The 12 Worst Apple Products of All Time The California tech giant hasn't always been a synonym for success.

By Sam Colt

This story originally appeared on Business Insider

Apple is known for the hit products it has released in the last decade: the iPod, the iPhone, and most recently the iPad.

But the company hasn't always been a synonym for success.

Some of of its products, particularly in the '80s and '90s, were huge flops.

From the PowerPC to the Pippin game console, we recount the ill-fated products Apple probably wishes you forgot about permanently.

The iPod Hi-Fi was built with Apple's sleek design aesthetic but ultimately failed to deliver the sound quality that third-party competitors could offer.

Apple's hockey puck mouse came out with the first iMac, but its shape proved very uncomfortable for users and forced Apple to reconsider its peripheral ergonomics.

Before the Apple TV was even a twinkle in Steve Jobs' eye, Apple released the Macintosh TV in 1993. It was incapable of displaying TV on the desktop and sold only 10,000 units.

The Pippin, manufactured by Bandai, was Apple's first stab at a gaming console. It sold only 42,000 units before being discontinued in 1997, a year after its release.

The Apple III was meant to springboard off the Apple II's success, but its impractical design vexed users and forced Apple to recall the first 14,000 units.

The Newton PDA came out in 1987 and remained in production for 11 years before being discontinued despite its limited functionality. Perhaps it was the required stylus that did it in.

The Apple QuickTake, launched in 1994, was one of the first digital cameras to be marketed to consumers. Ultimately Apple entered the product category too early and discontinued the QuickTake in 1997.

The Macintosh Portable, left, was Apple's first laptop computer. Aside from display and battery issues, the Mac Portable was plain expensive, costing $7,300 when it came out in 1989.

The sleek Power Mac G4 Cube came out in 2000, but was too expensive for most consumers at $1,799. It also lacked an internal fan, causing it to overheat. Apple put it "on ice" in 2001.

Although it was manufactured by Motorola, the ROKR E1 was the first phone to support iTunes and was touted by Steve Jobs when Apple unveiled it in 2005. Its limited storage and slow file transfers caused Apple and Motorola to part ways just a year after its release.

iPod socks were available in the Apple Store from 2004-12. The socks weren't very functional, though, and given the vast number of iPod case makers out there, it's not surprising customers didn't want to stuff their MP3 player into something known for being smelly.

Apple released a sleek-looking Bluetooth headset in 2007 alongside the first-gen iPhone. They killed it in 2009, however, after disappointing sales, and have been selling third-party headsets at the Apple store since then.

Sam Colt covers Apple for Business Insider. He's previously written for Patch, Mic, BI, and others.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

How to Build, Grow and Make Money With Ecommerce

To grow your online business, you need to develop a strategy and invest your time wisely. These actionable tips can attract customers and increase online revenue.

Growing a Business

I'm an SEO Expert — Here Are 6 Content Tips to Stand Out in Any Saturated Market

Learn how SEO-driven content marketing strategies can help your business thrive in a saturated market.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Leadership

The Army Was Tough, But Restaurants Made Her Cry — Lessons From the Drive-Thru From a Former KFC Exec

Former KFC Chief Operating Officer Monica Rothgery discusses the experiences that shaped her leadership book, "Lessons from the Drive-Thru."

Science & Technology

AI Agents Are Becoming More Humanlike — and OpenAI Is Launching a New One in January. Are Entrepreneurs Ready to Embrace the Future?

The evolution of AI agents from chatbots to advanced systems capable of autonomously executing complex tasks is becoming increasingly evident. Here are three foundational principles to effectively integrate AI agents into businesses and entrepreneurial ventures.

Business Solutions

Check it Out: An AI Multi-Tool for Any Budget

Transform ideas into reality with this $69.99 lifetime deal.