It’s normal for Apple to kill off a few products every year as part of its regular update cycle. As a general rule, the company will discontinue the previous iPad and Apple Watch as soon as the new generation is introduced, and the same rule applies to some MacBooks. iPhones tend to be more durable–right now you can buy the iPhone 14 and even the iPhone 14 Plus from Apple, even though there have been two entire generations since they came out–but these too will drop off Apple’s list eventually.
Still, it does feel like this year has been unusually bloody. Here are the staggering 17 products and product categories that Apple has killed off in 2024.
iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
Unsurprisingly, Apple has stopped selling the Pro models from the iPhone 15 generation. It wants customers to focus on the new flagship phones and buy plenty of them. Having both sets of Pro phones on offer at the same time would be counterproductive.
The devices are still available if you buy somewhere other than Apple’s store, but you may struggle to find the same range of colors and configurations as were available two months ago. For the lowest prices, check our roundup of the best iPhone 15 series deals.
iPhone 13
While the Pros get bumped off after just one year, Apple usually keeps the entry-level iPhone models on sale for two or three; these older offerings serve as a cheaper option for those who want a good iPhone but aren’t prepared to spend $1,000 on a smartphone. But there are limits, and the iPhone 13’s time finally ran out this year.
Amazon and other retailers are still selling the iPhone 13, and you should be able to get a good price (see the automated price comparison table below). Just be aware that stock won’t last forever now the product has been discontinued.
Apple Watch Series 9
The Series 9 was also discontinued after just one year, but this is the case for most of Apple’s Series-branded watches. (The Apple Watch Series 3 was an exception to this rule.) There are currently good deals available for the Series 9 on Amazon and elsewhere: see below. Or for a wider range of configurations, see Best Black Friday Apple Watch deals.
Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter
We recently reported that Apple had discontinued its most controversial dongle: the adapter for connecting headphones to an iPhone with a Lightning port but no 3.5mm port. This was a major discussion point when the iPhone 7 came out, but today’s iPhones have USB-C ports and most of today’s iPhone owners have wireless headphones. If you still want the dongle, you can grab one on sale at Walmart for $7. (U.K. readers can get one from Argos for £9.)
FineWoven cases
After just one year, without warning, Apple quietly killed off its controversial line of FineWoven iPhone cases. These were intended as a replacement for leather cases, which the company no longer sells for environmental and ethical reasons, but caused outrage for their poor quality. Since the end of September, there are no longer any FineWoven iPhone cases available on the Apple Store; just the FineWoven wallet. We’re not sure why that survived the cull, but perhaps durability is less of an issue for a wallet that only has to protect your credit cards rather than your phone.
MacBook Air (M1)
When Apple introduced two new MacBook Air models equipped with the M3 processor, its product portfolio was reorganized as usual, and the MacBook Air (M1) disappeared from sale. This made us feel rather elegiac: Not only was it one of the first Apple Silicon products that heralded a new era in the computer market; but the M1 model was also the last MacBook Air with that iconic wedge design created by Jony Ive and presented by Steve Jobs in 2008.
These days Apple prefers to focus on flat and extremely thin devices, and the wedge appears to be obsolete. However, you can still get one at Walmart for just $599.
MacBook Pro (M3/M3 Pro/M3 Max)
At the end of October, Apple upgraded the MacBook Pro with the new M4 chip, and the M3 models were removed from the Apple store. But the M3 Pro is still available to buy elsewhere, as you can see below.
Mac mini (M2/M2 Pro)
With the introduction of the new Mac mini with the M4 chip, Apple was able to discontinue its predecessor with the M2. If required, the device can still be found from other suppliers, but the entry-level configuration of the Mac mini with M4 is so attractive that we recommend you get the newer model.
iMac (M3)
Following the update to the M4, and after just one year on the market, the iMac with an M3 has also disappeared from sale. At least on Apple’s store; other retailers may still have stock:
Magic accessories with Lightning
Along with the new chips, the biggest Mac innovation in fall 2024 came in the peripherals department: Apple removed the Lightning-compatible Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad from its range, and replaced all three with USB-C versions. Oddly, Apple didn’t take the opportunity to change the Magic Mouse’s eccentric charging method. Laziness, or genius?
AirPods 2 and 3/AirPods Max with Lightning
With the introduction of the AirPods 4 in two versions, the older AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 found they had lost their raison d’être, and Apple no longer sells these devices. Nor does it sell a pair of AirPods Max with a Lightning port anymore. However, that you might spot some tasty deals on these discontinued models for Black Friday.
iPad (9th gen)
Back in spring, when the iPad Pro with M4 and iPad Air with M2 were unveiled, Apple dropped the 9th-gen iPad from its range. Since then, the 10th-gen iPad has been the entry-level offering, perfect for those in education or on a budget. You can still find them at Best Buy and other retailers—but stock is dwindling.
iPad mini (6th gen)
The iPad mini 6 has also disappeared from the store. Not really a surprise, given the launch of the iPad mini 7 with an A17 Pro, 8GB of RAM, and support for Apple Intelligence. The 6th-gen model was in danger of outstaying its welcome in any case, having launched in 2021… but if you really want one, you may be able to find a retailer with stock remaining. Just make sure you get a good discount.
SuperDrive
If you don’t know what Apple’s SuperDrive is, don’t be embarrassed. Because its days are definitely over: even the largest files (for personal use, at any rate) are now stored in the cloud. If you really want to save something to physical media, then USB sticks are a better choice than a DVD burner.
Apple discontinued the last Mac with a CD/DVD drive years ago: the MacBook Pro from 2012, which Apple sold until 2016. But the SuperDrive somehow made it to 2024 before finally expiring.
AirPods Max with Lightning connector
The AirPods Max went through a similar experience to the Magic accessories this fall, ditching Lightning in favour of the increasingly ubiquitous USB-C. Apple resisted as long as it could, but finally gave up the fight last year and equipped the iPhone 15 with USB-C.
The iPhone SE from 2022 is now the last product Apple sells that still has a Lightning port.
