Apple’s iPhone App of the Year award goes to Prisma, a popular photo app that lets you turn your images into uniquely styled artworks. Sketchbook Motion, an app that lets you add animated movement to static photos, won iPad App of the Year, indicating the impact of new photo tools during 2016.
The Apple TV App of the Year award went to something more conventional. The official Twitter app was chosen for its use of the Apple TV’s features. On the Apple Watch, MySwimPro was awarded the prize. It lets wearable owners keep track of their swimming sessions and statistics.
Although the “best of” charts highlight the most popular new content, they don’t reveal what the most successful iOS app was. According to Apple, Snapchat managed to beat Pokémon GO to the coveted most downloaded free iPhone app award, demonstrating the continuing appeal of the ephemeral messaging service. The most downloaded free iPad app was Google’s YouTube.
On the games chart, the iPhone Game of the Year award was given to strategy title Clash Royale. Severed won on the iPad and Riptide GP on the Apple TV. Finally, Field Day took home the prize on the Apple Watch, one of a growing number of games playable on the wearable’s display.
Apple hasn’t stopped at highlighting apps and games. It also showcased the best content from across iTunes and Apple Music. Drake won both of Apple’s music awards, achieving Top Song of 2016 with One Dance and Top Album with Views. The company’s Top Songs of 2016 Apple Music playlist covers the rest of the entries, including tracks from The Chainsmokers, Adele, Rihanna and the Hamilton soundtrack.
The iTunes Movies team picked new “inventive” films including La La Land, Moonlight, Zootopia and Sing Street for their chart. The top-selling movies on iTunes this year range from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Deadpool to Spotlight and The Hateful Eight. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and Atlanta were among the shows picked for editorial recognition on iTunes TV.
Apple has also selected the best books of the year, featuring titles including Homegoing, Evicted and Born to Run. The Girl on The Train was the top-selling fiction and audiobook. In the podcasts section, NPR’s Fresh Air was the most downloaded stream. Podcasts have grown to impressive popularity with over 10 billion streams listened to over the past 12 months.
“Apple has unveiled its Best of 2016 lists, celebrating the best and most downloaded apps, music, movies, TV shows, books and podcasts across the App Store, iTunes and iBooks,” Apple said of its charts. “Showcasing editorial selections and top-selling and most downloaded charts, Apple’s Best of 2016 highlights the talented artists, storytellers and developers who are entertaining Apple customers around the world.”
Apple’s list was published two days after rival Google unveiled its index of the most successful Play Store content this year. The two charts contain similar content but with a few variations in apps and games due to platform differences. Apple and Google use slightly different metrics so their “best of” lists can’t necessarily be directly compared.
Apple’s full Best of 2016 charts can be found within the App Store and iTunes. The company said they recognise the “breadth and depth of creativity” across its ecosystem, indicating how people use their devices and the content they like to consume.
