Apple has refreshed its official list of vintage and obsolete products, moving several fan-favourite devices into the 'obsolete' category. This significant update means Apple and its authorised service providers will no longer offer hardware repairs or parts for these models, impacting users still holding onto them.
Which Apple Products Are Now Officially Obsolete?
The tech giant from Cupertino has added five products to its obsolete roster. The list includes some iconic devices that introduced major features to the Apple ecosystem.
The newly obsolete products are:
- The original iPhone SE, discontinued in September 2018.
- The 12.9-inch iPad Pro (second generation) from 2017.
- Apple Watch Series 4 models under the Hermès and Nike collaborations.
- The Beats Pill 2.0 speaker.
An interesting point to note is that while the special edition Hermès and Nike versions of the Watch Series 4 are now obsolete, the standard Apple Watch Series 4 has not been added to this list yet.
Understanding Apple's 'Obsolete' and 'Vintage' Labels
What does it actually mean when Apple declares a product obsolete? According to the company's policy, a product is marked as obsolete once Apple has stopped distributing it for sale for more than seven years.
The 'obsolete' tag has concrete consequences: Apple discontinues all hardware service for these products. Authorised service providers cannot order official parts for them. The only potential exception is for Mac laptops, which might be eligible for a battery-only repair for up to 10 years from the last sale date, but this is strictly subject to parts availability.
Prior to becoming obsolete, products enter a 'vintage' phase. Apple classifies a product as vintage five years after it stops selling it. This means current vintage products are on a timer, typically having less than two years before they graduate to the obsolete list and lose all official hardware support.
The Legacy of the Now-Obsolete Devices
Each device on this list has a notable history. The original iPhone SE, launched in 2016, was beloved for its compact form factor and powerful internals. It was succeeded by a second-generation model in 2020 and stopped receiving iOS updates after iOS 15.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation) was a landmark device for Apple. Released in 2017, it was the first Apple product ever to feature a ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This technology later trickled down to the iPhone 13 Pro series in 2021 and recently to the base model iPhone 17.
The Apple Watch Series 4, which debuted in 2018, was a major health milestone. It was the first Apple smartwatch capable of taking an electrocardiogram (ECG) directly from the user's wrist. Apple discontinued it in 2019 following the launch of the Watch Series 5.
For Indian consumers still using any of these devices, the move to the obsolete list is a clear signal. While the gadgets may continue to function, the window for getting them officially repaired by Apple has now officially closed. Users will need to rely on third-party repair shops or consider upgrading to newer models supported by the company.
