Apple is expected to stop making and selling several recent iPhone models as it gets ready to unveil the iPhone 16 next week.
The devices likely to be discontinued include last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, 2022’s iPhone 14 Plus and 2021’s iPhone 13.
As a result, the phones will no longer be stocked at Apple’s online and physical stores, and at various other retailers.
But don’t fret if you own one of them, as they won’t become obsolete. Apple will continue to provide software updates to ensure they operate smoothly for up to five years as standard.
The affected models are among 11 Apple products that will be discontinued soon, according to tech news site 9to5Mac. Others include several editions of the Apple Watch (Series 9, Ultra 2, and SE 2), Apple’s popular wireless earphones the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3, and its iPad Mini 6 and iPad 10 tablets.
It’s normal for Apple to stop manufacturing and selling certain products when releasing annual upgrades.
For instance, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max were discontinued when the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max were launched last year. You can still find them at some stores, and on online marketplaces like eBay, but Apple no longer offers them.
Why are they going out of favour so quickly? Put simply, Apple would rather you buy the latest (and priciest) models. Most of the headline features from last year’s Pro versions are also expected to be handed down to the base iPhone 16, making it harder to tell them apart.
Still, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max’s inclusion on the list instead of the regular iPhone 15 is jarring, considering only the former will be able to run Apple Intelligence (along with all four new iPhone 16 models).
That’s the name for Apple’s new artificial intelligence tools, which can do things like rewrite text in different styles, summarise long emails, generate images based on text descriptions, and enhance Siri's capabilities.
iPhone 15 Pro
As 9to5Mac notes, the iPhone 15 Pro is likely to be the last iPhone model with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, as the iPhone 16 Pro series is expected to feature larger screens. The exclusive Blue Titanium color option is also unlikely to be carried over to the 16 Pro line-up.
iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 13
The iPhone 14 Plus, introduced last year to replace the discontinued iPhone 13 Mini, is also going away this year. Apple may follow a similar strategy as in 2021, keeping the iPhone 14 available at a lower price point until the iPhone SE 4 is released at a later date.
The iPhone 13, now three years old, is also likely to be discontinued, making way for the iPhone 14 to take its place as the £599 iPhone.
New iPads and AirPods to replace older devices
Alongside the new iPhone 16 range, Apple is gearing up for a significant gadget refresh next week.
Updates are expected for all three Apple Watch models in its line-up. The Series 10 range is rumored to feature larger, more energy-efficient displays, a slimmer design, and potentially a new processor. The Ultra 3 is also slated for a minor upgrade, while the SE 3 could sport a more affordable plastic casing.
If Apple indeed updates the trio, it's likely that the current Series 9, Ultra 2, and SE 2 will be discontinued. Adding fuel to the fire, the Series 9 has seen its price slashed several times in recent weeks in North America.
With Apple poised to replace its cheapest iPads next week, it could soon be time to bid farewell to the iPad Mini 6 and iPad 10 as well. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently revealed that stock for the sixth-generation dinky tablet is running low at Apple Stores, indicating that a successor is on the way.
Finally, the brand new AirPods 4 could also drop next week in two versions: an entry-level model to replace the outgoing AirPods 2 and a mid-tier one to succeed the AirPods 3. The latter could come with noise cancellation, which isn’t available on the AirPods 2.
Apple’s iPhone 16 event, subtitled Glowtime, will take place on Monday, September 9 at 6pm UK time.
