As 2025 draws to a close, Apple's product clean-up over the past twelve months reveals more than routine refresh cycles. While many discontinued devices were replaced by newer models with faster chips, a few long-running product lines were retired entirely, signalling deeper shifts in Apple's hardware strategy.
Most notably, this year marked the end of the iPhone SE as a concept and the gradual winding down of the iPhone Plus line. Across iPhones, iPads, Macs, wearables and accessories, Apple removed 25 products from its portfolio in 2025, streamlining its lineup and doubling down on newer form factors and design directions.
The most symbolic change came in the iPhone lineup. Apple discontinued the third-generation iPhone SE in February following the launch of the iPhone 16e. With that move, Apple stopped selling any iPhone with a Home button, Touch ID, an LCD panel, a sub-6-inch display, or a Lightning port. It effectively closed the chapter on a design language that dated back to the iPhone 5s era.
The original iPhone SE debuted in 2016 as a compact, performance-focused option that reused older design elements while offering modern internals. Apple refreshed the SE twice more in 2020 and 2022 using the iPhone 8 design, but the 2025 discontinuation suggests Apple no longer sees space for a budget phone built around legacy hardware cues.
At the other end of the size spectrum, the iPhone Plus range also lost ground. Apple discontinued both the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 15 Plus during the year, and industry signals suggest the iPhone 16 Plus is unlikely to survive much longer. The ultra-thin iPhone Air has effectively taken over that slot, offering a clearer design identity than the Plus models ever managed.
Here are the iPhone models Apple discontinued in 2025:
The iPad lineup saw a quieter transition. Apple refreshed nearly every model with faster chips but minimal external changes, leading to several older variants being retired as part of routine upgrades rather than strategic exits.
Apple's wearables followed a similar pattern. The Apple Watch Ultra, Series and SE lines all advanced to new generations, pushing out older models without introducing major chip-level changes.
On the Mac side, Apple continued its aggressive silicon roadmap. Older configurations were dropped as the company transitioned to newer M-series chips, tightening the range and reducing overlap.
Finally, several accessories and niche products were also retired. Some were replaced with updated versions, while others quietly disappeared without direct successors.