Five Apple Products That Haven't Been Updated in Over Two Years

[MacRumors]

While much of Apple's product lineup is up to date right now, a handful of devices and accessories have not received hardware updates in recent years.

Below, we have put together a list of five products that Apple sells that have not been updated in over two years, aside from new software features. The list excludes previous-generation products like the iPhone 11 and Apple Watch Series 3.

iPod touch

Apple last updated the iPod touch in May 2019 with an A10 chip and a new 256GB storage option, making it nearly three years old.

The seventh-generation iPod touch retained the same design as the sixth-generation model, including a 4-inch Retina display, a Home button without Touch ID, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Lightning connector, and a single speaker and microphone. The device is available in six colors, including Space Gray, Silver, Pink, Blue, Gold, and (PRODUCT)RED.

Apple redesigned its website last year and no longer prominently advertises the iPod touch's product page, but the device remains available for purchase. There haven't been any concrete rumors about Apple working on a new iPod touch, so it remains to be seen if the device will ever be updated again or if it will be discontinued eventually.

Magic Mouse 2

Introduced in October 2015, the second-generation Magic Mouse for the Mac is over six years old. The mouse has received no hardware updates over that time, but it does come with a woven USB-C to Lightning cable in the box now. When purchased with a 24-inch iMac, the Magic Mouse 2 is also available in several new matching colors.

The Magic Mouse 2 is infamous for having a Lightning connector on its bottom side, which prevents the mouse from being used while charging.

Apple Pencil 2

Released alongside a new iPad Pro in October 2018, the second-generation Apple Pencil will soon be three and a half years old.

A key feature of the second-generation Apple Pencil over the original is that it can be magnetically attached to the third-generation iPad Pro or newer for wireless charging. Users can also switch between drawing tools and brushes within apps like Notes by double tapping on the second-generation Apple Pencil's built-in touch sensor.

High-end Mac mini

While lower-end Mac mini configurations were updated with Apple's custom-designed M1 chip in November 2020, higher-end configurations with Intel processors have not been updated since October 2018, beyond Apple reshuffling storage capacities.

Rumors suggest that Apple plans to release new high-end Mac mini configurations powered by its M1 Pro and M1 Max chips later this year.

AirPods Pro

AirPods Pro launched in October 2019, making them nearly two and a half years old.

According to oft-accurate analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple plans to launch second-generation AirPods Pro in the fourth quarter of 2022, which runs from October through December of the year. Kuo expects the new AirPods Pro to feature an upgraded wireless chip, support lossless audio, and have a new charging case that can emit a sound to be found.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu have previously reported that Apple has tested a more compact design for the second-generation AirPods Pro that would eliminate the stems that drop below the earbuds. If this ends up being the final design, the new AirPods Pro could look similar to Apple's Beats Studio Buds released last year.

Article Link: Five Apple Products That Haven't Been Updated in Over Two Years

 

[Eric_WVGG]

I bet an iPod Touch Max would be a huge seller

wish they'd introduce Qi (or MagSafe or even the Apple Watch puck) to mouse and keyboard

 

[eret9616]

magic mouse do get an updated in 2021(includes type c charging cable), the shape is more round-edged you can tell the difference in your hand even the model-series in the bottom are same

 

[jz0309]

iPod seems to be enduring a long death ... was a great product but doesn't seem to be attractive enough anymore to continue ...

 

[BrownyQ]

I haven't owned an iPod since the original Nano model, but I won't lie, the temptation to buy one just for the sake of it has always been on my mind. It's the steep price tag that's kept me away. A refresh feels like it's entirely up in the air.

For all the jokes people make towards the Magic Mouse, I have to say I never found the charging port on the bottom to be an issue. The battery lasts weeks for me, and a single overnight charge is enough for it to be a non-issue after weeks of use, and for weeks to follow.

 

[nsayer]

What is the difference between the iPod touch and the iPad, really?

What would make the most sense to me is that it would be replaced with an "iPad nano" model, which would be pretty much the exact same form factor as the iPhone, but running iPadOS and not having a cellular modem option.

 

[blazerunner]

Has Macrumors never heard of the Mac Pro?

 

[KaliYoni]

I heard that the delays are because Apple is trying to figure out where to put a notch on all that stuff. Except for the iPod Touch...that's probably going to be discontinued soon I betcha.

 

[macduke]

Technically the AirPods Pro were updated to have MagSafe.

 

[BGPL]

I feel like there's a good market for the higher end minis. I know I'm waiting to buy one or two. Especially with the lack of a decent iMac. I've ditched the iMac and have gone to a mac Mini with x-brand ultrawide display.

 

[Remy149]

I bet an iPod Touch Max would be a huge seller

wish they'd introduce Qi (or MagSafe or even the Apple Watch puck) to mouse and keyboard

You mean an iPad mini

 

[FightTheFuture]

I heard that the delays are because Apple is trying to figure out where to put a notch on all that stuff.

this joke kills in 2021.

 

[ToomeyND]

I mean, once you've achieved perfection...

 

[MysticCow]

higher-end configurations with Intel processors

The Intel models were the HIGH END??? High end, maybe, if you mean getting slaughtered by the M1 mini dollar for dollar.

Seriously, this garbage about the Intel mini being the "high end" of the spectrum needs to stop. It isn't the high end in any respect other than being an overpriced piece of garbage.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I would love to see an updated Magic Mouse. Perhaps, in new retro colors. That would be awesome.

 

[Think creative]

Funny enough I was just thinking about an iPod touch again. Strictly as a modern-day music player. After all the stuff with Joe Rogan and Spotify, it got me thinking not so much about canceling Spotify, but that to support local and smaller artists I should be buying more music from them directly and listening to it that way. Spotify‘s discovery feature is well worth it to me, and of course having music on the go no matter what. Still, actually owning a copy of the stuff that I listen to the most does have a lot of benefits, especially if the device still can use AirPods and wireless Bluetooth speakers. I think I’ll wait till the spring event, or right before they cancel it, and then order one so that I have the maximum amount of time with AppleCare LOL.

 

[oneMadRssn]

For all the jokes people make towards the Magic Mouse, I have to say I never found the charging port on the bottom to be an issue. The battery lasts weeks for me, and a single overnight charge is enough for it to be a non-issue after weeks of use, and for weeks to follow.

The problem is any low battery warnings cannot be addressed right away. The warning comes up while someone is using the computer, and but they want to continue using it so they can't plug it in right away. And then when they're done doing whatever, the warning is forgotten. This continues for days, until it's just suddenly dead and they cannot plug it in to continue using.

It would be best if there was something the user could do as soon as they see the low battery warning without interrupting their ongoing workflow. The solution is easy - allow the mouse to charge and be used at the same time.

 

[Bustycat]

Bring back space grey Magic series please.

 

[_Spinn_]

A couple years ago my wife's ancient iPod Nano died so I was going to get her an iPod touch but I couldn't easily find it on Apple's website so I assumed that they had discontinued it. Thankfully this lead to me convincing her to leave Android and get an iPhone instead.

 

[happydude]

couple of these - pencil, Magic Mouse I don't think need any updates. they're about as good as you could get. side charging port for the mouse maybe? but a quick 5 minute charge for a coffee break and it'll last the rest of the day anyway. not a biggie to me. apple will find a way eventually to make them "new" and "updated" - planned obsolescence and capitalism and all but until they ID a definite need to spur old users to buy the new, what's good enough will continue to be good enough.

 

[nebojsak]

The problem is any low battery warnings cannot be addressed right away. The warning comes up while someone is using the computer, and but they want to continue using it so they can't plug it in right away. And then when they're done doing whatever, the warning is forgotten. This continues for days, until it's just suddenly dead and they cannot plug it in to continue using.

It would be best if there was something the user could do as soon as they see the low battery warning without interrupting their ongoing workflow. The solution is easy - allow the mouse to charge and be used at the same time.

Also, improved battery life would be nice in 2022. Average wireless Logitech mouse battery lasts months between charges.

 

[nt5672]

They can't make Magic Mouse 2 any worse. So I guess Apple is happy and doesn't really know where to go from here.

 

[Le0M]

Damn, we've gotten materialistic!
Devices that haven't been upgraded in more than TWO YEARS!
OMG, what will we do if everything is not updated to the latest everything??
I mean, we should stop expecting an update every year for everything, we need to stop! This planet cannot afford it, and we haven't reached a point where we're capable to be emissions free yet, and we'll never be if we keep behaving so carelessly.
We need to start focusing on stuff that lasts for many years, good quality stuff, and stuff we can recycle.

I just hope it won't be nature to reset humans' behaviours.

 

[Umiami91]

Not everything needs to updated frequently. Like AirPods. There’s no value in an annual update. None whatsoever. They work well, people love them, and they’re selling. Taking an approach like Bose has a lot of merit where a headphone design lasts maybe five years. Annual updates are wasteful.

 

[PsykX]

I have the Apple Pencil 2 and I... don't really know how they could make it any better ? They fixed all the "problems" of the 1st gen, although 1st gen was already very good.