While the full-size HomePod, 12-inch MacBook and iMac Pro are currently discontinued, the latest news says Apple is expected to reintroduce successor models in the future. MacRumors, a foreign technology media outlet, has shared its expectations for these three successor models based on the information it currently has.
HomePod
In March 2021, Apple announced the discontinuation of the full-size HomePod, with a focus on the HomePod Mini.
The initial HomePod was released in February 2018 and received a lot of praise for its sound quality, but the high price of $349 was much more expensive than smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home. Even though Apple later lowered the price to $299, the speaker’s sales were still a “flop” according to estimates.
After the full-size HomePod was discontinued, the speaker has been selling for a higher price on eBay and has become a collector’s item.
Citing Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is developing a new HomePod with the same S8 chip as the Apple Watch Series 8. Gurman says the new HomePod is closer to the original HomePod in size and sound quality, with an upgraded screen at the top.
Gurman previously revealed that Apple is considering releasing the new HomePod with Apple TV and FaceTime cameras, but no details are known at this time.
12-inch MacBook
Apple discontinued the ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook in July 2019.
Released in March 2015, the 12-inch MacBook features an ultra-slim design that weighs just 2 lb. At the heart of the 12-inch MacBook is a fanless design that offers just one USB-C port (for data transfer and charging), a Force Touch trackpad, and an innovative battery design to accommodate a larger battery.
A key reason for the discontinuation of the 12-inch MacBook was that many consumers found it lacking in performance. The original 12-inch MacBook was equipped with a 1.1GHz dual-core Core M processor, and while subsequent models topped out at Core i7, Intel’s performance couldn’t handle the notebook’s thin and light design.
The 12-inch MacBook is expected to return as Apple moves to Apple Silicon’s own chips. Last month, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple was considering a new 12-inch notebook for 2024. But it’s unclear whether that notebook will be part of the MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.
iMac Pro
Apple announced the discontinuation of the iMac Pro in March 2021.
With the 27-inch iMac also discontinued, the 24-inch iMac with the M1 chip became the only all-in-one in the Mac product line.
The iMac Pro was released in December 2017 and did not receive a hardware upgrade during its lifetime. The 27-inch iMac is faster and cheaper than the standard iMac Pro configuration.
In a memo last month, Mark Gurman said he remains convinced that Apple is working on a larger iMac or iMac Pro, which could go on sale as early as next year. Based on the release date, the M2 Pro or M2 Max chip is expected to be on board.
