Apple Phases Out Over a Dozen Older Devices to Streamline Product Lineup
In a strategic move to make room for future innovations, Apple has discontinued more than a dozen of its once-popular devices. This decision, unveiled alongside several new products last week, including the iPhone 17e and enhanced MacBook laptops, reflects the tech giant's common practice of retiring older models when introducing new technology. As a result, these devices are no longer available for purchase, helping Apple streamline its product offerings and maintain a focus on newer, higher-performance gadgets.
Recent Models Among the Discontinued Devices
Surprisingly, 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 of which were released in 2025. Additionally, multiple MacBook Pro configurations have been retired, including the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip and 512GB of storage, along with various 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with M4 Pro and M4 Max processors introduced in 2024.
Impact on Professional and Display Products
Apple's professional desktop lineup has not been spared, with the Mac Studio powered by the M3 Ultra chip and 512GB of memory also appearing on the discontinued list. 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, such as the Pro Stand and the Pro Display XDR VESA Mount Adapter, have also been removed from Apple's active lineup.
Replacement Strategy and Pricing Adjustments
The move aims at replacing older devices with updated versions as part of Apple's latest product refresh. For instance, the iPhone 16e has been retired to make way for the newly announced iPhone 17e, while the M3-powered iPad Air has been replaced by a newer model running Apple's M4 chip. Similarly, the MacBook Air lineup has seen earlier M4 models 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, introduced in October 2025 with a starting price of $1,599. Apple has replaced it with a new base configuration that includes 1TB of internal storage and a slightly higher starting price of $1,699.
Industry Context and Customer Focus
It remains unclear whether this shift is connected to broader supply pressures affecting memory and storage components across the tech industry, which have forced some manufacturers to adjust their configurations. Notably, the new iPhone 17e, launched on March 3 for $599, costs the same as last year's iPhone 16e but comes with twice the amount of storage. Kaiann Drance, Apple's vice-president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, commented, '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.' She added, '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.'
