Apple adds more Products to its 'Vintage Products' list

guest · May 12, 2020

Apple adds 2014 and 2013-era MacBooks to its 'Vintage Products' list
They aren't obsolete -- yet
May 12, 2020
https://www.techspot.com/news/85207-apple-adds-2014-2013-era-macbooks-vintage-products.html

In brief: If you're still holding on to an aging MacBook, we might have some unfortunate news for you today. A number of MacBook Air and Pro models, including 11 and 13-inch devices from 2013 and 2014, are being added to Apple's "Vintage Products" list.

That doesn't mean the devices are obsolete yet -- that's a whole different category with more serious end-user implications -- but it does mean it could be harder to receive service for them. Apple classifies a product as "Vintage" when it hasn't been officially sold in over 5 years (but less than 7).
When a product is added to the Vintage list, service may not be guaranteed.
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If you still own a functioning mid-2013 MacBook Air, it might be time to consider a change if official service is important to you -- the theoretical 7-year service cut-off point is approaching quickly.

With that said, Apple hasn't exactly been consistent about enforcing this policy and marking aging products as obsolete, so you could be in the clear for a while longer.
Indeed, in addition to the MacBook models mentioned before, Apple has only just now added the 5th-gen iPod Touch to its Vintage Products list, and that device was released way back in 2012.
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Apple: Vintage and obsolete products

MacRumors: Apple Adds Some 2013 and 2014 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Models to Vintage Products List

A little later than expected, Apple has added the following 2013 and 2014 models of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro to its vintage and obsolete products list: [...]
An internal memo obtained by MacRumors at the beginning of last month revealed Apple's plans to obsolete ‌the above Mac products by the end of April.
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guest · Jun 6, 2020

How Apple Decides Which Products Are ‘Vintage’ and ‘Obsolete’
The surprising definitions present serious challenges for repairability
May 26, 2020
https://onezero.medium.com/how-apple-decides-which-products-are-vintage-and-obsolete-6055d0bda422

[...] I learned my iMac is considered “vintage” and was told Apple won’t touch it.
Instead, an Apple Support representative referred me to an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) in my area. When I called the shop, the owner told me he could take a look at the device but would make no guarantees.

According to Apple, “vintage” devices are those that the company discontinued selling more than five and less than seven years ago. Once Apple hasn’t sold a product for seven years, it’s considered “obsolete,” meaning the company won’t offer any repair services.
But vintage products exist in a liminal space: Despite what I learned when I called Apple Support, Apple Stores as well as AASPs can, in theory, repair them for you “subject to availability of inventory, or as required by law,” according to Apple.

In practice, people in the repair community told me Apple isn’t particularly interested in fixing vintage tech.
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Sara Behdad, an associate professor at the University of Florida whose studies the life cycle of electronics and e-waste management, said that the cost of maintaining the supply chains needed to produce parts for vintage and obsolete models is likely “the main reason to dissuade [Apple] from offering repair services.”

“Even if they want to offer repair services, if the product was sold five years ago, it’s not cost-efficient for them to really have all the parts available,” Behdad said.
Apple declined to comment on the record for this story.

Generally speaking, the challenge of repairing an old device isn’t the availability of parts or expertise — it’s whether the device is repairable. Unfortunately, when it comes to Apple devices, repairability is a serious problem, one that only seems to be getting worse.
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XIII · Jun 6, 2020

Or skip the clickbait and immediately read this: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201624

Vintage products are those that have not been sold for more than 5 and less than 7 years ago.

Obsolete products are those whose sales were discontinued more than 7 years ago

guest · Aug 1, 2020

Original iPad Mini From 2012 Now Considered 'Vintage' by Apple
July 31, 2020
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/07/31/original-ipad-mini-apple-vintage/

Apple today updated its list of Vintage and Obsolete products to add the original 7.9-inch iPad mini, which was first released in 2012.
Devices on the vintage list are able to continue to receive hardware service from Apple and Apple service providers, subject to the availability of repair components and where required by law.

Apple's original ‌iPad‌ mini featured an A5 chip, 512GB RAM, up to 64GB of storage, and a 1024 x 768 display, which was not considered Retina. The ‌iPad‌ mini has not seen many design changes since it was launched, and the current release version continues to feature thick bezels and a Touch ID Home button.
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guest · Oct 3, 2020

Apple now considers final iPod nano model 'vintage'
October 2, 2020
https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/10/02/apple-now-considers-final-ipod-nano-model-obsolete

Apple on Thursday added the seventh-generation iPod nano to its list of Vintage and Obsolete products, officially limiting active support for the venerable pint-sized music player.

Introduced on Sept. 7, 2005, the iPod nano was touted as the smallest iPod with a screen. Over the course of its nearly 12-year run, the stalwart music player took on a variety of shapes, sizes and formats.
Each successive generation included a color screen, on-device controls (on-screen controls in later models), and a bevy of colorways. Apple also used the platform to experiment with new technologies like onboard cameras, unique chassis materials and custom finishes.
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Today's addition to the "vintage" list means seventh-generation iPod nano devices are eligible for repairs and service at Genius Bars and Apple Authorized Service Providers, but only when required parts are available. In two years the last nano is expected to become "obsolete" and will no longer be eligible for repair.
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Vintage and obsolete products
iPod products vintage worldwide

iPod classic

iPod nano (7th generation, Late 2012)

iPod shuffle (4th generation, Late 2012)

iPod touch (4th generation)

iPod touch (5th generation)

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guest · Nov 3, 2020

iPhone 5c is now considered a ‘vintage’ device with limited support
November 3, 2020
https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/03/iphone-5c-is-now-considered-a-vintage-device-with-limited-support/

Apple this week updated its list of vintage and obsolete products to add a remarkable device. iPhone 5c, the first colorful iPhone launched by Apple, is now considered a vintage product — which means technical support for this model is now limited.

iPhone 5c was introduced in September 2013 as a cheaper version of iPhone 5. It features the A6 chip, a 4-inch LCD display, and an 8-megapixel rear camera. The smartphone was built with a glossy plastic body, and it was available in five different colors: white, blue, green, pink, and yellow.
Apple will discontinue and make iPhone 5c obsolete in 2022, which will permanently end technical support for it.
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guest · Sep 30, 2021

Original Apple Watch Added to Apple's 'Vintage Product' List
September 30, 2021
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/09/30/apple-watch-vintage-products/

Apple today updated its list of vintage and obsolete products to add the 38mm and 42mm Apple Watch models to the vintage list, marking the first time that the Apple Watch has been included.

The first Apple Watch was introduced more than six years ago in April 2015, with the "Series 1" replacement and Series 2 upgrade following in 2016. Apple has continued on updating the Apple Watch each year, and in 2021, we're expecting the Apple Watch Series 7 to see a release sometime in October.
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The original 2015 Apple Watch now qualifies for Apple's "vintage" list, which includes devices that Apple stopped distributing for sale more than five years ago and less than seven years ago.
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NormanF · Sep 30, 2021

My 2012 and 2013 MacBook Pros run MacOS Catalina. I hardly consider them vintage.

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