5 Products Discontinued by Apple in 2021

[MacFan782040]

Somebody probably already said this…

But I still don’t know why they didn’t just discontinue HomePod call the HomePod mini simply “HomePod”. Why mini? Mini to what?

It’s probably because Apple couldn’t suck up their pride and admit it was an overpriced DOA product…. So they introduced a side product and then quietly killed off the regular HomePod. So. Silly.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

What these 5 products all have in common is that the price wasn't right.

uh, that really only applies to one of these products, the HomePod.
The rest of them were discontinued just because it was time for them to be discontinued.
The iMac Pro was absolutely fantastic when it launched four years ago, but now with Apple Silicon and even the 2019 Mac Pro, it didn’t really serve much of a purpose anymore.
The iPhone XR was 3 years old, and was one of the most successful iPhones in recent years. The price was right, the features were right, the specifications were right. It’s just that it was growing old, and the 11 could replace it at the same $499 Price point. It was inevitable, every iPhone will be discontinued eventually.
The 21.5 inch iMac was, again, outdated and long since replaced with the new 24 inch iMac. No reason for it to stick around anymore.

 

[kcwookie]

Up next:
Apple Watch Series 3
AirPods Max
AirPods Gen II

Disagree about the AirPod Max. It’s one of the best devices I bought from Apple in a long time. I work from home, I can’t figure out how are used to be able to get anything done. There are also my favorite speaker system when I’m watching TV by myself. They are worth every penny.

 

[Pmperry]

I just love my stereo HomePod. what a mistake they've done discontinue it.

After pairing the Home pod mini set with Apple TV, I'm very disappointed I never grabbed a second HomePod.

 

[loby]

What are you talking about? They're exactly the same as the silver/white versions only a different colour.

They are not..

 

[duanepatrick]

Discontinue any product with a notch! I am still hoping that they will be able to somehow innovate a workaround...

 

[AlexJaye]

I just love my stereo HomePod. what a mistake they've done discontinue it.

Their mistake was charging that ridiculous amount for them.

 

[precogincog]

HomePod sound is great. Use them daily. A lot of competition in that space. Just wish they worked seamlessly.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

iPod Touch is next.
I suppose they kept it around up to this point so that they could say that the iPod lived a full 20 years as a product line.
But at this point, in almost 2022, it has a more niche user-base than the originalHomePod did.
Sure, there’s a couple people here and there who buy a device to load music on and keep in the car or something, and I know some, Very few but some businesses use iPod touches, but I think it’s time.
Those people who wanted an iPod touch have already bought one, and those businesses who need them either already have them, or can jump for an iPad, they really aren’t that much more expensive these days.
Also it’s very long in the tooth, and even at $200 it’s hard to recommend.
Underclocked 2016 cpu, design, display, camera and battery from 2012, no biometric. And The demand isn’t really there for a refresh

 

[loby]

You don’t have to speak to it. You can just use it as an Airplay speaker.

But there is no way to turn off Siri…(unless I am mistaken)

 

[EntropyQ3]

No, it was marketed with a focus on the Music App, but the method of control was specifically done through Siri, the assistant. Its marketing was focused on its ability to handle Apple's services (primarily Siri) with a "killer feature" focusing on sound quality.

Apple engineers made a device that appealed to people interested in good audio reproduction under different room and placement conditions, whereas the powers that be wanted to attract gadget happy novelty seekers with quick device turnaround. Apple probably always wanted to target the second category, but for that category the price comparison to Amazon and Google equivalents was relevant.

If Apple had actually targeted the more audio interested people, the would have included much better connectivity. It tends to be a life-long interest, so we have devices using interface standards that are quite old, and we tend to keep good equipment around. The design and demise of the HomePod, removal of the 3.5mm jack, not being able to turn off the AirPods Pro ensuring that you’ll kill it’s battery over time - there are several examples of Apples attitude. It’s disappointing to me personally, because it’s very clear that there are people within Apple capable of producing truly excellent audio products and who understand the challenges of both headphones and speakers in rooms, and it would be great to see a company like Apple adressing the really difficult issues in sound reproduction. Preferably with devices that aren’t made to be replaced within a couple of years.

 

[Orange Bat]

What’s weird about the discontinuation of the HomePod is how Apple went right to the mini and offered nothing in between price-wise. A $199 speaker would be a no-brainer. I would be very, very interested in a soundbar for the TV with Apple TV Built-in, also. But no, Apple went right to the mini, seemingly giving up on a higher-end market. Weird.

 

[troublador]

They are not..

Yes they are. I can do this all day.

 

[loby]

Yes they are. I can do this all day.

Do you have both the silver and space grey?

 

[troublador]

Do you have both the silver and space grey?

Yes I do.

 

[theLedger]

The problem with the HomePod was that it was Ive’d - no ports, no screen, just a pure device. Except that voice control is not the most reliable way to control a device and for many people who prefer touch or visual aids, it didn’t work that well. I hated the way that if I touched the top of the HomePod it would start playing random music, nothing from my playlist. Or that I couldn’t plug in an optical sound, mini stereo or HDMI cable into it for reliability.

And now it sells on the secondary markets for a premium. That tells you that there still is a solid market for it, especially if they had enhanced it to command it’s premium price.

 

[coolfactor]

My first iPhone (3G) lasted me 4 years, replaced by a hand-me-down iPhone (4s, I think). I then upgraded to an iPhone SE (first gen), which only lasted a year when both the battery failed and the Lightning port failed. That was replaced by a replacement SE (same model), which also only lasted a year. I held out for Apple to replace the SE with a new phone with the same square-ish form factor, but that never came. They finally released the XR which I got out of necessity, although it was way too big for my comfort level in the beginning. I'm still on the XR now and it's going strong, although the Lightning port has failed. Thank goodness for Qi charging. I never attach the cord.

I really thought Lightning was a great connector design, but having 3 failed phones in a row really dampened my enthusiam. I was also not so confident in USB-C, but having used it on several devices now, it's a great connector!

Next phone will likely be an iPhone 13.

 

[dfs]

Apple announced several new products this year, ranging from the colorful 24-inch iMac to four iPhone 13 models, but we also said goodbye to some other products. Below, we've recapped five products and accessories discontinued by Apple in 2021.

HomePod

In March 2021, Apple announced that it was discontinuing the full-sized HomePod in order to focus its efforts on the HomePod mini. At the time, Apple said it would continue to provide software updates, service, and support for the larger HomePod.

When the HomePod launched in February 2018, reviews praised the speaker for its sound quality, but its original $349 price was significantly more expensive than competing smart speakers like the Amazon Echo and Google Home. Even after Apple lowered the HomePod's price to $299, sales of the speaker reportedly remained lackluster.

iMac Pro

The full-sized HomePod wasn't the only Apple product discontinued in March 2021, as the iMac Pro was also axed in the same month. At the time, Apple said the 27-inch iMac was the preferred choice for the vast majority of pro iMac users, and added that customers who needed even more performance and expandability could choose the Mac Pro.

Released in December 2017, the iMac Pro received no substantial hardware refreshes over its lifetime, resulting in the 27-inch iMac eventually becoming faster and more affordable than the standard ‌iMac‌ Pro with a 10-core Xeon W processor.

While the iMac Pro has been discontinued, Apple is expected to release a high-end 27-inch iMac with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips next year.

Space Gray Magic Accessories

A few months after the iMac Pro was discontinued, Apple stopped selling Space Gray versions of the Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse 2 for the Mac on a standalone basis. Apple continues to sell the accessories in silver.

21.5-Inch iMac

In October 2021, Apple discontinued its final 21.5-inch iMac model, which had remained available as a low-end configuration suitable for educational institutions. The discontinuation came as no surprise, as Apple had introduced an ultra-thin and colorful 24-inch iMac powered by its custom-designed M1 chip six months prior.

Apple only has three Intel-based Macs remaining in its lineup, including the 27-inch iMac, the high-end Mac mini, and the Mac Pro tower.

iPhone XR

After launching the iPhone 13 series in September 2021, Apple discontinued the iPhone XR. The lineup now consists of four iPhone 13 models, the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 11, and the second-generation iPhone SE.

Introduced in September 2018, the iPhone XR features a 6.1-inch LCD display with Face ID, an A12 Bionic chip, and a single rear camera.

Other products discontinued by Apple this year after being refreshed include the iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 6, fifth-generation iPad mini, eighth-generation iPad, and the first-generation Apple TV 4K. Apple also stopped selling the original Powerbeats, Beats Solo Pro, and Beats EP headphones.

Article Link: 5 Products Discontinued by Apple in 2021

The story of the Home Pod is one of the strangest in the history of Apple and one that makes me wonder whether some of the folks up in Cupertino have gone out of their minds. The idea of discontinuing a product but continuing to develop its software support and make it useful for more than its original intended purposes is bizarre. In this particular case, the most interesting feature of the Home Pod is and should continue to be its use in a home theater setup (its two-speaker system is astonishingly effective given the small size of the speakers). What Apple should have done is develop it further for that purpose: make it a four-speaker rather than a two-speaker system (probably Home Pods in front and Minis at the rear) and give it a subwoofer. As it happens, the new Sony HT ht-a9 does precisely what Apple should have done and it's getting rave reviews. To be sure, it has been taken off the market temporarily, most likely because some teething troubles need to be fixed, but once it becomes fully available Sony is going to be eating Apple's lunch. In much the same way, the team that designed mesh routing originally worked for Apple. When Apple opted to get out of the business those same guys founded Eero and that led to the creation of an entire new industry cranking out mesh routers.

One has to wonder about the judgment of Apple's current senior management. Would Steve ever have slammed the door on highly promising new technologies which offered a chance of making serious new money? Like the Airport, the Home Pod will long be remembered as a corporate blunder.

 

[DCrochran]

Very timely article. I'm waiting for

• Space Grey Keyboard w/ TouchID
• HomePod Max

My new M1Max MBP is connected to my Space Grey accessories just fine and it looks great on the desk but I'd love to have TouchID on the keyboard

My 3 HomePod maxes in our house are doing great except for one that just had a logic board failure. Given what I'm reading in the HomePod forums this is happening en masse to a lot of people. I'm expecting the other 2 to fail within the next year. I love the big HomePod. I use it every day for playing music and I'll be very disappointed when they all die. Price for an out of warranty replacement:

$290 USD. Just about what I paid for them on their final on-sale prices.

Basically apple is making me buy refurbs for the price I paid new and I don't even get a warranty beyond 90 days on the replacements. I'm hoping Apple releases a new big homePod this year.

Adamjackson,

When I ordered my M1 Max in Space Grey (Still waiting on delivery btw), I saw the exact set up you are describing in the Apple Store. I found out that the Space Grey Accessories had been discontinued when I inquired about them. Sad, because this IS an amazing set up, I'm glad you have it. Me, I'm checking all the second hand markets for some quality used options as this is the accessory setup I want. Count me in as one who wants the Space Grey keyboard with TouchID...

 

[jsalda]

Apple seriously dropped the ball by dropping the Space Gray Magic Accessories. Who's idea was that at Apple? What were they were thinking?

I agree. Have the keyboard and mouse and love the look on my desk. It’s not like they are totally different products. I would bet with all the new machines they are selling to professionals, these products would be top sellers if still around

 

[B4rbelith]

But there is no way to turn off Siri…(unless I am mistaken)

You are mistaken.

 

[loby]

You are mistaken.

I don’t have one, but on the HomePod you are able to turn off Siri and the mic does not pick up anything? I am surprised. Humm…if I had known I might have picked up one.

 

[Scarpad]

Discontinuing HomePod was a mistake. Pricing it the way they did was another.

I think they could have retooled and gotten it down to $199-$249 and still introduced the mini at $99

 

[macintoshmac]

I think they could have retooled and gotten it down to $199-$249 and still introduced the mini at $99

Yes, both the larger and the mini Pod have their market and space. To the best of my understanding, it was the price that made people shy away from it since at that price there were better products available (for certain requirements).

 

[loby]

Yes, both the larger and the mini Pod have their market and space. To the best of my understanding, it was the price that made people shy away from it since at that price there were better products available (for certain requirements).

For audio techs, we could deal with the price because we know what Apple is all about…but what did not justify the cost was the lack of functionality and limitations.

The HomePod is indeed a well designed and engineered unit and also had decent audio…so pricing was not that outrageous…but…all of the limitations and Siri Issues caused distancing for consumers (as I had read from blogs). Too bad…could have been a “go too” for audio if you are an Apple junkie.