Apple’s spring cleaning routine leaves 15 devices out for good — one is surprisingly fresh

While discontinuing products from 2019 makes a lot of sense, that can’t necessarily be said about some of the 2025-released models Apple has decided to stop offering.

Other than that, the iPhone 16e is being replaced by the iPhone 17e, while the iPad Air M3 lineup is getting refreshed with the recently announced iPad Air M4. Given that the Cupertino tech giant has already provided fans with fantastic alternatives for these particular devices, I still feel the removal of the 13-inch Macbook Pro M5 is a bit of a hit-and-miss.

Discontinuation doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the road

While the devices listed above can no longer be purchased at the official store, that doesn’t necessarily mean users can no longer experience the latest software or repair their existing tech.Usually, Apple devices are eligible for support, repair, and software updates between five and seven years after their initial release. In other words, users who currently own an iPhone 16e or a MacBook Pro M5 still have plenty of time before they need to consider upgrading. 

It’s worth pointing out that Apple typically adds devices to its ‘Vintage list’ five years after discontinuation. At this point, they are no longer eligible for software updates, and repairs are only possible if parts are available. 

My personal advice: don’t wait for your just-discontinued Apple device to get listed as vintage. Multiple retailers readily give out big trade-in discounts for most Apple tech, allowing you to upgrade without paying full price for your next flagship device. 

Apple takes spring cleaning to a whole new level 

While most brands don’t discontinue products immediately after the launch of their successor, the Cupertino tech giant doesn’t take the same approach. On the one hand, this is a smart move — why keep old models in stock when most users aren’t even going to consider them?

But on the other hand, this particular discontinuation cycle feels somewhat strange to me. By removing the several-month-old MacBook Pro M5 with 512GB of storage, Apple is essentially forcing its fanbase to spend more.

While the new Pro-grade laptop features 1TB of storage, essentially providing better value per gigabyte, it still costs $1,699 ($100 more than the 512GB variant). If you’re after a Pro laptop experience but don’t need this massive storage, there’s simply no alternative for you. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t call this a “fair” approach.