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AppleComputingMacTech

Apple’s 16-year-old USB SuperDrive is now discontinued

Apple’s USB SuperDrive is no longer available in stores.

By
Shubham Sawarkar
Shubham Sawarkar's avatar
ByShubham Sawarkar
Editor-in-Chief
I’m a tech enthusiast who loves exploring gadgets, trends, and innovations. With certifications in CISCO Routing & Switching and Windows Server Administration, I bring a sharp...
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- Editor-in-Chief
Oct 12, 2024, 6:27 AM EDT
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A hand is placing a CD-R disc into a slim, silver external Apple USB SuperDrive. The drive is connected to a computer setup with various cables and devices visible, including a keyboard in the foreground and a modem or router with indicator lights in the background. The scene is set on a cluttered desk with a marble-like surface. The CD-R disc has a capacity of 52x and 80 minutes, as indicated on its label.
Image: Best Buy
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Apple‘s decision to discontinue the 16-year-old USB SuperDrive signals the end of an era, and it’s hard not to feel a little nostalgic about it. According to MacRumors, the once-trusted accessory is now showing up as “sold out or unavailable” in Apple’s online stores across the globe. The SuperDrive, introduced back in 2008 with the original MacBook Air, was a lifeline for those still clinging to their CDs and DVDs when Apple’s laptops started shedding optical drives.

In truth, it’s not a shocker that Apple is pulling the plug on the SuperDrive. The product is well past its prime, having been shown as sold out in Apple’s US store earlier this year. Plus, let’s face it—most of us haven’t used physical media in ages, even though there’s still a soft spot for popping in a DVD or burning a backup disc.

For the die-hard collectors or those feeling a wave of nostalgia, Apple still has the product listing online. Take a peek and reminisce about the days when you could install software from a CD, back up your files, or watch a movie on disc. But with the digital age in full swing, and streaming dominating how we consume media, it makes sense that the SuperDrive’s journey has come to an end.

A photo image of Apple USB SuperDrive.
Image: Apple

Not to worry, though—if you really need an external optical drive, plenty of non-Apple alternatives are available. It’s time to move on, but there’s no harm in a little trip down memory lane, right?


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