Apple Retires 17 Products in 2025 — What Replaced Them

• Apple retired 17 products in 2025 across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, accessories and Vision Pro.
• Many items were replaced by refreshed hardware: iPhone 17 lineup, M4/M5 Macs, M3/M4 iPads, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and updated SE.
• Key upgrades include Apple Intelligence support, M5 processors, Qi2.2 MagSafe, AirPods Pro 3 with a heart-rate sensor and Vision Pro (M5).
• Apple’s product shuffle points to a bigger 2026 roadmap that includes AR glasses and more AI-driven features.

What Apple pulled from store shelves

iPhones: older models make way for iPhone 17, iPhone Air

Apple cleared several legacy iPhones from its lineup in 2025. The company phased out the older iPhone 14/15 series and the long-running SE line in favor of the new iPhone 16e earlier in the year and the iPhone 17 family later on.

The transition also retired prior iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max units and removed the last of the non‑Pro large "Plus" models as Apple shifted toward the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 series, which bring a new design and Apple Intelligence features.

iPad and Apple Watch: chipset and sensor upgrades

Apple discontinued the 2022 base iPad 10 (A14) as it moved the entry model onto the A16 Bionic and kept Apple Intelligence limited to higher tiers. The iPad Air received an M3 upgrade, and Apple quietly pulled the short‑lived M2 iPad Air.

On wristwear, the company retired older Apple Watch models to make room for the Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. Ultra 3 adds 5G and expanded satellite functionality, while the refreshed Apple Watch SE gets Always‑On, a wrist‑temperature sensor and the S10 chip.

Macs: fewer refreshes, but bigger chips

MacBook Air, Mac Studio and MacBook Pro

Apple updated the MacBook Air to M4 in both 13‑ and 15‑inch versions and replaced certain Mac Studio configurations by introducing M4 Max and the M3 Ultra option. The base MacBook Pro moved to the M5 processor, leaving higher‑end M5 Pro/Ultra variants for early 2026.

These moves led Apple to discontinue prior M2 and M2 Ultra configurations of the Mac Studio and older Pro models.

Accessories, audio and Vision Pro

Apple replaced legacy accessories: the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air now matches the M3 model, and MagSafe was upgraded to Qi2.2 offering up to 25W on compatible iPhones.

AirPods Pro 3 replaced the Gen‑2 model with improved internal design, longer battery life and a built‑in heart‑rate sensor while retaining the H2 chip.

Finally, the first‑generation Apple Vision Pro was retired in favor of a second‑gen unit powered by M5 silicon. The new Vision Pro brings display and performance improvements and a redesigned band, though weight, battery life and app availability remain focal concerns.

What this means going into 2026

Apple’s 2025 pruning streamlines product lines around Apple Intelligence and new silicon, setting the stage for expanded AR efforts and larger Mac chip rollouts in 2026.