iPhone designer reveals why Apple Watch, not iPhone, is his favorite Apple device

Jony Ive, the legendary designer behind some of Apple’s most iconic devices, has revealed that the Apple Watch may be his favorite creation. In a recent podcast interview, Ive shared insights into his time at Apple and the products that left a lasting impression on him.

“I’m proud of what we did with the watch because it’s something I started doing after Steve died,” Ive said on the “Life in Seven Songs” podcast, referring to late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. The Apple Watch, introduced in 2014 and released the following year, was the company’s first wearable and a major product launch since Jobs’ death in 2011.

Ive, who left Apple in 2019 after more than two decades at the company, explained why the watch holds a special place in his heart. “It’s one of the most personal products,” he said, describing how Apple devices have evolved from desktop computers to wearables.

“Apple products started on your desk, then they went into your bag, then they went into your pocket,” Ive noted. “And then they’re on your wrist, and they’re something you wear.”

The designer emphasized the unique relationship people have with wearable technology. “You have a different kind of relationship with the things you wear that are so intimate,” he noted, adding, “I’ve always loved watches anyway. So as a category, I think it’s interesting.”

During his time at Apple, Ive was responsible for designing many groundbreaking products, including the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. His work played a key role in building Apple’s reputation for elegant, user-friendly devices.

Since leaving Apple, Ive has launched his own design company, LoveFrom. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch has become a significant revenue generator for the tech giant, contributing $7.9 billion in quarterly revenue to the company’s wearables division by early 2024.

Ive’s revelations offer a unique insight into the mind of one of technology’s most influential designers and underscore the ever-increasing importance of wearable technology in the consumer electronics market.