It’s no secret that Apple isn’t an affordable model. Whereas the corporate sells comparatively inexpensive “SE” and “e” variants of sure units, its predominant focus has at all times been on the higher-end tiers—and the general public usually is aware of what to anticipate.
Nonetheless, there have been a number of situations of Apple releasing exceptionally overpriced merchandise that transcend the everyday “Apple tax,” surprising prospects with ridiculously excessive markups. Let’s check out a few of them, beginning with essentially the most accessible of those notoriously expensive objects and dealing our manner as much as essentially the most jaw-droppingly costly product in Apple’s historical past.
12. Sprucing Material (2021)
Apple
Arguably, the most affordable overpriced Apple product is the Sprucing Material launched in 2021. For $19, you get a 6.3 x 6.3 inches (16 x 16 cm) material made out of non-abrasive materials, appropriate for wiping fingerprints off your Apple show. Whereas 19 bucks could also be negligible for some folks, the product continues to be objectively overpriced in comparison with comparable microfiber cloths offered by third events.
Many lovers justify paying premium costs for the tight Apple ecosystem integrations, lengthy years of software program assist, and dependable construct high quality. These arguments, nonetheless, don’t apply to the Sprucing Material, since, properly, it’s a mere material.
11. Crossbody Strap (2025)
Apple
Earlier this 12 months, Apple launched the iPhone 17 sequence, together with an all-new Crossbody Strap accent. The $59 product is made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) yarn and allows you to dangle your iPhone throughout your physique when paired with a suitable Apple case (beginning at $39).
Just like the Sprucing Material, there’s actually no benefit to purchasing Apple’s $100-plus model, as third-party choices made out of the identical materials are provided for a fraction of the worth. An identical argument may very well be made about Apple’s iPhone circumstances, which value round $50 and aren’t at all times sturdy or… finely woven.
10. iPhone Pocket (2025)
Apple
Now, onto the explanation this checklist is being typed within the first place: Apple’s extremely revolutionary iPhone Pocket. For simply $149.95 or $229.95, you may get the quick or lengthy variant of this 2025 style assertion.
For these unfamiliar, the iPhone Pocket is a special-edition undertaking in collaboration with Issey Miyake, the namesake of the Japanese designer well-known for making Steve Jobs’s trademark turtleneck. As its identify suggests, it’s a 3D-knitted pocket to your iPhone that you would be able to put on or connect to your bag—a Posh Material, if you’ll. Whereas it might visually resemble the fan-favorite iPod Sock, it completely doesn’t match its extra affordable $29 pricing.
9. Professional Stand (2019)
Apple
Subsequent, we’ve obtained the Professional Show XDR’s $999 Professional Stand, launched in 2019. Given the show’s distinctive coloration accuracy, it will be a steal at $999. Properly, besides the one grand solely will get you the show’s stand—not the show itself.
Now, I’m not going to argue whether or not the stand-less Professional Show XDR’s $4,999-5,999 pricing is honest, because it’s a distinct segment product for a really particular group of pros. Nevertheless, there’s no protection for a separate aluminum stand to value as a lot as an iPhone, no matter how versatile it’s.
8. Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional (2024)
Apple
All of us knew Imaginative and prescient Professional was going to have a excessive price ticket, however when it was unveiled at WWDC 2023, its whopping $3,499 price ticket was on the highest finish of expectations. Whereas one might recommend that the worth is honest for a first-generation, extremely refined spatial laptop, Apple retained the identical value with this 12 months’s M5 refresh, which introduced little greater than a brand new chip. Provided that it nonetheless can’t substitute a Mac and the way constrained visionOS is, we are able to safely declare that the formidable headset is ridiculously overpriced.
7. Macintosh XL (1985)
Vladeep – shutterstock.com
Again in 1985, the Macintosh XL wasn’t really a brand new Mac—it was somewhat a retooled model of Apple’s failed Lisa PC with $3,995 price ticket, which might translate to round $12,000 in the present day when accounting for inflation. Contemplating the unique Lisa (see #3 under) offered for $9,995, the Macintosh XL was downright inexpensive and really offered fairly properly, however it was discontinued simply 4 months later.
6. iMac Professional (2017)
Apple
As a technique to placate professionals who have been hamstrung by the cylindrical Mac Professional however nonetheless wished a brand new machine, Apple launched the iMac Professional in 2017 as a extra succesful model of the iMac, catering to professionals with exceptionally demanding wants. It was loaded with high-end specs, together with as much as an 18-core Intel Xeon processor, 5K show, and AMD Vega graphics, however began at an eye-watering $4,999. Preliminary rumors advised that the machine would value as much as $17,000, so possibly prospects have been pleasantly stunned to study that the maxed-out model capped out at simply $13,199.
5. Twentieth Anniversary Mac (1997)
Six Colours
To have a good time 20 years in enterprise, Apple produced 12,000 models of the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (TAM) in 1997 to point out off Apple’s aptitude for design. This high-end machine had a flat display LCD and a Bose sound system, however its $7,499 price ticket (round $14,600 in the present day), made it one of many firm’s priciest units but. It was so futuristic, Apple really delivered it to prospects in a limo, however it didn’t promote out till Apple reduce the worth all the way in which to $1,995.
4. 18-karat gold Apple Watch Version (2015)
Foundry
Keep in mind when the Apple Watch was nonetheless going by way of its identification disaster section? Just a few unfortunate prospects’ wallets certain do. In 2015, the 18-karat Gold Apple Watch Version debuted for an insane $17,000. Not solely was it the identical watch because the $349 model, however it grew to become out of date a couple of years later. Apple nonetheless tailors its smartwatches to luxurious fashionistas, however the high-end Hermès fashions prime out at $1,949 as a substitute, a lot simpler to swallow.
3. Macintosh Moveable (1989)
In the event you assume the 16-inch MacBook Professional is pricey, 1989’s Macintosh Moveable, Apple’s first battery-powered Mac, value $7,300, or round $18,500 in the present day. Whereas technically “transportable,” it weighed 16 kilos and lasted about 10 hours when not plugged in. It was a serious step towards the PowerBook and MacBook, however its excessive value barred it from being adopted by the lots, and the corporate discontinued it in 1991.
2. Lisa (1983)
Laptop Historical past Museum
Launched in 1983 for $9,995 (over $31,000 in the present day), Lisa was considered one of Apple’s first desktop computer systems. Attributable to its exorbitantly excessive value, nonetheless, Lisa’s gross sales didn’t meet the corporate’s expectations. As such, Apple buried 2,700 Lisa models in a landfill and launched the Macintosh line a few years later for a cheaper price.
1. Mac Professional (2019)
Apple
Final however not least, we have now the world’s costliest cheese grater. In 2019, a 12 months earlier than getting into the M-chip period, Apple launched a modular Mac Professional tower for energy customers. When maxed out, the Intel-powered laptop value $52,748—excluding the show. This probably crowns it as the most costly product Apple will ever launch, now that the self-driving automotive undertaking has been axed.
Right now, the most recent, maxed-out Mac Professional with an M2 Extremely prices a mere $12,448, a major drop from $50K. Although the $699 wheel equipment continues to be offered individually.
