch. Passwords are saved in Keychain and fill in everywhere.

What bothers me

• Price. The Apple ecosystem is expensive, and higher configurations even more so.
• Closedness. When something doesn't work "the Apple way", it's hard to get around. Moving files to Android or Windows is more awkward.
• iCloud storage is small for free, and you pay monthly for more.
• Repairability. You can't swap the drive or memory, so you have to buy with headroom.

Is it worth switching?

If you already have an iPhone and edit photos or video, a MacBook is the logical next step. You'll feel the benefits of the connection every day. But if you need games, specific Windows software, or don't want to pay a premium price, it may not be for you.

For me, as a photographer who works from a car, cafés and mountain huts, the Apple ecosystem is a tool that saves time. And I can spend that time outside with my camera.

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