Apple discontinues 15 devices — and quietly launched AirPods Max 2
Apple discontinued 15 devices after the iPhone 17e cycle and simultaneously did a surprise launch of AirPods Max 2 with the H2 chip and improved AI-driven sound personalization reported. The twin moves signal a faster turnover of supported hardware — audit device support matrices and expect tighter QA windows for new form factors.
Apple removed 15 specific products from its online lineup, naming models such as the iPhone 16e (A18, 2025), 11‑inch and 13‑inch iPad Air (M3, 2025), multiple 13‑ and 15‑inch MacBook Air (M4/M5, 2024–2025) SKUs, several 14‑ and 16‑inch MacBook Pro variants, a Mac Studio with M3 Ultra, the Studio Display with A13 Bionic, and the Pro Display XDR plus its Pro Stand and VESA mount adapter [listed]. (macrumors.com) The discontinuations followed Apple’s March product refresh that opened preorders on March 4 and scheduled consumer deliveries for March 11 for that wave of devices [preorders and launch dates]. (macrumors.com) Several of the axed models were released as recently as 2024–2025—examples include the iPhone 16e (2025) and iPad Air M3 (2025)—illustrating Apple removed products introduced within the last 12–18 months. (macrumors.com) AirPods Max 2 was announced with the H2 chip, Active Noise Cancellation rated up to 1.5x more effective than the original, and new features named Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation. (apple.com) Apple confirmed the AirPods Max 2 include a new high dynamic range amplifier, support for 24‑bit/48 kHz lossless audio over the included USB‑C cable, studio‑quality recording and camera‑remote features for creators, and will be available to order March 25 with availability “early next month.” (apple.com) MacRumors and multiple outlets flagged that many discontinued models are already seeing retailer discounts as third‑party channels clear inventory, and Apple’s lineup changes coincide with the company’s shift to M4/M5 family chips across new MacBook models. (macrumors.com)
