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Three Discontinued Apple Products Rumored to Make a Comeback

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While the full-size HomePod, 12-inch MacBook, and iMac Pro have all been discontinued, rumors suggest all three products could return in the future.

Full-HomePod-Black.jpeg

Keep reading for a recap of everything that we have heard so far about potential comebacks for these products and new features and changes to expect.

HomePod

Apple discontinued the full-size HomePod in March 2021, with the company deciding to focus its efforts on the HomePod mini.

Released in February 2018, the original HomePod received rave reviews for its sound quality, but its initial $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 remained lackluster, according to estimates.

Since the full-size HomePod was discontinued, the speaker has fetched high prices on eBay and has become something of a collector's item.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is developing a new HomePod with the same S8 chip rumored for the Apple Watch Series 8. Gurman said the new HomePod would be "closer to the original HomePod" than the HomePod mini in terms of size and audio performance, and added that the new HomePod will have an "updated display on top."

Gurman previously reported that Apple has also considered releasing a device that combines an Apple TV, HomePod, and FaceTime camera, but details remain slim.

12-inch MacBook

Apple discontinued its ultra-portable 12-inch MacBook in July 2019, coinciding with refreshes to the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Launched in March 2015, the 12-inch MacBook featured a thin and light design that weighed just two pounds. Key attributes of the 12-inch MacBook included a fanless design, a single USB-C port for data and charging, a new Force Touch trackpad, and an innovative battery design that allowed for a larger battery to fit inside the notebook.

2016-12-inch-macbook-feature.jpg

A big reason why the 12-inch MacBook was discontinued is because many customers found it to be underpowered. The original 12-inch MacBook was equipped with a 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor, and while later models included up to a Core i7 processor, Intel processors were simply a poor match for the notebook's thin and light design.

With the transition to Apple silicon chips in the Mac, however, the 12-inch MacBook could easily make a comeback. Last month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was considering launching an all-new 12-inch notebook by 2024, but it is unclear if the notebook would be a MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro.

iMac Pro

Apple discontinued the iMac Pro in March 2021. 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. Apple has since discontinued the 27-inch iMac as well, leaving the colorful 24-inch iMac with the M1 chip as the only all-in-one desktop computer in the Mac lineup.

imac-pro-apple-newsroom.jpg

Released in December 2017, the iMac Pro received no substantial hardware refreshes over its lifetime, which resulted in the 27-inch iMac eventually becoming faster and more affordable than the standard ‌iMac‌ Pro configuration.

Rumors have persisted about the iMac Pro making a comeback with Apple silicon chips. In his newsletter last month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said he still believes a larger iMac or iMac Pro is in the works and "could arrive as early as next year." Based on that timeframe, the computer could be powered by M2 Pro and M2 Max chips.

Article Link: Three Discontinued Apple Products Rumored to Make a Comeback
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/07/21/discontinued-apple-product-comebacks/
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Realityck

Realityck

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Yes I could see all of them return, except I don't think the larger iMac will be called iMac Pro.

The ultra compact 12" MacBook is very feasible with Apple silicon better displays.
The larger Homepod could be used in several setups, such as a pair of wireless computer speakers.
People have been upset with the loss of the larger 27" iMac modernized with Apple Silicon. It was always a better value for people not wanting to spend as much as the Mac Studio/Studio Display separates.
 
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sdwaltz

sdwaltz

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"With the transition to Apple silicon chips in the Mac, however, the 12-inch MacBook could easily make a comeback. Last month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was considering launching an all-new 12-inch notebook by 2024, but it is unclear if the notebook would be a MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro."

In terms of the naming convention...the 12" should become Macbook Air, the current Macbook Air should simply be "Macbook" and the Macbook Pros should just stay where they are.
 
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icanhazmac

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They wouldn't have had to discontinue the HomePod if it had been launched at the same time or shortly after the HomePod mini. Don't know why they chose to lead with such a different and more expensive product than all of the competition, it really put Apple way behind.
 
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Realityck

Realityck

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foggygray said:
Also wasn't there rumors of the Airport routers coming back?
Click to expand...
I don't think Apple can compete with Netgear and other experienced wireless networking gear providers IMHO. I do think they should allow other networking products to be sold then just the Linksys Mesh solution owned by Foxconn now at their store.
 
entropys

entropys

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The HomePod failed in the market because of poor positioning: it’s all about price.

The rMB failed in the market because multiple reasons: price (the MBA was better value, despite having a poorer screen and heavier); the rMB was also crippled with a single port; and a butterfly keyboard. Yes it was underpowered, but that was the least of its flaws.

The 27 inch iMac didn’t fail in the market, but I suspect Apple is struggling to produce a new one that would appeal in the market, be comparable in price to the Intel 27 inch iMac, and still have Apple margins. It would end up their flagship product, and would need to sell.
 
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Thehangmn

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Realityck said:
I don't think Apple can compete with Netgear and other experienced wireless networking gear providers IMHO. I do think they should allow other networking products to be sold then just the Linksys Mesh solution owned by Foxconn now at their store.
Click to expand...
They will do it if they successfully create their own wireless chips. This would allow them to create a greater degree of differentiation. if they don't get the wireless chips figured out, it won't happen.
 
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Thehangmn

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entropys said:
The HomePod failed in the market because of poor positioning: it’s all about price.

The rMB failed in the market because multiple reasons: price (the MBA was better value, despite having a poorer screen and heavier); the rMB was also crippled with a single port; and a butterfly keyboard. Yes it was underpowered, but that was the least of its flaws.

The 27 inch iMac didn’t fail in the market, but I suspect Apple is struggling to produce a new one that would appeal in the market, be comparable in price to the Intel 27 inch iMac, and still have Apple margins. It would end up their flagship product, and would need to sell.
Click to expand...
Agreed. The HomePod was a poor move on multiple fronts. Price definitely (it needed to be closer to the Sonos pricing $199-$249 would have been good) and they needed the mini, which could compete in the lower end Echo market.
 
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tsa1

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If sonos can move their $4-500 speakers then apple can move a improved HomePod for $300-400. So many people have never heard a real HomePod in person which is why they didn’t buy the Not so smart speaker over google/Amazon. Everyone who hears it is impressed and wants one. Too late now.

I would pay full price for a Original HomePod now knowing the quality of the sound. I paid $200 at bestbuy and kick myself for not buying another.

Ceramic Apple Watch please. Kill the titanium.
 
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fwmireault

fwmireault

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TheYayAreaLiving 🎗 said:
Does anyone know what happened to AirPower Wireless Charger? I wonder if Apple is still working on that.

Apple's AirPower Wireless Charger ahead of it's time that never got to see the light.
Click to expand...
I think that MagSafe on iPhone is the proof that AirPower has we known it is dead. Why design a mat where you can charge your iPhone anywhere on it when you develop a magnetic puck that will align the phone with the coils?

They also bring the Solo loop on Apple Watch a few months after killing AirPower. I don’t think it’s a coincidence, because you couldn’t charge the Apple Watch on the AirPower flat mat without removing this band.
 
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Mizouse

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I would like a 12” MB, my M1 MBA is nice, but it’s only used as a couch/bed surfer and travel laptop.

My main driver is a 2018 Mini, hoping to upgrade it with an M2 or M2 Pro Mini (whenever that comes out) and hopefully it has HDMI 2.1 with proper 4K 120hz support.
 
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