More than a dozen of Apple’s once-popular devices have been discontinued to make room for future gadgets.
The tech giant unveiled several new products last week, including the iPhone 17e and more powerful MacBook laptops.
As part of the rollout, Apple quietly removed a range of older devices from its lineup, a common strategy the company uses when introducing new technology, meaning they are no longer available for purchase.
These older models are frequently retired as soon as new versions are announced, a move that helps streamline its product offerings and keep the lineup focused on newer, higher-performance devices.
However, several devices in the latest batch to be killed off are only two years old.
Among them are the iPhone 16e powered by the A18 chip, the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models with the M3 processor and the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air featuring Apple’s M4 chip, all released in 2025.
Several MacBook Pro configurations have also been retired, including the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip and 512GB of storage, along with multiple 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with M4 Pro and M4 Max processors introduced in 2024.
Apple’s professional desktop lineup has not been spared either, with the Mac Studio powered by the M3 Ultra chip and 512GB of memory also appearing on the discontinued list.
Among them are the iPhone 16e powered by the A18 chip, the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models with the M3 processor and the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air featuring Apple’s M4 chip, all released last year (file image)
The changes extend to Apple’s display products as well, including the Studio Display with the A13 Bionic chip, first released in 2022, and the company’s premium Pro Display XDR, originally launched in 2019.
Accessories tied to that display, including the Pro Stand and the Pro Display XDR VESA Mount Adapter, have also been removed from Apple’s active lineup.
The move aims at replacing older devices with updated versions as part of its latest product refresh.
The iPhone 16e has been retired to make way for the newly announced iPhone 17e, while the M3-powered iPad Air has been replaced by a newer model running Apple’s M4 chip.
The same transition happened with the MacBook Air lineup, where earlier M4 models have been phased out in favor of updated versions featuring Apple’s latest M5 processors.
One unexpected change is the discontinuation of the 512GB MacBook Pro with the M5 chip, which Apple introduced in October 2025 with a starting price of $1,599.
The company has replaced it with a new base configuration that includes 1TB of internal storage and a slightly higher starting price of $1,699.
It remains unclear whether the shift is connected to the broader supply pressures affecting memory and storage components across the tech industry, which have forced some manufacturers to adjust their configurations.
The new iPhone 17e is the same price as last year’s iPhone 16e, but comes with twice the amount of storage
Apple has also retired two of its oldest display products: the original Studio Display, released in 2022, and the Pro Display XDR, which first launched in 2019.
Both have been replaced by a new Studio Display XDR and an updated base display model.
Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice-president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, said: ‘iPhone 17e combines powerful performance and features our users love at an exceptional value, making it a compelling option for customers looking to upgrade to the iPhone 17 family.’
‘We know our customers want a product that will last, and iPhone 17e delivers just that.
‘With A19 for incredible performance, double the entry storage, a smarter camera system, and enhanced durability, iPhone 17e is designed to stay fast, secure, and valuable for years to come.’
