Neue Haas Grotesk and Neue Helvetica (known as Helvetica Neue in iOS) are not the same typefaces. Neue Haas Grotesk is the original name for the typeface but it underwent many changes over the last 60 years before it became what we most commonly see today in digital form as Helvetica and Neue Helvetica. NHG would probably be a better choice for iOS due to its looser spacing and optimizations for text. See Font Bureau’s NHG site for more info: http://www.fontbureau.com/nhg/history/
No slides from Apple’s decks were used in our article at Typographica. Don’t know how you got that misinformation. All the images were created from scratch using info that has been reported elsewhere.
Hi mnicole, I’m the proprietor of Typographica and Fonts In Use. Glad you like(d) them. On FIU quality: one person’s crap is another’s treasure, so we don’t limit what can be contributed as long as type is clearly present. But if you want to filter your experience to just the best (as selected us) you can click on Blog Only or Staff Picks Only nav at the top right.
I understand your frustration if you come from a field with a data-based approach. But one doesn't measure good typeface design by data alone. Sure, there are such things as readability studies that can inform a design, but typography is one of those many crafts that are measured by the eyes of experienced experts and discerning users, not A/B tests.