New Apple products are added every year, but a few are always disappearing through the back door. Sometimes because a successor has appeared (such as with the iPhone 12 Pro) or because sales were disappointing (more on that later). Below you can see which products had to leave the field in 2021.
#1 Large HomePod
As early as March 2021, we had to say goodbye to the large HomePod. Since then, all attention has been focused on the HomePod mini, where variants in new colors have recently appeared. Why Apple discontinued the big HomePod has never been made clear. Apple only wanted to say in a statement that the original HomePod would remain in stores until supplies ran out. After that, no new ones would be produced and according to rumors, there is no work being done behind the scenes on a successor. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo sees no signs in the supply chain that a new model is on the way. It may be because the large HomePod was difficult to market. It is more expensive than the competition and although the sound is very good – not everyone was willing to pay over 300 euros for it.
#2 Leather Sleeve for iPhone
There are products that already raise question marks when they are introduced. For example, we never understood why Apple released the Leather Sleeve for iPhone, a MagSafe case with a window that you could tell the time. Especially considering the absurd price of 149 euros: who will buy that? If there is ‘Hermès’ or ‘Louis Vuitton’ had stood up, people might still have been willing to pay dearly for it. But this case simply had no target audience, was too expensive and too impractical.
The Leather Sleeve replaced the Leather Folio for iPhone, a case that we weren't a fan of either, but which is very popular in terms of design. A lot of people walk around with a bookcase, although it is usually a copy of €15 instead of €150. We are not disappointed that Apple has discontinued it.
#3 Leather Loop for Apple Watch
There were no new colors for the Leather in 2021 Loop, the leather Apple Watch band that you have to fold in half and then close with magnets. Its mechanism resembles the Milanese Loop, but is made of leather.
It was expected that the Leather Loop would eventually disappear. Apple now has a new type of leather strap, the Leather Link. This also consists of ridges but is somewhat thicker and consists of two parts that magnetically overlap each other. Is it beautiful? That's a matter of taste. Fortunately, you can still find the Leather Loop in various places, including the bright yellow one.
#4 iMac Pro
March 2021 not only marked the end of the HomePod, but also the iMac Pro had to clear the field. Apple has since recommended that customers buy the 27-inch iMac or the professional Mac Pro. But as far as we're concerned, that's not the best choice. It's better to wait until a successor with Apple Silicon comes out (soon?) of both models. Both are nominated to get an Apple Silicon upgrade.
The iMac Pro is actually an odd duck. It was introduced in 2017 at a time when professionals were deeply dissatisfied with Apple. They felt that the focus was only on consumers and other mainstream users. The iMac Pro was basically a sop. That Apple Silicon for many faster Macs was now being worked behind the scenes could of course not be revealed at that time.
The departure of the iMac Pro also means an end the space gray accessories Apple sold. You can still find them in all kinds of places, but they are no longer made. Anyone looking for a mouse, trackpad or keyboard will have to buy up the remaining stock.
#5 iPhone XR
There are products that will last for years. The Apple Watch Series 3 is a good example of this, but the iPhone XR has also been a persistent one. It appeared in 2018 and was still being sold in the first half of 2021. It was no longer the best choice, because you could also get the iPhone 11 for a few tens more and with the arrival of the renewed iPhone SE, there was a lot of choice for people who were looking for an entry-level model.
The iPhone XR disappeared from the range in September. The 6.1-inch model with LCD screen features Face ID and a single camera on the back. A model that can last for another three years and that does well in the refurbished circuit, but in Apple's range it can't keep up anymore.
#6 Temporary products, such as the Apple Watch Black Unity
Apple released something special in February 2021: a special Apple Watch for Black History Month, based on the Series 6. It was only available for a short time. Even before the Series 6 was taken off the shelves, the Black Unity version had already taken off.
The band is still available, so if you want to give your (preferably space gray) Apple Watch a Black Unity appearance, you're done for €49. Apple also sells Pride and (PRODUCT)RED bands, which are regularly followed by new versions.
Also temporarily in the range:
- International Apple Watch bands for the 2021 Olympics
- Limited Edition products for certain countries, such as AirPods Pro for the Chinese market below
#7 Gone because a successor like the Apple TV 4K
There are several Apple products that had to leave the field for a logical reason: Apple released a successor. It applies, for example, to the Apple TV 4K.
The Apple TV has been available in two versions in recent years: the Apple TV 4K (2017) and the even older Apple TV HD (2015). Little seemed to change until Apple suddenly released a new generation of the Apple TV 4K in 2021, forcing the 2017 version to disappear.
The new model features an improved Siri Remote, a faster processor, higher frame rate, and improvements to HDMI and wireless capabilities. In this list, we think the new Remote is the biggest improvement. Still, you can still get along fine with the 2017 version. You can't find it in the Apple Store anymore.
These products also got a successor:
- 21.5-inch iMac : succeeded by 24-inch iMac with M1
- iPhone 12 Pro: succeeded by iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max: succeeded by iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Apple Watch Series 6: Succeeded by Apple Watch Series 7
- iPad mini 2019 (5th generation): Succeeded by iPad mini 2021 (6th generation)
- iPad 2020 (8th generation): Succeeded by iPad 2021 (9th generation)
- iPad Pro 2020: succeeded by iPad Pro 2021
- Various cases, straps and other accessories as new colors came out
Do you know of any other Apple products that will be gone in 2021? Let us know in the comments!