Home The 5 Ugliest Apple Products Of All Time

The 5 Ugliest Apple Products Of All Time

Sleek lines, brushed aluminum, shiny glass and rounded corners — Apple is known for creating beautiful products, and justifiably so. There is probably no company on Earth that puts such an emphasis on design and has such an amazing track record of smash hit products.

Nevertheless, even Homer nods, as they say, and so, at certain times, has the great and powerful Apple, as exemplified by the products in this list which fell well short of Apple’s best work. In my quest to find the five ugliest Apple products of all time, I chose to avoid spotlighting Apple products that were merely boxy, prototypes or computers that were ugly simply because they sported the ugly putty color we all came to hate from the 80s — because that would just be too easy.

1. MessagePad 2100

30 hours battery life… Who cares if you can't connect it to a PC?!?

Image courtesy of blakespot on Flickr

Once upon a time, before there were smartphones, people had to make do with digital organizers and handhelds like the Handspring, the PalmPilot and the Newton MessagePad 2100. Only a jerk used a paper notebook in those days. Oh how times have changed.

If you can sufer through the two minutes hearing a nerd explain what’s so awesome about the Newton MessagePad while just staring at the box, and there’s no reason you should, you can watch this thrilling  unboxing video of a MessagePad, which was 11 years old when the video was made. 

And in case you think I’m mean for mocking this fellow, here’s a video of me unboxing a Zune around the same time. Guilty as charged.

2. eMate 300

Image courtesy of DigitalNative on Flickr

This beauty was Apple’s attempt to get the students on board the Apple train. Running the Newton OS and sporting a lovely plastic handle, the eMate was a portable, low-cost computer, and with a battery life of 28 hours, it wasn’t all bad. The aesthetic, however, left you hankering for the good old days of putty. Sadly, this clam-shelled laptop went the way of the dodo in 1998, but not before influencing the design of the first iBook, which followed soon after and shows up next on my list.

3. iBook

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Sporting bold colors and hanging on to that clamshell design and plastic handle, the iBook launched in 1999. Specs and weight were unfavorable when compared to the PowerBook, but despite this, the iBook was a commercial success. Then again, it was made by Apple – of course it was a success.

The iBook came in multiple flavors: Tangerine, Blueberry, Graphite, Indigo and Key Lime. Yum!

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

4. The iMac G3

iMac in Bondi Blue

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

First, I have to grudgingly admit that I lusted after this monstrosity and the included color-coordinated hockey puck mouse when they were released in the late 90s. I never did earn enough money at the time to snag a Ruby iMac and had to settle for a Dell with a red plastic case that popped onto the computer. Sad.

The iMac was a huge hit for Apple, but today it just looks like an ugly, bloated piece of pie-shaped plastic. Which, um, it was.  

Look at the tangerine one. There’s just nothing attractive about that.

Image courtesy of mikes_rite on Flickr

5. iPod U2 Special Edition

Image courtesy of  Bob Reck on Flickr

In 2004, U2 was white-hot and Apple released this ugly iPod and this adequate press release which claimed they planned to “redefine the music business,” which I suppose they did, but not due the Apple/U2 “special relationship.”

But hey, don’t feel bad if you bought this iPod with red click wheel and engravings of the band’s autographs on the back. The Edge thought iPod and iTunes looked like the future and were good for everybody involved in music. (That’s the quote from the press release.) Live and learn huh?

If you are inclined to research Apple design hits and misses further, please check out the Flickr group Apple Prototypes.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.