Three Discontinued Apple Products Rumored to Make a Comeback

[tonywalker23]

I tell you what I wanna see…

an iPod classic that looks like a 1st/2nd gen model with the only difference being usb-c for charging, bluetooth for AirPods, and an ssd for storage.

 

[UltimaKilo]

Still don't understand why they didn't just refresh the Homepod with whichever oldest chip they still had in production; its an incredible device.

Macbook is still a whiles away from being a product. Maybe in 2-3 years.

iMac Pro likely has a decent market.

 

[t0rqx]

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.

Siri has been stagnating for years. They should have made progress with Siri and all the home smart features around it.

 

[iDento]

I want all of them 🥲

 

[Orizaba]

What about the AirPort Extreme Routers? I could have sworn I read somewhere they may be coming back... or maybe its my wishful thinking.

 

[Rychiar]

i think I speak for most graphic designers when saying the imac Pro is most needed

 

[sos47]

i need Logic everywhere anytime.
Because iPadOS sucks,
so 12“ Macbook please

 

[ppj845]

Have OG HomePod and MacBook 2017. Not upgrading until new version of the same model comes out

 

[bookofxero]

Possibly unpopular opinion: the Mac Studio and Studio Display are intended to be the replacements for the iMac Pro. Change my mind.

 

[azentropy]

I'd love a 12" MacBook return if they did it right. Doesn't need to be over powered over over cost. Basically give me a M1 MBA in a smaller form factor and that same <$999 price

I'd love to see a new iMac 27" or larger. But it doesn't really need to be a Pro either. Those users are very well served by the Mac Studio and Mac Studio Display.

HomePod biggest issue for me was it didn't have any INPUT. Would have loved to hook it up to my TV/PS4 etc. instead of using a Soundbar. But it was a one trick pony. Make it an AppleTV with some inputs and I'm in (which is what I currently use my Roku Soundbar as).

 

[unrigestered]

Possibly unpopular opinion: the Mac Studio and Studio Display are intended to be the replacements for the iMac Pro. Change my mind.

they are.
the iMac still has a tidier look to it though + it's likely also quite a bit better in collecting less dust inside

 

[Bawstun]

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.

Because they can’t compete with the competition, for some reason Siri is still awful 10+ years later or however long it has been. The #1 failure of Apple is they don’t have a working AI like Google and Amazon. Alexa is 1000x superior to anything Siri can do.

 

[Rustyman75]

As a graphic artist, I love my 27-inch iMac, but I'm due for an upgrade. I'm really hoping Apple launches a new 27-inch iMac or iMac Pro soon! This fall maybe?? Fingers crossed!

 

[Macative]

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.

For now at least. What passes for wireless charging today is terrible, even with magsafe alignment. The concept of AirPower will never die, and will eventually replace whats on the market today.

 

[Vado]

I’m an existing 27” iMac user, so a new larger screen iMac with a 27” or greater display size would definitely get me to open my wallet.

M2 Pro or M2 Max would be the perfect sweet spot performance level for me as well.

 

[Macative]

Of these 3 only the iMac Pro makes any sense. Currently the iMac lineup consists of 1 hideously ugly 24" option, and that's it. Probably the worst time in the iMac's entire history.

A larger iMac with high performance Apple Silicon in a normal silver/black color scheme is desperately needed. Especially since the Mac Studio is not really an alternative option since the Studio Display is such a massive disappointment.

Who needs a 12" MacBook? There are both M1 and M2 MacBook Air available. Light. Fast. Cheap. All boxes ticked. Who is saying "I want a worse MacBook?". Lmao.

HomePod still has no place, because it will still be a worse product than a Sonos One, both in price and feature (Alexa vs. Siri).

 

[seanmills1020]

To compete with Alexa, Apple will introduce a new digital assistant with the HomePod.

It’s called ALEXEI, and it answers in a thick Russian accent.

 

[coachgq]

I'm a fan of the homepods for mid level "surround" sound. They worked great with the apple tv. I would like to use them with Atmos up front and homepod minis as satellite speakers.

 

[temende]

I wonder if there will ever be another 17" MacBook Pro.

 

[DamoTheBrave]

MacBook 12”: don’t bother
iMac Pro. Don't care. Maybe.
Full size HomePod: yes please but fix the lack of mid range and the price point (the reason it didn’t sell) and make it as full featured as the mini.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

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.

It was cancelled a long time ago as being physically impossible. To create the kind of charging mat they wanted that could easily charge your Apple devices anywhere on the mat required coils all over it, and it would have drawn so much power and generate so much heat, it wouldn't have worked. The mat would've been a potential fire hazard with this design:

It's why AirPower became the Magsafe Duo mat. Instead of being a full mat, it's two separate mats: One for a iPhone or AirPods case, and one for an Apple Watch.

 

[kasei]

I would buy a HomePod. I was so bummed when they were discontinued. The price will need to come down a little before I buy one though.

 

[jib2]

As someone who owns a full-sized HomePod (as well as minis), an iMac Pro, and used to own a 12 inch MacBook, I would welcome the first two (and buy them), but I've moved on since my MacBook. My 14 inch MacBook Pro is easier on my (aging) eyes.

 

[theluggage]

The iMac Pro and top-end 5k iMacs have been quite effectively replaced by the Studio Max and Ultra.

A Studio Max 10 CPU/32 GPU/1TB SSD/32GB RAM + Studio Display "only" costs the same $5000 as the base iMac Pro did, and even the i9 10 Core "regular" iMac was heading into Studio+Studio Display territory by the time you bumped the iMac RAM (at Apple prices) and SSD to match the Studio (the only real argument is which GPU option is 'equivalent' to the 24 core Studio Max).

...also, at the "iMac Pro" end of the market, buyers are going to be split on whether they want a Studio Display, Pro XDR or some specialist display setup, so a headless system that lets you choose is a far more sensible choice.

Releasing an iMac Pro in the near future is just going to tick off people who've invested in Mac Studios and displays.

If there's a hole to plug in the current lineup, its the loss of the lower-end 5k iMacs in the $1800-£2000 range and, somehow, I don't think 5k displays at that price are coming back anytime soon. Of course, they could come up with a Mx Pro 24" iMac and sell it as an iMac Pro...

 

[ruddyman]

Bring back the homepod! I won't be buying any more minis.