Apple will hold its annual September event on September 9 this year at Apple Park in Cupertino. Dubbed 'It's Glowtime', the event will see the unveiling of 4 new iPhones and other product launches from the Tim Cook-led company.
Apple’s big iPhone 16 launch is just a week away, and the excitement is substantial as the company is gearing up for its big AI unveiling this month. However, Apple could pull the plug on the older iPhone models—six of them at least—when the new iPhones are announced. In fact, the list of the models could include the current iPhone 15 Pro Max as well, going by the latest reports this week. It might sound shocking to many that Apple could stop selling one of its premium models, but that is not entirely different from how the company has operated over the years.
Here’s the list for the Apple products that might be discontinued following the iPhone 16 launch.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
According to MacRumors, Apple may discontinue the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max after unveiling the iPhone 16 series. These models are currently the only ones capable of running Apple's advanced AI features. By discontinuing them, Apple aims to encourage users to upgrade to the latest iPhones to access the new AI functionalities and improvements.
iPhone 14 Plus
If reports are to be believed, Apple is already starting to look beyond its plus models and could replace them instead with an 'Air' model in the iPhone 17 series in the future.
iPhone 13
The iPhone 13, launched in 2021, is expected to be discontinued after the iPhone 16 series debut. As the oldest model currently available, it is in line for retirement as Apple continues to streamline its product offerings.
iPhone 13 Mini
Although not mentioned explicitly in the initial reports, the iPhone 13 Mini could also be discontinued alongside other older models. With Apple focussing on larger sizes and newer features, the Mini variant might be retired to streamline the iPhone lineup.
AirPods 2 and AirPods 3
Apple is expected to introduce the new AirPods 4 on September 9 at the flagship event. The new AirPods are speculated to launch in 2 variants: an entry-level and a mid-range model. With the launch of the new AirPods, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that Apple might discontinue the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3, replacing them with the updated models to offer improved features and performance.
If you are considering purchasing an older iPhone model or AirPods, then it is worth waiting until after the September event to see what Apple devices will no longer be serviceable. Stay tuned for more updates on Apple's latest announcements.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple is most likely to replace its Watch Ultra 2 with the Ultra 3 this year, which is said to look identical to its predecessor. Despite its similar looks, the Ultra 3 is said to be powered by a new S10 chip and is expected to offer new fitness/health-related features.
iPad Mini 6
Another iPad that's waiting for an upgrade is the iPad mini 6, which was introduced back in 2021, and with the launch of the iPad mini 7, Apple is most likely to discontinue the same.
iPad 10
Apple might also discontinue the base iPad 10, but only if it introduces a new entry-level iPad. Apple announced the refreshed iPad 10 in 2022, and we might finally see a new entry-level iPad at the Glowtime event.
While Apple might officially discontinue the aforementioned products, these devices should be available at least for the next few months via various online and offline retailers. However, once the products are officially discontinued, Apple will cease manufacturing them, hence, they will also disappear from the store shelves pretty soon.