Apple News vs SmartNews

Apple News and SmartNews, while both ostensibly designed to deliver news, go about it in the same way that two entirely different species of alien might attempt to explain the concept of "breakfast." Apple News, with the sort of suave understatement you’d expect from something invented by, well, Apple, presents a personalized smorgasbord of curated stories from a universe of sources, all neatly arranged in an interface so sleek it practically polishes itself. It integrates so effortlessly with your Apple devices that you might suspect they’ve been conspiring together behind your back. Privacy, naturally, is paramount; it’s as if Apple News whispers, “Don't worry, I’ve got this,” as it hands you the latest headlines wrapped in a warm blanket of user control and handpicked precision.

SmartNews, on the other hand, takes a more... enthusiastic approach. Where Apple News is a well-mannered concierge, SmartNews is more like an excitable dog that bursts through your door carrying today’s top stories in its mouth, wagging its algorithmic tail with such vigor that you can't help but pay attention. It specializes in rapid-fire, algorithmically curated news that’s trending, because the future waits for no one—and certainly not for you to finish your coffee. Its interface is designed for speed and efficiency, getting you from zero to informed faster than you can say “clickbait.”

See also: Top 10 News Readers