These Are Apple's Oldest Products Still Sold Today

For over two decades, the MacRumors Buyer's Guide has served as a valuable resource for keeping track of when Apple products were last updated.

Pro Display XDR Apple
Below, we have highlighted five current-generation Apple products and accessories that have not received hardware upgrades in several years. We also provide some purchasing recommendations based on our own opinions and rumors.

This list excludes previous-generation Apple products still sold, such as the iPhone 13, and products unlikely to be updated again, such as the SuperDrive.

iMac

iMac 24 Apple Newsroom
Apple last updated the iMac in April 2021 with the M1 chip, a 24-inch display, and an ultra-thin chassis available in seven color options. A new model with a faster M3 chip is expected to be released in late 2023 or early 2024.

Apple has also experimented with larger iMacs, including a model with around a 32-inch display, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He does not expect a larger iMac to be released until late 2024 or at some point in 2025 at the earliest.

Recommendation: Do not buy an iMac right now unless absolutely necessary. A new model is likely months away from launching.

AirPods Max

AirPods Max Gen 2 Feature Black 2
Released in December 2020, the AirPods Max will turn three years old later this year. Apple's over-ear headphones have not received any hardware updates since and remain priced at $549, with five color options available.

In January, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass shipments of second-generation AirPods Max would likely begin in the second half of 2024 or the first half of 2025, but there's always a chance that new color options could be introduced sooner.

The new AirPods Max could adopt several features from the second-generation AirPods Pro, such as an H2 chip, improved active noise cancellation, Adaptive Transparency mode, Conversation Boost, skin-detect sensors, longer battery life, and more. The new AirPods Max would also likely be equipped with a USB-C port for charging.

Recommendation: While the AirPods Max are nearly three years old, the headphones might not be updated for another 12 to 18 months. Consider waiting if you are willing to, but otherwise they are still a fine purchase today. Also consider the Beats Studio Pro, which launched last month and are more affordable than the AirPods Max.

HomePod mini

homepod mini thumb feature
Released in November 2020, the HomePod mini is another Apple product that is nearly three years old. The smaller Siri-enabled smart speaker remains available for $99 and has not received any hardware updates since launching, although it did get new blue, orange, and yellow color options in November 2021.

A new HomePod mini is not expected to be released until the second half of 2024, but Apple did enable the temperature and humidity sensor in the current model earlier this year, providing new functionality amid the wait for a new model.

Apple released a second-generation full-size HomePod in January.

Recommendation: A new HomePod mini is still rumored to be at least a year away, so the current model remains an acceptable buy for $99.

Pro Display XDR

Pro Display XDR Blue
Apple released the Pro Display XDR in December 2019, so it will be four years old later this year. The high-end monitor starts at $4,999 and features a 32-inch screen size with 6K resolution, but it lacks a built-in camera and speakers.

In December, Gurman said Apple was working on multiple new external monitors, including an updated version of the Pro Display XDR that will be equipped with an Apple silicon chip, just like the Studio Display with the A13 chip. However, it's unclear when the new Pro Display XDR will be released or what other new features it will have.

Recommendation: Given how expensive the Pro Display XDR is, it is worth waiting for the next model at this point. Also consider the Studio Display, which is over two years newer, more affordable, and has a built-in camera and speakers.

Apple Pencil

Apple Pencil 2
The second-generation Apple Pencil was announced in October 2018, nearly five years ago. There haven't been any credible rumors about a third-generation Apple Pencil, so it's unclear when the $129 accessory will be updated next.

On the iPad Pro models released in October 2022, the second-generation Apple Pencil can be detected while it hovers up to 12mm above the display, allowing users to see a preview of their drawing before they make it. And for the Scribble feature, text fields automatically expand when the pencil gets near the screen.

Recommendation: The current Apple Pencil is very outdated, so there is always a chance of a new version being released in the near future. However, there are no credible rumors about a new Apple Pencil yet, so it might remain a safe buy for now.

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
ipad air windows 11 arm

M2 iPad Air Runs Windows 11 ARM via Emulation, Thanks to EU Rules

Tuesday April 22, 2025 5:01 am PDT by
A developer has demonstrated Windows 11 ARM running on an M2 iPad Air using emulation, which has become much easier since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations came into effect. As spotted by Windows Latest, NTDev shared an instance of the emulation on social media and posted a video on YouTube (embedded below) demonstrating it in action. The achievement relies on new EU regulatory...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
iphone 17 pro majin bu sky blue

iPhone 17 Pro Allegedly Coming in Sky Blue Color Used for MacBook Air

Tuesday April 22, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 Pro in a new Sky Blue color, the same color that debuted on the latest M4 MacBook Air models Apple released in March. That's according to the leaker Majin Bu. Concept mockup from Majin Bu Writing on his website, Bu claims that "sources close to the supply chain confirm that several iPhone 17 Pro prototypes have been made in various colors, with Sky Blue...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...

Top Rated Comments

NewUsername Avatar
22 months ago


Attachment Image
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DaPizzaMan Avatar
22 months ago
None of these feel particularly old. How often does a speaker / monitor need to be updated?
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
22 months ago
I hope Apple never ever discontinues the iMac.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jhonjhon236 Avatar
22 months ago


Attachment Image
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mikedis Avatar
22 months ago

Remember this news posted last year. 27-inc iMac discontinued when mac Studio was announced.

https://www.macrumors.com/2022/03/08/apple-discontinues-27-inch-imac/

https://www.macrumors.com/2022/03/11/will-apple-launch-another-27-inch-imac/
No, sorry, I don't remember. Not all of us live on this website.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tagbert Avatar
22 months ago

Wait, after all these generations of Apple Silicon, the iMac is still sitting there with a 24” display and an m1 in it?
“All these generations”

M1 to M2. It’s not that wide of a gap. I would expect an upgrade once the M3 SOCs are ready.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)