The Best iPhone Apps for 2024 – Apple Has Announced the Finalists

Apple has unveiled the 45 finalists for the App Store Awards 2024, recognised for their outstanding design, user experience and innovation. These apps span 12 categories and showcase the most innovative solutions for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, demonstrating the creativity of developers from around the world.

These apps have proven to help users become more productive, express themselves more creatively and connect with their loved ones in new ways.

New Categories for Vision Pro

This year, Apple introduced categories for Vision Pro, focusing on spatial computing. Other categories celebrate outstanding achievements in gaming, productivity and cultural impact. The winners will be announced soon.

"We are honoured to celebrate these finalists, who offer experiences that transform the lives of millions of users," said Carson Oliver, head of Apple's App Store.

Finalists for the Best Apps for iPhone

Below is the full list of finalist titles:

iPhone App of the Year

• Kino: Turns everyday moments into cinematic masterpieces.
• Runna: Offers personalised training plans for runners of all levels.
• Tripsy: Helps travellers organise their trips without stress.

iPhone Game of the Year

• AFK Journey: Creates magical worlds filled with epic battles.
• The WereCleaner: Delivers original and humorous gameplay.
• Zenless Zone Zero: Immerses players in gripping, action-packed stories.

Best iPad Apps

iPad App of the Year

• Bluey: Let’s Play: Offers family entertainment with lovable characters.
• Moises: Enhances music practice with AI-powered tools.
• Procreate Dreams: Brings stories to life through animation.

iPad Game of the Year

• Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Takes players into a thrilling world of adventure.
• Disney Speedstorm: Offers high-speed racing.
• Squad Busters: Combines competition with relaxed, fun gameplay.

Apple Acrade Game of the Year

• Balatro+: Discover a captivating card game unlike any other.

• Outlanders 2: Captivated users with refreshed graphics and imaginatively challenging levels.

• Sonic Dream Team: Introduces new adventures for the characters users know and love.

Mac App of the Year

• Adobe Lightroom: Enhances the photo editing process with AI features.
• OmniFocus 4: Simplifies task management.
• Shapr3D: Enhances 3D design workflows.

Mac Game of the Year

• Frostpunk 2: Expands the city-building genre.
• Stray: Combines mystery and playfulness in a dark game setting.
• Thank Goodness You’re Here!: Entertains users with endless humour and in-game absurdities.

Apple Watch App of the Year

• LookUp:Builds vocabulary with daily word definitions.
• Lumy: Connects users with the movements of the sun and moon.
• Watch to 5K: Motivates runners all the way to the finish line.

Apple Vision Pro App of the Year

• JigSpace: Empowers users to view models easily in 3D and augmented reality.

• NBA: Redefines the future of how users watch their favourite sport.
• What if? An Immersive Story: Invites users into a new kind of Marvel experience.

Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year

• Loóna: Creates relaxing puzzles to help you unwind.
• THRASHER:Introduces smooth, innovative controls and a mesmerising alien world.
• Vacation Simulator: Takes users to destinations filled with funny characters and even funnier activities.

Apple TV App of the Year

• DROPOUT: Offers endless laughter and fun.
• F1 TV: Takes fans straight into the cockpit of a single-seater racing car.
• Zoom:Keeps groups of people connected in innovative ways.

Cultural Impact

• Arco:Allows users to shape their story in their own way.
• The Bear:Turns bedtime into a relaxing, interactive experience.
• BetterSleep: Helps users sleep and feel better.
• Brawl Stars: Delivers quick bursts of action-packed gameplay.

• DailyArt: Inspires curiosity about artistic masterpieces.
• Do You Really Want to Know 2: Addresses misconceptions about HIV through an endearing interactive story.
• EF Hello: Empowers language learners with AI-powered tools.
• NYT Games: Brings puzzle fans together across generations with a daily dose of fun.
• Oko: Makes crossing roads safer and more accessible for everyone.
• Partiful: Simplifies social gatherings to foster relationships and community.
• Pinterest: Inspires new ideas and endless possibilities.
• The Wreck: Tells a personal and impactful story through cinematic gameplay.

The apps and games above represent a new generation of creativity and innovation in the world of technology. We eagerly await the final winners of the App Store Awards 2024.