Apple discontinues 15 products following major March 2026 launch
Apple has officially removed 15 products from its storefront this week to make room for an extensive wave of new hardware. Following a massive launch cycle that introduced 10 new devices, the tech giant is streamlining its catalog by retiring older models. This shift affects everything from the entry-level iPhone to professional-grade desktop displays. While some retired products were long-standing staples from as far back as 2019, others were surprisingly recent additions that have been replaced by even more powerful iterations.
New chips drive immediate hardware transitions
The primary driver for these discontinuations is the rapid transition to M4 and M5 silicon across the iPad and Mac lineups. Specifically, the iPad Air with the M3 chip has been phased out in favor of the newly announced M4 model. In the laptop category, the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models previously powered by M4 have now been fully replaced by M5 versions. Perhaps most notably, the iPhone 16e has been retired after a very short lifecycle to clear the path for the iPhone 17e. This new entry-level smartphone features the A19 chip and expanded base storage, making its predecessor redundant in the current market.
Professional display and desktop overhaul
Apple’s professional desktop ecosystem is also seeing its most significant update in years. The legendary Pro Display XDR, which had remained in the lineup since 2019, has finally been discontinued. It is being replaced by the all-new Studio Display XDR, which introduces mini-LED technology and a 120Hz refresh rate. Along with the monitor, the original Pro Stand and VESA Mount adapter have also been removed from the store. Additionally, the Mac Studio with M3 Ultra has been pulled as the company prepares to transition its high-end desktops to the M5 series later this year.
The list of discontinued products includes:
- iPhone & iPad: iPhone 16e (replaced by iPhone 17e), 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air with M3 chip (replaced by M4 models).
- MacBooks: 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 chip, MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch with M4 Pro/Max chips, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro M5 with 512GB storage.
- Desktop & Displays: Mac Studio with M3 Max/Ultra chips, Studio Display (2022 model), and the Pro Display XDR including its Pro Stand and VESA Mount.
- Accessories: Various older MagSafe chargers and specific USB-C power adapters have also been phased out in favor of updated versions.
Despite being removed from the official Apple Store, these devices will continue to receive software support and security updates for the next several years. Most of these products will remain eligible for hardware repairs for 5 to 7 years before officially reaching “vintage” or “obsolete” status. Users who recently purchased these models can rest assured that their hardware remains fully functional and supported within the Apple ecosystem.
 Origin: Techspot
