As 2025 comes to a close, Apple’s product lineup looks notably different than it did at the start of the year. Over 25 devices and accessories were officially discontinued, reflecting both routine product cycle updates and broader strategic shifts at the company. For consumers and the industry alike, this represents a major housekeeping year, clearing out older hardware to make room for new innovations and signaling where Apple’s priorities are in 2026 and beyond.
Most retirements follow Apple’s familiar pattern, older models give way to updated versions with more powerful chips but a handful have deeper symbolic significance. From the end of the long-running iPhone SE line to the quiet phase-out of the iPhone Plus models, 2025 was a year of both evolution and exit.
2025’s most symbolic changes came in Apple’s flagship product line. Apple officially discontinued the third-generation iPhone SE in February after launching the iPhone 16e, ending a chapter that stretched back to the original SE’s debut in 2016. With the SE gone, Apple no longer offers any iPhone with a physical Home button, Touch ID, an LCD display, a sub-6-inch screen, or the Lightning port, a clean break from several hallmark features of earlier designs.
In addition, Apple continued the retreat of its Plus-sized models. Both the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 15 Plus were removed from sale, and early signals suggest the iPhone 16 Plus may be next to go. The Plus concept, a larger, battery-focused alternative to standard models appears to be fading, with Apple instead positioning the ultra-thin iPhone Air as its larger-format option going forward.
Overall, seven iPhone models were discontinued this year, including:
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14
- iPhone SE (third generation)
iPad Lineup: Evolution Over Revolution
While iPads didn’t see dramatic design overhauls in 2025, several older models quietly exited the lineup as refreshed versions took their place. Apple focused more on novel form factors. In the process, a few familiar iPads were discontinued:
- iPad Pro with M4 chip (updated with M5 chip)
- iPad Air with M2 chip (updated with M3 chip)
- 10th-generation iPad (updated with A16 chip)
These changes reflect Apple’s current iPad strategy: maintain a stable hardware design foundation while improving performance incrementally, a contrast to the more radical redesigns of recent years.
Apple Watch: Trimming the Timeline
The Apple Watch family also saw some pruning. With the launch of the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3, older models were quietly retired:
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
- Apple Watch Series 10
- Apple Watch SE 2
Interestingly, the newer watches introduced in 2025 didn’t bring new chips across the board, making these transitions feel more evolutionary than transformative. Nonetheless, the retirements streamline Apple’s wearable lineup and align it with its latest health and connectivity feature sets.
Macs: Major Cleanup Across the Line
Apple’s Mac lineup received a significant refresh in 2025, and with it came the phase-out of multiple models. Old configurations were removed as machines with new silicon replaced them. The Macs discontinued this year include:
- Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips
- 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 chip
- 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip
- 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip
This process reflects Apple’s broader effort to simplify its Mac portfolio and complete its transition to the newest generation of Apple silicon. As older chips are retired, the company solidifies its performance hierarchy and eliminates overlap between models.
Accessories and the USB-C Shift
Beyond core devices, Apple also trimmed its accessory lineup, particularly as part of its ongoing transition to USB-C ports and standards. Notable accessories discontinued in 2025 include:
- AirPods Pro 2 (replaced by AirPods Pro 3)
- Apple Vision Pro with M2 chip (updated with M5 chip)
- MagSafe Charger with Qi 2 (replaced by updated Qi 2.2 version)
- 30W USB-C Power Adapter (replaced by a broader-wattage adapter)
- Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable (replaced by USB-C to 3.5mm)
- MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter
Some of these accessory changes were limited to select markets, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, Japan, and others, underscoring how regulatory and standards shifts like USB-C adoption are increasingly shaping Apple’s ecosystem.
Apple’s extensive product discontinuations in 2025 signal a company sharpening its lineup for the next phase of innovation. With a cleaner product slate, Apple is better positioned to introduce new form factors (such as rumored foldables or next-generation AR/AI devices), accelerate software integration across hardware, and double down on its core pillars of performance and ecosystem consistency.
For users, this year’s changes mean fewer legacy choices to juggle but also clearer paths to the latest features and technologies Apple plans to push in 2026.
