Apple Watch SE plastic model has stalled, and so have these other Apple products

Apple Watch SE plastic model has stalled, and so have these other Apple products

  • 24.03.2025 14:00
  • cnbctv18.com
  • Keywords: Product Failure, Market Exit

Apple, known for innovation, has faced several high-profile product failures like AirPower, Apple Car, Ping, and a planned plastic Apple Watch SE. These projects were abandoned or delayed due to technical challenges, strategic missteps, or market demands, highlighting the risks of ambitious ventures even for tech giants.

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Estimated market influence

Apple

Apple

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating: Buy

The article discusses several product failures and market exits by Apple, including AirPower, Apple Car, Ping, and the AI initiative. These failures have led to financial losses, strategic shifts, and a decline in market position.

Waymo

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Mentioned as a competitor in the self-driving car space, but no direct impact on Apple's business beyond comparison.

Tesla

Tesla

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: Neutral

Apple recruited top engineers from Tesla for its Project Titan, indicating collaboration but no direct financial or market impact mentioned.

BMW

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Similarly, BMW was a source of talent for Apple's automotive project, but no direct business relationship beyond recruitment.

Ford

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: —

Ford provided engineers to Apple's Project Titan, contributing to the company's efforts without direct financial impact.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating: Strong buy

Competitor in AI space; their integration of OpenAI models is noted as a challenge for Apple's AI rollout.

Google

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Dominant player in search and AI, which affects Apple's strategy and market position.

OpenAI

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Mentioned as a key player in the AI field that Microsoft has integrated into their products, indirectly impacting Apple's AI efforts.

Gemini

Gemini

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating: Buy

Google's AI project is noted as a competitor to Apple's AI initiatives.

Waymo

Positivesentiment_satisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Competitor in self-driving technology, referenced when discussing Apple's challenges in the space.

Siri

Siri

Neutralsentiment_neutral
Analyst rating: N/A

Part of Apple's ecosystem but not a separate company; no direct impact beyond its role within Apple.

Spotify

Spotify

Neutralsentiment_neutral
Analyst rating: Buy

Mentioned in the context of social features, but not as a competitor or collaborator with Apple.

Twitter

Neutralsentiment_neutral
Analyst rating: N/A

Discussed in relation to Ping's failure to integrate with other platforms, but no direct business impact on Apple.

Facebook

Neutralsentiment_neutral
Analyst rating: N/A

Similar to Twitter, mentioned as a platform that Ping failed to integrate with, without direct impact on Apple's business.

Instagram

Neutralsentiment_neutral
Analyst rating: N/A

Not directly relevant; only mentioned in the context of social media features but not impacting Apple's products or strategy.

Snapchat

Neutralsentiment_neutral
Analyst rating: N/A

Mentioned as a competitor to Apple's Ping, but no direct business relationship or impact on Apple's market position.

WhatsApp

Neutralsentiment_neutral
Analyst rating: N/A

Discussed in the context of social media integration challenges for Ping, without affecting Apple's business strategy beyond that.

Context

Analysis of Apple's Product Failures: Key Insights and Market Implications

AirPower (2017–2019)

  • Product: Wireless charging mat for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
  • Issues:
    • Overheating due to overlapping charging coils.
    • Inconsistent charging performance.
  • Outcome: Canceled in 2019 after nearly two years of silence. Apple publicly acknowledged the failure.
  • Market Impact: Highlighted technical challenges in hardware development and innovation risks.

Apple Car (2014–2024)

  • Project: Electric, potentially self-driving vehicle under Project Titan.
  • Challenges:
    • Internal leadership shifts and strategic misalignment.
    • High costs ($10+ billion) and lack of automotive expertise.
    • Competition from established players like Tesla and regulatory hurdles.
  • Outcome: Officially canceled in early 2024, with resources redirected to AI.
  • Market Impact:
    • Demonstrated difficulty in entering new industries with high barriers to entry.
    • Shifted focus toward AI and ecosystem optimization.

Ping (2010–2012)

  • Product: Social network integrated with iTunes for music discovery.
  • Issues:
    • Poor integration with major platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
    • Clunky interface and spam problems.
  • Outcome: Shut down after two years due to low user adoption.
  • Market Impact:
    • Revealed challenges in social networking competition.
    • Apple has avoided entering the social media space since.

Apple Intelligence (2024–?)

  • Product: AI integration across devices and services.
  • Challenges:
    • Slow rollout with limited availability on older devices.
    • Lagging behind competitors like Google’s Gemini and Microsoft’s Windows AI.
    • Legal issues: Lawsuit alleging improper use of user data in AI training.
  • Market Impact:
    • Highlighted delays in AI adoption and potential regulatory risks.
    • Suggested difficulty in competing with dominant AI players.

Apple Search Engine (Rumoured 2018–Present)

  • Project: Development of a custom search engine to rival Google.
  • Challenges:
    • Financial dependency on Google’s $18–20 billion annual revenue from Safari integration.
    • Antitrust risks and competition with Google’s established dominance.
  • Outcome: No official launch, with continued focus on incremental improvements to Spotlight and Siri Search.
  • Market Impact:
    • Showcased strategic caution in challenging monopolies like Google’s search engine.
    • Emphasized long-term vs. short-term gains.

Plastic Apple Watch SE

  • Project: Budget-friendly smartwatch for children and budget-conscious users.
  • Challenges:
    • Poor track record of plastic products (e.g., iPhone 5C).
    • Minimal cost savings versus premium models.
    • Brand image concerns tied to premium positioning.
  • Outcome: Rumored delay or potential cancellation, adding to Apple’s list of unfulfilled product ideas.
  • Market Impact:
    • Highlighted the balance between market expansion and brand identity.
    • Suggested cautious approach to lower-tier products.

Conclusion: Strategic and Market Implications

  • Innovation Risks: Apple’s failures underscore the challenges of high-stakes innovation, particularly in untested markets like automotive (Apple Car) and AI-driven ecosystems.
  • Resource Allocation: The cancellation of projects like AirPower and Apple Car reflects a shift toward prioritizing profitable and manageable initiatives over ambitious ventures.
  • Brand Strategy: The delay of the plastic Apple Watch SE highlights Apple’s focus on maintaining its premium brand image, even at the cost of missing market opportunities.
  • Regulatory and Competitive Pressures: Legal challenges in AI and antitrust risks in search underscore the growing importance of regulatory compliance and competitive dynamics in tech markets.
  • Long-Term Effects: These failures may influence Apple’s future product strategies, emphasizing incremental improvements over radical innovations.