With virtually 30 new merchandise launched in 2024, Apple additionally discontinued a bunch of older devices this 12 months. A few of the units Apple stopped promoting this 12 months have been controversial throughout their lifespan, so we thought we’d take one final look again.
Right here, we’ll cowl all the most controversial merchandise that Apple stopped promoting in 2024.
FineWoven circumstances
Apple’s leather-based case substitute was a flop. The FineWoven merchandise have been controversial, and the corporate shortly addressed this concern by eradicating the iPhone circumstances from retailer cabinets and rebranding the opposite FineWoven merchandise to keep away from extra backlash. Nonetheless, customers can nonetheless get FineWoven Wallets and Apple Watch bands.
Sadly, Apple didn’t give you another. As an alternative, its subsidiary Beats launched a plastic case for the iPhone 16. They’re nice, however inferior to the leather-based variations.
AirPods Max (Lightning)
AirPods Max are Apple’s premium headphones that lasted lengthy sufficient to turn into controversial. Whereas they’ve lovely building, spectacular sound high quality, and all of the options that make AirPods so magical, they by no means bought in addition to Apple wished.
For 4 years, clients waited for a second iteration of those headphones. As an alternative, they bought a USB-C model with virtually the identical options (apart from help for wired listening). Whereas AirPods Max are nonetheless excellent, they’re steeped in controversy: They’re heavy, the carrying case isn’t sensible, and so they lack correct Discover My capabilities, Lossless help, and extra.
iPhone 15 Professional
How can the very best iPhone of the 12 months even be the worst? Apple’s iPhone 15 Professional was controversial from the start: It lacked an essential digital camera characteristic obtainable on the iPhone 15 Professional Max, had horrible battery life, and a lot of the points involved the A17 Professional chip.
Whereas it had a revolutionary 3nm processor, it continuously overheated. Even with a number of software program updates, customers complained about how this system dealt with heavier duties. Apple discontinued this system after it launched the iPhone 16 Professional mannequin. Nonetheless, the primary iPhone with Apple Intelligence was one of many worst the corporate ever launched.
M2 iPad Professional
After a formidable M1 iPad Professional launch, the M2 iteration was fairly meh. Nobody can say this system wasn’t highly effective sufficient. Nonetheless, its equipment would drain its battery when it wasn’t in use, and the dearth of main new options made this iPad Professional a weak improve.
Customers have been hoping for a front-facing digital camera in panorama mode, an improve to the Magic Keyboard, and an attractive iPadOS replace. All of that got here in 2024 with the M4 iPad Professional.
Apple Watch Sequence 9
The Apple Watch Sequence 9 was an ideal product. Nonetheless, at the least within the US, there was a serious controversy: Apple needed to halt gross sales of this wearable because of a patent infringement ban. Consequently, throughout nearly all of the time the corporate bought this wearable, it couldn’t embrace a functioning blood oxygen sensor within the US.
A option to keep away from this ban was to buy an Apple Watch Sequence 9 from a third-party market or one other nation. Even to today, Apple Watch Sequence 10 fashions bought within the US nonetheless undergo from this ban.
Magic equipment
Apple launched the Magic equipment with a Lightning port in 2015. Whereas they have been a greater resolution than their predecessor, with a detachable battery, it was a shock when the corporate launched the M3 iMac nonetheless with Lightning ports.
Happily, by the top of 2024, Apple revamped the iMac with the M4 chip and USB-C port. This transformation allowed customers to make use of a single cable for a number of units.
