14 DAY TRIAL // Like all the other tech companies, Apple typically switches the focus on the newer models after their release, and this means support and updates are mostly aimed at these products.
But of course, older devices continue to be supported as well, but it all happens until a moment when they officially become vintage and then obsolete products.
Basically, vintage products are considered those that have not been sold for more than 5 years and less than 7 years. In other words, if Apple stopped selling a product six years ago, it’s already vintage.
Despite being a vintage product, a device still receives hardware support, so you can very well reach out to Apple for a fix if something breaks down. The company explains:
“Vintage products are those that have not been sold for more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Apple TV vintage products continue to receive hardware service from Apple service providers, including Apple Retail Stores, subject to availability of inventory, or as required by law.”
And then, there are the obsolete products, which represent those devices that haven’t been sold for more than 7 years. This means you’re not getting support and servicing through the official channels is no longer available, as parts are no longer manufactured. Apple says:
“Obsolete products are those whose sales were discontinued more than 7 years ago. Monster-branded Beats products are considered obsolete regardless of when they were purchased. Apple has discontinued all hardware service for obsolete products, with no exceptions. Service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products.”
More recently, Apple has added new devices to these two lists, including a series of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.
Specifically, the following devices are now part of the vintage products list:
- MacBook Air (11-inch, mid-2013)
- MacBook Air (13-inch, mid-2013)
- MacBook Air (11-inch, early 2014)
- MacBook Air (13-inch, early 2014)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, mid-2014)
According to the definition above, these MacBooks are still eligible for repairs through the Apple retail network, albeit customers owning them should already consider upgrading because they would be added to the obsolete list in some two years.
This doesn’t necessarily mean your old MacBook would stop working. The device can still be used normally just like before, but the change only concerns how it is serviced in case a hardware problem occurs. So if you own one of the MacBook models mentioned above, you can just stick to it for as long as you want.
Apple has also updated the list of vintage products with 5th generation iPod touch. This means the device is still getting some parts if it breaks down, albeit there’s a chance only a few of them are still in use these days given it was first launched in October 2012 and then abandoned in July 2015 when the new iPod touch came out.
As a matter of fact, only four different iPhones are considered vintage products, namely iPhone 4 8GB, iPhone 4 CDMA 8GB, iPhone 4S, and iPhone 5.
The list of iPhone models that are marked as obsolete includes a few more models, as it follows:
- iPhone
- iPhone 3G (China mainland) 8GB
- iPhone 3G 8GB, 16GB
- iPhone 3GS (China mainland) 16GB, 32GB
- iPhone 3GS (8GB)
- iPhone 3GS 16GB, 32GB
- iPhone 4 CDMA
- iPhone 4 16GB, 32GB
None of these models can be repaired through Apple’s official networks if they break down, as the company no longer manufactures any parts for them. Repairing them at third-party service centers might still be possible though.