8 Worst Apple Products Ever Ranked: From Siri Remote To iPod Socks

Apple has carved out a big name in the tech and marketing industries, where it has put itself in a formidable seat that's tough to compete with.

It was that pivotal moment that changed the technological landscape when Steve Jobs unveiled the first ever iPhone model on Jan. 9, 2007, at the MacWorld Expo. But Apple's path to earning that seat among other tech giants was not easy.

As Apple climbed the ladder of success, it took experiments and inventions that yielded subpar performance and questionable device usage, which led to product discontinuation, mockery and mass frustration.

Sit back and get warmed up by nostalgia while we go over the eight Apple products that have been regarded as some of the worst in Apple's history.

8. Siri Remote (2015)

The launch of the inaugural Siri Remote alongside the fourth-generation Apple TV in 2015 pushed more Apple users' buttons than how much users could push to use it owing to its confusing minimalist feature.

A touch-sensitive pad was located on top of its black glass surface. But due to the touchpad's oversensitivity, utilizing it to enter commands proved problematic, to the point that users lost sight of the direction and icons they were navigating.

The ostensible control in the remote appeared to be set aside to make room for its form, which ultimately did not follow function. The users weren't able to finger-point their way out of understanding the device, which even caused "users to pick up the remote and try to use it upside down."

7. Apple Maps (2012)

Apple drew flak in 2012 when it sacked Google Maps in iOS 6 in favor of Apple Maps, which only went off on a tangent.

To provide an at-a-glance map for users to explore establishments, routes and traffic updates, Apple sought the services of TomTom, Yelp, and Waze to fulfill its ambition to create an independent mapping app.

However, the mapping app didn't measure up to its users' expectations due to its lack of walking, public transportation and incorrect driving directions.

Most of its unforgettable visual fiasco had towns falling and bridges melting, which were frustratingly defeating not just for Apple, but also for its users.

Apple CEO Tim Cook apologized in a statement posted on the Apple website back in 2012. "At Apple, we strive to make world-class products that deliver the best experience possible to our customers. With the launch of our new Maps last week, we fell short on this commitment. We are extremely sorry for the frustration this has caused our customers, and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better," he was quoted by IGN as saying.

6. Newton PDA (1993)

Before the iPad tablets and Apple Pencil ushered in, there was first the Newton personal digital assistant (PDA), released in 1993.

The Newton PDA was made to set the dominoes in motion for handheld tech devices during that era. Instead of chunky and heavyweight computers, Apple wanted to wrap the world in the palms of the people through Newton's device screen, which replicated a notebook with a stylus pen at the side.

Despite being advertised as "simple as a piece of paper," the Apple 90's pocket assistant's handwriting function was marked as tricky since the handwritten words didn't match its rendered text, according to CNBC Asia.

Apple's failed handheld device was a subject of mockery in the "Doonesbury" comic strip, created by the cartoonist Garry Trudeau in 1993.

5. Macintosh TV (1993)

It was in 1993 when Apple veered off course when 10,000 units of the Macintosh TV, another botched product, were sold.

When Apple decided to try integrating television viewing with a computer, Macintosh TV was born. However, because it didn't have picture-in-picture technology, consumers could only use their computers and televisions exclusively.

Macintosh TV was also under fire for its "sub-par graphics performance" and "crippled 16 MHz bus speed."

4. Apple Hockey puck mouse (1998)

The "Hockey Puck" mouse, the very first Apple USB mouse, was introduced in 1998 in conjunction with the advent of the iMac.

The Apple USB mouse was widely criticized at that time because of its impractical ergonomics, with an unconventional round-shape design like a honey puck and a see-through technology with teal trim on each side.

After two years, the mouse was killed and superseded by the Apple Pro mouse.

Despite being named one of the worst Apple products for having an "ugly" form, its translucent design is now considered a peak 2000s aesthetic and a trend that wants to be revived.

3. Apple QuickTake 200 digital camera (1994)

Due to the resurgence of digital cameras nowadays, the modern era would kill to get their hands on Apple's 1994 digital camera. However, it was shelved for a reason.

To retrieve the images, Apple QuickTake must be linked to a Mac computer, which happened to be the only computer it was compatible with. Its limitation didn't end there. Users could only capture eight low-resolution images at a time. And to add insult to injury, Apple QuickTake was worth an awful $749.

2. Power Mac G4 Cube (2000)

The Power Mac G4 Cube was proof that Apple has led the way in sleek and minimalist product designs; MoMA even regarded it as a piece of art. But in terms of technology, there has to be something beyond visual aesthetics.

The 7.7-inch silver cube desktop computer was featured as if it was floating inside an acrylic glass case with a G4 processor.

What was lauded by most as a "beautiful failure" was never not on the list of Apple's worst products because of its overheating problem, which is still an issue with some of Apple's products up to this date. User complaints also included glass cracking and poor processor performance.

Before it got discontinued, the G4 Cube was also sold for $1,499 to $1,799.

1. iPod Socks (2004)

The Apple team might be thinking that iPods were so cool at that time that they needed socks during the Holiday season.

The iPod sock was just one of the peculiar releases of the tech titan in December 2004, which either received a laugh or criticism.

Since the socks were made of cotton, they didn't entirely offer protection against falling, which was another instance of aesthetics taking precedence over functionality. It might have offered some scratch protection but fell short when it comes to shock, water or dust.

It was available for purchase until 2012 and was suspended that same year.