This week, Apple announced the most downloaded apps and games for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Arcade. The lists include both the top free and top paid apps and games. Apple also revealed its annual App Store Award winners, recognizing 17 apps across several categories.
You'll probably recognize many of the most downloaded apps and games, as several are household names. Take a look. You may discover you're not using some of the most popular apps in the US, if not the world! There are a couple of surprises, too.
The most downloaded free iPhone app category has a relatively surprising and controversial winner. The top spot goes to Temu -- the online marketplace that sells a broad range of discounted products directly from China.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Temu spent more than $21 million on ads during the last Super Bowl. It looks like that investment has paid off. According to the CSIS, Temu establishes a direct link between Chinese factories and US consumers. In doing so, the company "exploits U.S. customers and import regulation loopholes to ensure goods enter the United States with minimal scrutiny" and has "no mechanism to ensure compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)."
CSIS further maintains Temu is a "malware and data collection [platform] acting as [an] e-commerce [application]." Moreover, CSIS says Temu's relationship with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) makes it "a clear and present danger on the order of TikTok to both citizens' privacy and the country's national security." However, this clearly doesn't seem to deter US consumers.
Number 12 on the list is Singapore-based discount fashion retailer SHEIN. SHEIN's manufacturers are also predominantly based in China.
The most downloaded paid iPhone app is a rule-based proxy similar to a VPN app. However, rather than hide traffic like a traditional VPN, Shadowrocket uses proxy servers that allow users to accomplish various activities beyond simply maintaining privacy, like bypassing regional internet restrictions and ad blocking. Shadowrocket is available for both iOS and Android users and is $2.99 on the App Store.
Kino - Pro Video Camera is 2024's iPhone App of the Year. It's available only on the iPhone for a one-time purchase of $9.99. It's suitable for amateurs and pros alike and is recognized for its capabilities and simple user interface. The app allows you to set your experience level before using it or select from its standard settings. According to Kino, its AutoMotion feature creates the smooth "film look" you see at theaters. The app also includes free lessons so you can use it to its fullest potential. Perhaps most importantly, Kino respects your camera's privacy and doesn't gather or collect data or analyze any photos or videos. If you plan to record some video this holiday season, take a look at Kino.
Browse the complete list of Apple's winners to discover more apps and games for your iPhone and iPad. Given the looming TikTok ban, it will be interesting to see if the government takes similar action with Temu. Remember, Amazon recently launched Haul, its discount store. With Haul, Amazon is taking aim directly at Temu and SHEIN, claiming to address the product authenticity and safety issues sometimes associated with the other discount e-commerce giants. If you haven't checked out Haul yet, there are some great products at incredible prices. You may be too late for holiday shopping, though. Haul orders take 1-2 weeks to ship. All orders over $25 ship free, and Haul accepts free returns for any product over $3.