How is switch to emoji input -> press search box -> start typing apple -> press apple symbol and so on “just the same” as app<CR>?

You don't have to search. Just hit the apple emoji. If you use it frequently, it'll probably be on the front. If not, it takes two seconds to hit the category it's in and then press it.

Because apple happens to start with an a. Ok fine, specifically for apple.com it's almost the same. But that's not really the point I was arguing.