Apple is phasing out support for several older devices as it rolls out new hardware and operating systems in 2026, affecting users of iPhones, Macs, iPads, Apple Watches, and Apple TV. The company typically removes older models from its online store when a successor arrives, or it stops offering the latest major OS upgrade for them. When Apple stops supporting a device with new software, it generally signals that users should consider upgrading. Older models often remain available through third-party retailers and Apple's refurbished shop.
The iPhone 16e, which replaced the iPhone SE as Apple's budget phone in February 2025, has been dropped from Apple's lineup following the March 2026 release of the iPhone 17e. The new model costs the same base price of $599 but includes double the storage and proper MagSafe charging. Users who already own the iPhone 16e will receive years of software support, as iOS 27 still supports models dating back to 2019's iPhone 11. Apple also plans to remove the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max from its store when the iPhone 18 Pro models arrive in September, though those older Pro phones remain fully compatible with Apple Intelligence.
Two Apple TV models will lose support when tvOS 27 launches later in 2026: the Apple TV HD from 2015 and the first-generation Apple TV 4K from 2017. The Apple TV HD was the last model without 4K output, and the first-gen 4K lacks support for certain HDR formats. Apple is expected to refresh the current third-gen Apple TV 4K later in the year, and tvOS 27 focuses on speed improvements. Owners of the affected models are advised to wait for that refresh before purchasing a new device.
Apple has also discontinued sales of last year's M4 MacBook Air and M4 MacBook Pro models directly from its store after debuting the M5 versions in 2026. The M5 MacBook Air doubles the base storage of its predecessor, while the M5 MacBook Pro starts at $1,999 with the base M5 chip. Both new laptops saw price increases due to a June hardware price hike across Apple's lineup. Used or refurbished M4 models remain viable options, as macOS 27 Golden Gate supports Apple silicon Macs going back to the M1 models from 2020.
In the iPad lineup, Apple dropped the M3 iPad Air when it released the M4 model in March 2026. Light-to-moderate users can still find value in a used M3 iPad Air, while the base 11th-gen iPad, known as the iPad A16, remains an entry-level option at $449. Apple also refreshed the 2022 Studio Display in 2026, and it replaced the $4,999 Pro Display XDR from 2019 with the Studio Display XDR, priced at $3,299 and featuring a 120Hz refresh rate. The older Studio Display models continue to work fine.
The watchOS 27 release brings a significant cut in support for older Apple Watch models, breaking from Apple's typical pattern of extended software support. While the current watchOS 26 works on all models compatible with the prior version, Apple is not providing the latest operating system for certain older watches.
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