10 Most Recent Discontinued Apple Products

Apple has been at the forefront of technology for many years, and its products have changed the way we communicate, listen to music, and work. However, not all of their products have stood the test of time. In this blog, we will look at the top 10 discontinued Apple products in recent years.

List of Discontinued Apple Products

1. Airport Router

The Apple AirPort was a series of wireless routers developed and produced by Apple Inc. The AirPort line was first introduced in 1999 and included several models over the years. The routers were designed to allow users to easily create wireless networks at home or in the office.
The AirPort line of routers included several models, such as the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule.

• The AirPort Express was a compact router that supported 802.11n Wi-Fi, as well as AirPlay streaming and the ability to connect to USB printers or speakers.
• The AirPort Extreme was a higher-end router that supported faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi and included additional features like a built-in hard drive for network-attached storage.
• The AirPort Time Capsule was similar to the AirPort Extreme but also included a built-in hard drive specifically designed for Time Machine backups on Apple devices.

Discontinuation: Apple discontinued the AirPort line of routers in 2018, ending its foray into the networking market and stating that it would be focusing on other areas of its product lineup. However, the routers continue to work and receive security updates, and some users still prefer the simplicity and ease of use that the AirPort routers offered.

2. iPhone SE (first generation)

The iPhone SE first generation was released by Apple on March 31, 2016. It was designed to provide a more affordable option for users who wanted an iPhone but didn’t want to pay the premium price of the latest models. The iPhone SE first generation was the smallest iPhone Apple had produced since the iPhone 5s, but it still packed some powerful features and hardware. It had a similar design to the iPhone 5s, with a 4-inch Retina display and a metal back. The iPhone SE first generation was well-received by customers for its affordability, small size, and powerful features.

Discontinuation: iPhone SE first generation was discontinued by Apple in September 2018, replacing it with the second generation iPhone SE in 2020.

3. Apple Cinema Display

The Apple Cinema Display was a series of computer monitors produced by Apple Inc. The displays were designed to be used with Apple’s Macintosh computers and were first introduced in September 1999. The Apple Cinema Display had a sleek and minimalist design, with a thin aluminum casing and a glass front panel. The displays were available in various sizes. The larger displays had a resolution of up to 2560 x 1600 pixels, providing a high-quality viewing experience for users. It included several features designed to enhance the user’s experience, including a built-in iSight camera, microphone, and speakers. Some models also included an ambient light sensor, which adjusted the brightness of the display based on the surrounding lighting conditions.

Discontinuation: Apple discontinued the Cinema Display series in 2014 and replaced it with the Apple Thunderbolt Display. The Thunderbolt Display offered many of the same features as the Cinema Display but included Thunderbolt connectivity and a higher resolution display. However, the Thunderbolt Display was also discontinued in 2016, and Apple no longer produces standalone displays.

4. iPod Nano

The iPod nano was a portable media player developed and produced by Apple Inc. It was first released on September 7, 2005, and underwent several redesigns over the years. The device was designed to allow users to carry and listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks on the go. The iPod nano had a small and lightweight design, with a square-shaped body and a colorful screen.
The iPod nano included a variety of features, such as a color display, FM radio, pedometer, and support for syncing with iTunes. It also included a built-in rechargeable battery and a headphone jack for listening to audio.

Discontinuation: Apple discontinued the iPod Nano in July 2017, along with the iPod Shuffle. The company cited declining demand for standalone MP3 players and the popularity of smartphones as reasons for the discontinuation. However, the iPod nano remains a beloved device among many users and collectors and can still be found on the used market.

5. Apple Watch Series 4

The Apple Watch Series 4 was the fourth generation of Apple’s popular smartwatch, released in September 2018. The Apple Watch Series 4 had a similar design to the previous models but featured a larger display, with 30% more screen space than the Series 3. The watch was available in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm, and featured a new edge-to-edge curved display that gave it a more modern look. The Apple Watch Series 4 was available in both GPS and cellular models. The cellular model allowed users to make and receive phone calls and text messages directly from their watch, even if their iPhone was not nearby.

Discontinuation:
The Apple Watch Series 4 was discontinued in September 2019 when the Series 5 was released. However, the Series 4 remains a popular choice for those looking for a high-quality smartwatch.

6. Mac Pro (2013)

The Mac Pro (2013) is a professional-grade desktop computer manufactured by Apple Inc. The Mac Pro was first released in December 2013 and features a unique cylindrical design that sets it apart from other desktop computers. The computer is designed to meet the needs of professional users in industries such as film, video, and music production. The Mac Pro (2013) features a cylindrical design that is sleek and minimalist. It features Intel Xeon E5 processors, which provide excellent performance for professional-level applications.
The Mac Pro (2013) includes an expansion port on the top of the computer that allows users to add additional hardware to the computer. Apple offers several expansion options, including additional Thunderbolt 2 ports, USB 3.0 ports, and a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port.

Discontinuation:
The Mac Pro (2013) was discontinued in 2019 and replaced by a redesigned Mac Pro that features a more traditional tower design. However, the Mac Pro (2013) remains a popular choice for professionals who require a compact and powerful desktop computer.

7. Thunderbolt Display

The Thunderbolt Display is a high-resolution monitor manufactured by Apple Inc. It was first released in 2011 and was designed to be used with Mac computers that had a Thunderbolt port. The Thunderbolt Display has a sleek and minimalist design that is characteristic of Apple products.
The Thunderbolt Display has several ports that allow it to be used as a hub for other devices. The monitor includes three USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a Thunderbolt port that allows it to be connected to a Mac computer. The Thunderbolt Display was designed to be used with Mac computers that had a Thunderbolt port.

Discontinuation:
The Thunderbolt Display was discontinued in 2016 and replaced by the LG UltraFine 5K Display, which was designed in collaboration with Apple.

8. Apple AirPower

Apple AirPower was a wireless charging mat that was announced by Apple in September 2017, alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. The AirPower mat was designed to charge multiple Apple devices at the same time, including iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods. The AirPower mat was designed to be sleek and minimalistic, with a white surface and an Apple logo in the center. The mat was large enough to accommodate multiple devices at once, and the charging coils were arranged in a way that allowed the devices to be charged no matter where they were placed on the mat.

Discontinuation:
Despite the initial announcement, Apple ultimately canceled the AirPower mat in March 2019, citing difficulties with meeting their high standards for the product. The cancellation was disappointing for many Apple fans who were looking forward to the convenience of a multi-device wireless charging solution. However, there are still many third-party wireless charging mats available on the market that can charge multiple devices at once.

9. iPod Shuffle

iPod Shuffle was a small, portable digital music player designed and manufactured by Apple Inc. The iPod Shuffle was first introduced in January 2005, and several generations of the device were released over the years. The iPod Shuffle was designed to be lightweight, with a small rectangular form factor that could easily fit in a pocket.
The capacity of the iPod Shuffle varied depending on the generation of the device. The first-generation iPod Shuffle had a storage capacity of 512MB or 1GB, while later generations had larger capacities ranging from 2GB to 4GB.

Discontinuation:
Apple discontinued the iPod Shuffle in July 2017, along with the iPod Nano. The decision to discontinue the iPod Shuffle was likely due to the decline in demand for standalone digital music players. More consumers turned to smartphones and other multi-purpose devices for their music needs.

10. Xserve

Xserve was a line of rack-mountable servers designed and manufactured by Apple Inc. The Xserve was first introduced in May 2002 and several generations of the device were released over the years. The Xserve was designed to be compact and easily rack-mountable, with a slim 1U or 2U form factor. The device had a sleek, industrial design with a front-facing control panel and indicators for system status and health. The Xserve was powered by a variety of processors over the years, including PowerPC and Intel Xeon processors.

Discontinuation:
Apple discontinued the Xserve line in January 2011, citing the increasing popularity of Mac Pro and Mac Mini servers. However, Some enthusiasts have created custom modifications to keep the devices running with modern hardware.

Conclusion

Apple’s discontinued products are a reminder of the company’s history and evolution over the years. While some of these products were iconic and beloved, others failed to catch on with consumers or were replaced by newer models. As Apple continues to innovate and release new products, it’s likely that we’ll see more products discontinued in the future.