Apple discontinued these iPhones, iPads and Macs in March: Check list

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 31, 2026 | Technology

In March, Apple launched a wide range of new products across iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more. With these launches, Apple discontinued several older devices. While many of these products were replaced by newer models, such as the iPhone 16e being succeeded by the new iPhone 17e, a few removals stand out because they mark the end of entire product lines. This includes the likes of the Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR.

New launches that replaced older models

Apple introduced a wide range of new devices across categories. These included the iPhone 17e, updated iPad Air with the M4 chip, the M5-powered MacBook Air, and refreshed MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips.

The company also launched new displays like the Studio Display (2026) and Studio Display XDR, along with products such as the MacBook Neo and AirPods Max 2. Alongside these, Apple rolled out new accessories, including iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and a Beats-Nike collaboration.

With these launches, several older devices were discontinued. These include previous-generation iPads, MacBooks, and accessories such as the older Studio Display and AirPods Max with USB-C.

Apple discontinued these products in March:

iPhone 16e

11-inch M3 iPad Air

13-inch M3 iPad Air

13-inch M4 MacBook Air

15-inch M4 MacBook Air

14-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro

14-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro

16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro

16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pro

Mac Pro with M2 Ultra

Studio Display (2022)

Pro Display XDR

AirPods Max (USB-C)

Products discontinued without replacements

Not every product removed this month had a clear successor. Apple discontinued the Pro Display XDR, a high-end monitor first introduced in 2019. While Apple did launch a new Studio Display XDR, it is not a direct successor to the Pro Display XDR. The new Studio Display XDR is smaller in comparison and comes with an entirely new set of configurations.

Another major change is the end of the Mac Pro lineup. Apple has discontinued the Mac Pro model and has confirmed that it does not plan to release any new Mac Pro hardware going forward. The Mac Pro was last updated in 2023 with the M2 Ultra chip.

Apple product launches in the coming months: What to expect

Apple may be preparing for another wave of product launches in the coming months. According to a report by 9To5Mac, citing Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, the company is reportedly working on several updates across its lineup, including smart home devices, streaming hardware, Macs, and the entry-level iPad.

Here is a list of products that Apple could launch in the coming months:

HomePod 3

HomePod mini 2

New Apple TV 4K

Mac Studio (M5 Max, M5 Ultra)

Mac mini (M5, M5 Pro)

iPad with A18

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Meta tests Instagram Plus subscription with additional features: Report

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 31, 2026 | Technology

Meta has reportedly started testing a new premium subscription plan on Instagram in select countries. According to a report by TechCrunch, the new plan, called Instagram Plus, offers a set of additional features that are not available on the standard version of the app. This includes the ability to view someone’s Story without them knowing, among others.

The report noted that the move comes shortly after Meta said it was exploring subscription-based features across its apps, including Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

What Instagram Plus offers

According to TechCrunch, one of the key features being tested is the ability to view someone’s Story without them knowing. As of now, Instagram shows who has viewed a Story, but this feature would let users stay anonymous.

As reported, subscribers can also see how many people rewatched their own Stories, giving more insight into engagement. Another addition is the ability to create multiple custom audience lists for Stories. Instead of relying only on the Close Friends list, users can group followers into different categories and choose exactly who sees each post.

The subscription also reportedly allows users to extend a Story’s visibility by an extra 24 hours. There’s also a “spotlight” option, which lets users boost one Story per week so it appears more prominently for followers.

Other features include an animated “Superlike” reaction for Stories and a search option within the Story viewers list, making it easier to check if a specific person has seen a post.

Rollout availability

Meta has not officially confirmed the regions where the feature is being tested. However, the report noted that Instagram Plus is currently available in countries like Mexico, Japan, and the Philippines.

Meta is reportedly expected to continue testing Instagram Plus before deciding on a wider rollout.

Separate from Meta Verified

The report highlighted that Instagram Plus is different from Meta Verified. While Meta Verified is targeted at creators and businesses with features like verification badges, Instagram Plus is designed for everyday users who want extra control and features on the app.

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OPPO Find X9 Ultra with 50MP 10x telephoto camera to launch on April 21

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 31, 2026 | Technology

OPPO has announced the global launch date for its upcoming flagship smartphone, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra. The Chinese smartphone maker, in a post on X, announced that the OPPO Find X9 Ultra will be launched on April 21. As per earlier reports, it is possible that the OPPO Find X9s Pro may also launch alongside the Ultra variant. Earlier, OPPO Chief Product Officer Pete Lau confirmed that the Find X9 Ultra will boast a 50MP 10x optical telephoto camera.

The OPPO Find X9 Ultra may be launched in India as well. At present, the OPPO Find X9 series in India comprises the Find X9 and Find X9 Pro, which were launched last year.

OPPO Find X9 Ultra to get 50MP 10x optical telephoto zoom

According to Lau, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra’s 10x optical zoom is designed to deliver image clarity comparable to what the Find X9 Pro achieves with an external teleconverter. He noted that the Ultra model will use a 50MP sensor paired with a native 10x optical zoom lens—significantly higher than the 4x to 5x optical zoom typically seen on current flagship smartphones, where higher zoom levels often rely on digital processing.

The move to a native 10x setup is aimed at retaining more detail at longer distances, while the high-resolution sensor could further enable up to 20x shots with near-optical quality through cropping. In real-world scenarios, this approach is expected to improve long-range photography, particularly in situations like concerts, events, or wildlife shooting, where maintaining clarity at higher zoom levels is usually a challenge.

OPPO Find X9 Ultra: What to expect

Earlier reports by GSMArena suggest the Find X9 Ultra could feature a 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1440 × 3120 resolution. It is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with up to 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, and backed by a 7,050mAh battery with support for 100W wired and 50W wireless charging.

For photography, the device is likely to offer a quad rear camera setup, including two 200MP sensors—one of which could be a periscope lens—alongside a 50MP ultra-wide camera and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom. For selfies, it is expected to feature a 50MP front camera, with imaging capabilities developed in collaboration with Hasselblad.

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Apple releases iOS 26.5 dev beta 1 for iPhones: What's new, how to update

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 31, 2026 | Technology

Apple has released the first developer beta of iOS 26.5 for eligible iPhones, bringing a mix of small feature updates and some background improvements. According to a report by 9To5Mac, the update reportedly doesn’t include the anticipated Siri upgrades, but it introduces tweaks across Apple Maps, messaging, App Store billing, and more. The build (23F5043g) is currently limited to developers, with a public beta expected soon. Here’s a closer look at what’s new in the update:

iOS 26.5 developer beta 1: What’s new

Apple Maps: As per the report, one of the more visible additions in iOS 26.5 developer beta 1 is a new “Suggested Places” feature in Apple Maps. This tool shows recommendations based on what’s trending nearby, along with your recent searches. The feature appears directly in the search tab inside the Maps app, making it easier to discover nearby locations without typing specific queries.

Ads in Maps: Apple is reportedly preparing for ads in Maps. According to 9To5Mac, the update includes backend changes that suggest Maps could show local ads based on your location, search activity, or what you’re viewing on the map. This aligns with Apple’s earlier announcement that ads would arrive in Maps sometime this year.

RCS encryption: Apple is once again testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages in iOS 26.5 developer beta 1. The feature was first seen in iOS 26.4 beta but didn’t make it to the final release. With this update, encryption is back in testing, though it’s still unclear whether it will be included in the public rollout.

New App Store subscription options: The update also hints at changes in how subscriptions work on the App Store. Developers may get the option to offer monthly billing plans tied to a 12-month commitment. Apple hasn’t shared full details yet, so it’s not entirely clear how this will work for users or developers.

EU-specific features in testing

In the European Union, Apple continues testing features tied to third-party accessories. These include support for Live Activities on external devices, along with improvements to notifications and proximity pairing. There’s no confirmation yet on when these features will roll out publicly or which accessories will support them.

Others

Accessories like Magic Keyboard, Mouse, and Trackpad now stay connected via Bluetooth when plugged in, and there’s a new Inuktitut keyboard.

Apple Books may get a “Year in Review 2026” feature with reading badges.

Additionally, when transferring data from iPhone to Android, users now get more control over how long message attachments are shared.

iOS 26.5 developer beta 1: Eligible models

iPhone Air

iPhone 17 series: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 16 series: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16e

iPhone 15 series: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max

iPhone 14 series: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max

iPhone 13 series: iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max

iPhone 12 series: iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max

iPhone 11 series: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max

iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

iOS 26.5 developer beta 1: How to update

Make sure that your iPhone is signed in with the Apple Account you used to sign into to the Apple Developer website

On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update

Go to ‘Beta Updates’ and choose iOS 26 developer beta

When iOS 26.5 developer beta is available for your iPhone, install it from Software Update.

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Vivo X300 Ultra with two 200MP cameras unveiled, X300s tags along: Details

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 31, 2026 | Technology

Vivo has launched the Vivo X300 Ultra and Vivo X300s in China, expanding its X300 lineup with two imaging-focused flagship smartphones. The X300 Ultra stands out as the first smartphone to feature dual 200MP cameras—one serving as the primary sensor and the other dedicated to periscope zoom—while the X300s adopts a more standard camera configuration. Both devices have been developed in collaboration with Zeiss. The Vivo X300 lineup now comprises X300, X300 Pro, X300 Ultra, and X300s.

According to a report by 91Mobiles, the Vivo X300 Ultra is expected to be launched in India as well. If it holds true, then this will be the first time that Vivo releases its Ultra variant in regions outside China. Notably, OPPO has also announced that this year, for the first time, it will be releasing its flagship Ultra variant outside China.

Vivo X300 Ultra: Details

The Vivo X300 Ultra features a 6.82-inch AMOLED display with a 2K ZEISS Master Colour screen, supporting Ultra XDR, a 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, and HDR10+. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, paired with up to 16GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and storage options going up to 1TB UFS 4.1.

For imaging, the smartphone comes equipped with a triple rear camera setup comprising a 200MP primary sensor, a 200MP periscope telephoto lens, and a 50MP ultra-wide camera, while the front houses a 50MP sensor for selfies. Additionally, the camera system can be equipped with Vivo ZEISS G2 Ultra and G2 teleconverters with 400mm and 200mm equivalent focal lengths, respectively, forming what the company calls the ZEISS master lens group.

The device runs on Android 16-based OriginOS 6 and is backed by a 6,600mAh battery with support for 100W wired flash charging and 40W wireless flash charging. In terms of durability, the phone carries IP68 and IP69 ratings, and is offered in Film Green and Silver Tone colour options.

Vivo X300 Ultra: Specifications

Display: 6.82-inch AMOLED, 2K ZEISS Master Colour screen, Ultra XDR, 144Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

RAM: 12GB, 16GB LPDDR5X Ultra

Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB UFS 4.1

Rear camera: 200MP + 200MP telephoto + 50MP ultra-wide

Front camera: 50MP

OS: Android 16-based OriginOS 6

Battery: 6,600mAh

Charging: 100W wired flash charging, 40W wireless flash charging

Durability: IP68, IP69

Colour: Film Green, Silver Tone

Vivo X300s: Details

The Vivo X300s sports a 6.78-inch AMOLED ZEISS Master Colour display with 1.5K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+/HDR Vivid support, and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chip paired with up to 16GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and up to 1TB UFS 4.1 storage.

It features a triple rear camera setup comprising a 200MP primary sensor, a 50MP telephoto, and a 50MP ultra-wide lens, along with a 50MP front camera. The device runs Android 16-based OriginOS 6 and packs a 7,100mAh battery with 90W wired and 40W wireless charging support. It also comes with IP68 and IP69 ratings and is offered in Film Green, Dream Core Purple, Silver, and Titanium Black colour options.

Vivo X300s: Specifications

Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED, ZEISS Master Colour screen, 1.5K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, HDR Vivid

Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 9500

RAM: 12GB, 16GB LPDDR5X Ultra

Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB UFS 4.1

Rear camera: 200MP + 50MP telephoto + 50MP ultra-wide

Front camera: 50MP

OS: Android 16-based OriginOS 6

Battery: 7,100mAh

Charging: 90W wired flash charging, 40W wireless flash charging

Durability: IP68, IP69

Colour: Film Green, Dream Core Purple, Silver, Titanium Black

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Sony halts CFexpress and SD card sales as AI demand squeezes memory supply

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 31, 2026 | Technology

Sony has announced that it is temporarily suspending orders for a large portion of its memory card lineup, citing ongoing global shortages of semiconductor memory. The move affects both professional-grade CFexpress cards and consumer SD cards, and will remain in place until supply conditions improve.

The company said it will stop accepting orders from authorised dealers as well as customers via the Sony Store starting March 27. It has not provided a timeline for when orders will resume.

What Sony has announced

In a notice published on its website, Sony said that supply constraints linked to the global semiconductor (memory) shortage mean it is “anticipated that supply will not be able to meet demand… for the foreseeable future.”

As a result, the company has decided to halt new orders across most of its memory card portfolio. Sony added that it will monitor the situation and announce any updates regarding resumption separately.

The company also issued an apology, stating that it “sincerely apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Products affected

The suspension covers nearly all of Sony’s mainstream CFexpress and SD card lineup, including:

CFexpress Type A memory cards

CEA-G1920T

CEA-G960T

CEA-G480T

CEA-G240T

CFexpress Type B memory cards

SDXC/SDHC memory cards

SF-G256T

SF-G128T

SF-G64T

SF-M512T

SF-M256T

SF-M128T

SF-E256

SF-E128A

SF-E64A

Why Sony is doing this

The suspension is linked to the broader global memory shortage, which has been intensifying due to demand from AI infrastructure.

For years, memory components such as NAND flash and DRAM were relatively stable and often became cheaper over time. That trend has now reversed. Memory supply is increasingly being redirected toward data centres, cloud providers and companies building AI systems.

As a result, manufacturers are prioritising higher-margin products such as high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and server-grade chips, which are critical for AI workloads. This shift has reduced the availability of consumer-grade memory used in devices like cameras, smartphones and PCs.

The practical impact is that less capacity is available for products like SD and CFexpress cards, even as demand for storage continues. In some cases, companies are choosing to pause production or orders entirely rather than operate under constrained supply.

Sony appears to be one of the first companies in the segment to take this step, indicating how supply pressures are beginning to affect not just pricing but also product availability.

While existing stock may still be available through retailers for now, restocking is expected to remain uncertain until the supply situation stabilises.

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