The iPhones and Macs we use today are n’t bare smartphones and desktop information processing system — they’re the fruit of decades ’ worth of enquiry and testing behind the scenes at Apple HQ . Like most tummy in this theater , Apple pass big sums of money trialing all sorts of wild and groundbreaking prototypes . Naturally , many of these experiments never make it to the consumer market and alternatively act as lessons or even grounding for future equipment . While there are numerous unreleased products concealed in Apple ’s secret basement , here are six illustrious ware Apple developed that never saw the sparkle of twenty-four hours — and one that might top the list soon .
1. Apple Car
The most recent instance of a product that go wrong to get out the doorway is Apple ’s self - force auto project . For many years , the fellowship was rumor to be lick on a self - driving fomite dubbedProject Titanthat integrates seamlessly with its ecosystem . The electric automobile could ’ve potentially featured a CarPlay - alike fascia port and trust on advanced sensors utilize the king of four M2 Ultra chipsets to observe surrounding objective . Apple reportedly poured more than a billion dollars into researching it over the span of a decade , and thousands of employees were involved in its development .
A year ago , Apple reportedly bolt down the car projectand adjudicate to reapportion its resource to develop artificial intelligence technology . cave in the acute competition in AI right now — and presumably due to the ambitious , complex nature of releasing an autonomous vehicle that matches Apple ’s in high spirits touchstone — pivoting out from a car makes more gumption for the caller . Additionally , Apple never cite the car publicly or made any relevant promise it could n’t keep . As a result , the firm did n’t look any substantial substance abuser backlash for discontinuing it .
2. AirPower
While most unreleased Apple products were never officially unveiled to the public , Apple ’s Airpower charging matwas one representative where a promised gimmick was teased during a tonic only to be axed before its launch .
First preview during the iPhone launch event in 2017 , AirPower was suppose to act as a multipurpose wireless accuse mat capable of charging an iPhone , Apple Watch , and AirPods character at the same time . This futuristic visual modality , however , was imbue with technological obstacles that made executing it impracticable .
AirPower was hailed as the next big thing in charging but Apple quietly killed it before it hit shelves .
AirPower was hailed as the next big thing in charging but Apple quietly killed it before it hit shelves.
orchard apple tree
For starters , Apple had to internally hand out coil all over the mat , as Qi radio charging requires precise spiral alignment to puzzle out . This would ’ve allowed user to place their iPhones anywhere on AirPower rather than positioning them in a very specific fleck . Another vault was the Apple Watch ’s proprietary wireless agitate standard , which , forreasons strange , is incompatible with Qi . therefore , the company had to heap two layer of bill tech in a thin mat — reportedly do uncorrectable overheating issues .
While Apple officially declare it wo n’t release the AirPower in 2019 , its vision lived on . In 2020 , the company launched the foldable MagSafe Duo Charger , pack a MagSafe diggings and an Apple Watch charging puck . However , that was break off in 2023 due to its gamy price , dubious flexible joint , and deficiency of support for fast Apple Watch charging and the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max .
Apple’s Magic Charger is the portable MagSage stand we always wanted.
3. Magic Charger
Another official charging supplement that never visit the light of twenty-four hour period is theMagic Charger . Unlike AirPower , Apple never reveal this contraption publicly , but a gatherer who came across a epitome shed spark on the accouterment in 2022 .
The Magic Charger basically integrated a flexible MagSafe pad into a metal bandstand . Like the MagSafe Duo Charger , users would ’ve been able to attach an iPhone to a flat Earth’s surface or endure it vertically by folding it . It ’s indecipherable why Apple never released the accouterment , especially given its practicality and the lack of major engineering obstruction . It would ’ve complemented the StandBy feature of speech usher in with iOS 17 .
Apple ’s Magic Charger is the portable MagSage sales booth we always wanted .
The Paladin could have done for offices what the iMac did for boxy PCs.
@TheBlueMister
4. Paladin
right smart back in 1995 , Apple was reportedly work on an all - in - one gadget for low businesses . ThePaladinwas designed to run as a electronic computer , facsimile machine , scanner , and sound . The gadget would ’ve permit business proprietor do all of their productivity tasks with a single gadget .
The Paladin could have done for power what the iMac did for boxy PCs .
Apple Paladin reportedly ran software dubbed Complete Office , allow users alternate between its various modality with the mouse click of a release . This would cause the user interface to switch depending on whether the facsimile machine or calculation functions were in use . While Paladin had a canonical black and white LCD , it reportedly supported external , full - colour displays through a dedicated port . It would have been revolutionary back in the 90s but alas it never saw the luminance of day .
The PowerBook G5 was the rumored successor to the PowerBook G4 (left) but Apple released the MacBook Pro instead.
5. PowerBook G5
During the early 2000s , Apple was to a great extent rumored to be working on aPowerBook G5laptop to follow the popular G4 model . That never come to realization , though . Instead , Apple release its first MacBook Pro in 2006 with Intel Core 2 duad processors , marking a shift in its laptop stigmatisation and figure . Two years afterwards , the iconic MacBook Air followed , offering users balanced world power in a competitively streamlined and timeless intent .
The PowerBook G5 was the rumored successor to the PowerBook G4 ( odd ) but Apple publish the MacBook Pro rather .
Foundry
The iPod phone make an appearance in the keynote to announce the original iPhone.
6. iPod phone
Before releasing the original iPhone , Apple seemingly explored an iPod phone . Building on the succeeder of its portable euphony player , the company is rumour to have considered adding a cellular modem to the iPod design . However , the Click Wheel remark made dialing phone numbers unintuitive , and as a answer , it never made it out of the R&D stage . Interestingly , during the first appearance of the first - genesis iPhone , Steve Jobs humorously previewed a mockup of a click - bicycle - equipped phone , portraying its absurdity and impracticality — with a flash to the rumors that were circulating at the time .
Will Siri 2.0 join the list?
Of all the items on this list , only one , the AirPower burden mat , was really announced . Apple does n’t typically unveil new ware until they ’re quick to ship , a policy that gives Apple the time and space it require toperfectthem while also maintain its credibility and exploiter ’ trust .
During last year ’s WWDC , Apple promised that Io 18 would bring a monolithic Siri update , giving it awareness of on - screen content , crop within third - party apps , and fetch personal data from various parts of the organization — such as emails and messages . There was even an advertising campaign , but earlier this month , Appledelayed the upgraded Siriuntil “ the forthcoming twelvemonth , ” suggest it might not arrive until iOS 19 in 2026 .
It gets worse : Arecent reporteven suggested the new Siri is so far behind , that Apple might have to rebuild the project from scraping . give the sensitiveness of user data and how unpredictable AI can be , Apple is evidently struggling to build up an supporter that can reliably and firmly do the call tasks . If Siri 2.0 is back to square one , what guarantees that thing will be any different a year from now ?
The delay are bad enough , but failing to deliver Siri 2.0 will be a much large bang on Apple ’s reputation than AirPower , especially when considering Google ’s and other challenger ’ advances in AI . Siri is already fall back behind its equal , and a failure to deliver on its promise for a smarter and more aware assistant could be Apple ’s braggy loser ever .
