Accessories and I/O

All about Accessories and I/O

Future Apple accessories

Apple Glass

Apple Glass are expected to be Apple's next big thing. One day soon, users will interact with information and digital objects via transparent glass worn over their eyes.

Augmented Reality has been a staple talking point for Apple in recent years, and it all leads up to these glasses powered by visionOS.

Apple Glass could pave the way to an augmented reality future

Pinpointing the AR glasses' release has been tricky thus far since the technology isn't quite ready yet. A set of Apple Intelligence-focused glasses without a display could be announced in 2026.

Current Apple accessories

AirTag

The AirTag is a small coin-sized tracker meant to locate lost items like keys or wallets. The device isn't able to attach to anything on its own, so users must purchase keychains, pouches, or other objects to store them in.

The AirTag lets users find lost items

It utilizes the Find My network to locate lost items by pinging other nearby Apple devices and updating its location when separated from the owner's iPhone. Apple has built-in anti-stalking features to prevent malicious use of the AirTag, though it has been the source of some controversy.

A second-generation model was introduced in 2026 with an identical design, improved audio, and second-generation tracking features. The gen 2 AirTag can be tracked with Apple Watch as well.

Apple Pencil

The Apple Pencil is a digital stylus that incorporates pressure sensitivity and gyroscopes to emulate writing with a real instrument. Both generation models are still for sale and work with specific iPad models.

Apple Pencil with USB-C, Apple Pencil, and Apple Pencil 2

The second-generation Pencil attaches to the iPad Pro, iPad Air 5, or iPad mini 6 via magnets and inductively charges. It features a 9ms latency and a double-tap gesture for switching tools on the fly.

The Apple Pencil with USB-C arrived as a wider compatible option for iPads that lacked the magnetic charging surface and used a USB-C port. It is now the entry model and the previous Apple Pencil models are otherwise legacy products.

Apple Pencil Pro is the high-end product that introduced haptic feedback, barrel roll, and a squeeze gesture. It's the true successor and premium stylus for iPad Pro and iPad mini.

Apple Silicon

Custom Apple Silicon has been used for iPhone and iPad since 2010 with the A4 processor. Beginning in 2020, Apple transitioned its Mac lineup to Apple Silicon as well.

Apple has a long history of making custom silicon for its devices

The vertical integration of hardware and software gives Apple an edge over competitors like Microsoft and Samsung. Rather than use a one-size-fits-all processor, Apple is able to fine-tune its chips for each machine in the lineup.

The A-series processor is used in iPhone and some iPads, the M-series processor is used in Macs and some iPads, and an assortment of other chips have been introduced as well. The C-series modem brings that important component in-house, and the N-series chip is for networking.

Apple also offers the Ultra Wideband chip, which powers precision finding of AirTag.

Beats by Dre

Apple purchased the entirety of Beats by Dre in order to transform Beats Music into Apple Music. This purchase included the Beats headphone line, which Apple has maintained to this day.

Beats Solo 4 keep up the universal integrations between iOS and Android

Products sold by Beats and Apple today include the Beats Studio Pro, Powerbeats Fit, Powerbeats Pro 2, Beats Solo 4, the Beats Pill, and an assortment of iPhone cases.

HomePod

The HomePod was the original smart speaker from Apple. It focused on high-quality music playback and using Siri to help find new tracks on Apple Music. It was discontinued briefly by Apple in March 2021 and reintroduced in 2023 with enhanced capabilities.

HomePod was briefly pulled from sale then returned with a new chipset and features

While the HomePod has amazing sound, especially when in a studio pair, it is expensive and lacks ports. It is a niche product but one Apple continues to support with regular updates.

HomePod mini

The HomePod mini is a small smart speaker with Siri. It can play music, control HomeKit devices, and answer simple questions.

The HomePod mini is an inexpensive smart speaker solution

It has a spherical design and computational audio for $99. Pair two together for stereo sound.

Magic Keyboard

Apple refers to multiple products as "Magic Keyboard," like the keyboard used in the 16-inch MacBook Pro, the wireless keyboard for the Mac, or the keyboard case for the iPad Pro.

The Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro will transform the tablet into a laptop

Each of these keyboards use the scissor-switch mechanism. The MacBook and iPad Pro variants have backlit keys.

Apple also introduced a product called "Magic Keyboard Folio" for the 10.9-inch iPad released in 2022. It is a two-piece keyboard case that attaches via magnets, and the iPad can be separated from the keyboard without removing the rear case.

MagSafe

MagSafe is a magnetic accessory system introduced for the iPhone 12. A series of magnets in the rear of the iPhone allows accessories like wallets and chargers to align perfectly with the device.

MagSafe accessories come in many shapes and forms

Apple sells a handful of MagSafe accessories and chargers. Third-party manufacturers offer multiple options similar to Apple's but usually with some caveats.

Pro Display XDR

The Pro Display XDR was released alongside the Mac Pro in late 2019. The 32-inch Thunderbolt 3 display is meant to emulate the experience of using a professional reference monitor.

The Pro Display XDR is a professional 6K monitor for the Mac Pro

Features include a 6K display with a P3 color gamut, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and an industrial design that mimics the Mac Pro. It is available for purchase starting at $4,999 and can be upgraded with nano-texture glass for an additional $1,000.

Studio Display

Apple's Studio Display is a 27-inch 5K monitor released at the same time as Apple's Mac Studio. It runs an A13 processor to manage Center Stage, Spatial Audio, and other systems.

The Studio Display is an affordable Apple monitor

Rumors suggest an updated model with mini-LED backlighting and ProMotion could be on the way, but such features would move the product to a much more expensive price tier.

Touch Bar

The Touch Bar seemed more like a gimmick than a useful tool when it first appeared in the MacBook Pro in 2016. It has been phased out of new products and will likely disappear from the lineup completely, eventually.

The Touch Bar is a neglected piece of hardware with a lot of potential

With little software support and few updates from Apple, the Touch Bar was abandoned. Users complain of the lack of haptic feedback and the lack of adoption by app developers.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is the last product with a Touch Bar.

Biometric systems

Face ID

Face ID is a biometric authentication system that scans a user's face to unlock the device. It uses a sensor array located at the top of the display on most iPhone models. Face ID is also present on iPad Pro.

Apple has implemented a version of Face ID that also works with masks, though it is technically less secure than the regular version.

Touch ID

Touch ID is a biometric authentication system that scans a user's fingerprint to unlock the device. It uses sensors embedded beneath the Home Button in older iPhone models and the iPhone SE. The iPad Air 5, iPad mini 6, and 10.9-inch iPad has Touch ID embedded in the Top Button.

Discontinued, unreleased, or abandoned accessories

Apple Smart Battery Case

The Apple Smart Battery Case is an iPhone accessory that adds a secondary battery, one that can recharge an iPhone and effectively double its battery capacity. The case has an unusual design with a prominent battery hump, a concept that helps keep the iPhone itself as slim as feasibly possible, given the extra capacity.

The Apple Smart Battery Case lets users charge the iPhone away from an outlet

This product was replaced by the more universal MagSafe Battery Pack.

Apple Car

Perhaps Apple's worst-kept secret, "Apple Car" was being developed for a 2026 or later release. Rumors speculated that it would be an electric vehicle with autonomous driving features that will compete with Tesla and other EVs.

Apple was expected to launch the Apple Car sometime after 2024

Apple could have partnered with other popular manufacturers like Hyundai, or BMW. It was ultimately abandoned, but Apple learned quite a lot about AI and robotics from its decade of research and investment.

AirPower

Apple announced AirPower in 2017 as a proprietary wireless charger. The company finally canceled it in March 2019 after two years of near-silence about the product. 

AirPower was announced then canceled in a rare move by Apple

Rumors began circulating in early 2020 to suggest an Apple-branded wireless charger may still come, but it now seems a safe bet MagSafe has taken its role.

Apple offers many kinds of Accessories and I/O that are updated on a regular basis.