Apple Allows Default App Reviews - Phone, Messages, Photos & Safari

Apple Now Permits User Ratings for First-Party Apps

Facing mounting regulatory scrutiny and anticipating potential antitrust investigations, Apple has recently begun allowing users to rate and review its own pre-installed applications. This move brings Apple in line with competitors and marks a significant shift in policy. Previously, these first-party apps were not available for public review within the App Store.

Initial Reactions and App Performance

The initial response has revealed that some of Apple’s core applications haven’t received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Apps such as Mail, News, and Podcasts initially registered average ratings below three stars. Now, a wider selection of Apple’s built-in apps are accessible for ratings and reviews.

Expanded App Availability for Review

Developer Kosta Eleftheriou, a vocal advocate for App Store improvements and known for his work exposing App Store scams, first identified this change. With the release of iOS 15.1, a number of additional Apple applications became available for user evaluation.

Apps Included in the Update

The list of newly reviewable apps includes essential default applications like:

• Clock
• Phone
• Messages
• Camera
• Photos
• Apple Health
• Safari

Furthermore, apps designed for the Apple Watch, such as Workout, World Clock, Find Devices, and Heart Rate, are also now subject to user ratings. Users with iOS 14.x versions may be able to view the apps, but will be unable to submit reviews.

Potential for Independent Updates

This alteration potentially enables Apple to distribute updates for its default apps independently of full iOS releases. This strategy mirrors Google’s approach with many core Android features, which are offered as separate listings on the Play Store.

App Listing Details and Early Ratings

Appfigures verified that these apps were added as distinct listings on October 25th, separate from the latest iOS update. Due to limited awareness of these new listings, the number of reviews remains low. For example, the Phone app currently has only six ratings. Messages has received a small number of reviews, averaging a positive 4.7-star rating.

Age Rating Discrepancies

Interestingly, Safari has been assigned a surprisingly low age rating of 4+, despite being a web browser. In contrast, competing browsers like Chrome and Firefox are rated 17+.

Looking Ahead

It will be crucial to observe how these apps perform as more users become aware of the review functionality. By embracing consumer feedback, Apple may be incentivized to implement desired changes and address bugs more efficiently in its built-in applications.

Opening up to public scrutiny could ultimately lead to improvements and a more responsive development process for Apple’s core software.