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Discontinued: 1993
The Apple II was discontinued in 1993 after 16 years.
Not to be hyperbolic, but it transformed personal computing with its accessible design and educational focus.
Steve Wozniak hand-drew every circuit without computer assistance. He crafted a machine that would sell over 5 million units and establish Apple as a premium computer manufacturer.
Discontinued: 1990s
The original Macintosh (1984) revolutionized computing with its graphical interface (GUI) and mouse.
You probably remember its launch via the iconic “1984” Super Bowl ad, where it challenged IBM’s dominance with its compact design and 128KB of RAM.
Steve Jobs insisted on banning cooling fans as “noisy and inelegant,” forcing engineers to create a passive cooling system that contributed to overheating problems down the line.
Discontinued: 2001
Apple’s PowerBook Series (1991-2001) was a big leap in laptop computing.
Known for its revolutionary design featuring integrated trackball and palm rests.
Despite its compact 5.1-pound frame—lightweight for early ’90s technology—it offered advanced displays and networking capabilities.
The PowerBook 100 now holds a permanent place in the Smithsonian collection of American inventions.
Discontinued: 1998
Apple’s Newton MessagePad (1993-1998) was a groundbreaking PDA that pioneered handwriting recognition.
However, for all intents and purposes, it was a commercial failure.
Its infamous flawed “Ink” technology became the target of a Doonesbury comic strip, publicly mocking its tendency to transform simple words into nonsensical phrases.
Discontinued: 2006
The iBook (1999-2006) was a laptop that was known for its colorful clamshell.
It was a big hit for students, with a famous scene in Legally Blonde where the main character brings in a playfully pink iBook to class.
Its translucent plastic matched the iMac G3’s playful aesthetic, standing out against corporate gray machines.
However, the iBook is best known for revolutionizing mainstream wireless networking, with Apple demonstrating this revolutionary “AirPort” technology by having someone jump through a hula hoop while browsing to prove no hidden wires existed.
Discontinued: 2007
The original iPod (2001-2007) was a breakthrough portable music device known for its click wheel interface and 1,000-song capacity, shifting Apple from computers to consumer electronics dominance.
Steve Jobs marketed the device as “your entire music library in your pocket.”
Its first prototype was a shoebox-sized cardboard mock-up that concealed internal technology even from Apple’s engineers.
Discontinued: 2008
The First-Generation iPhone, launched in 2007 and discontinued in 2008, transformed smartphones with its revolutionary touchscreen interface.
When Steve Jobs first demonstrated the screen rotation feature, the audience erupted in applause.
It might be the greatest consumer ever invented since the personal computer.
Discontinued: 2011
Apple’s first-generation iPad was launched in April 2010 and discontinued in March 2011.
It sold 3 million units in just 80 days!
This 9.7-inch touchscreen tablet, which Steve Jobs initially opposed developing, created an entirely new product category between smartphones and laptops.
Your child’s media consumption would never be the same.
Discontinued: 2016
The Apple Watch launched in April 2015 as Apple’s first wearable technology.
It was leaps ahead of what the existing smartwatch market offered with health tracking and iPhone integration.
Apple discontinued the first-generation model just one year later, with new versions released soon after.
Early prototypes attempted to measure blood glucose non-invasively—a feature that has remained unachieved ever since.
Discontinued: 2010
The original MacBook Air (2008-2010) revolutionized laptop design with its impossibly thin profile, which was famously revealed when Steve Jobs pulled it from a manila envelope.
The 0.76-inch aluminum computer eliminated optical drives and most ports, establishing the ultraportable category despite criticism for its $1,799 price tag.
Discontinued: 2001
The Power Mac G4 Cube (2000-2001) was Apple’s 8-inch suspended cube computer that eliminated cooling fans.
Despite design acclaim, it failed commercially due to its $1,799 price tag and infamous hairline cracks in its acrylic casing.
The failure caused Apple to discontinue it after just one year.
Discontinued: 1990s
The Apple LaserWriter (1985) transformed desktop publishing with PostScript technology despite its $6,995 price tag.
This 300-pound monster of a printer contained more processing power than the Macintosh computer controlling it, with its 12MHz Motorola processor making it essentially a computer disguised as a printer.
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