The big tech giant, Apple, announced their products that are now categorized as obsolete starting this year. Meaning users will be left without help in case something goes wrong. Let’s check whether your device is included! Here are the details:
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Apple Device Categorization
Apple formally divides its products into two primary post-sale lifecycle stages: obsolete and vintage, depending on when they were last offered for sale. The degree of authorized hardware servicing and parts availability is mostly determined by these categories.
The details explanations below:
Apple Product Lifecycle Categories
| Category | Definition | Service & Parts Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Current | Refers to products that were either discontinued less than five years ago or are currently being sold. | Hardware service and parts are fully supported by the company and the company’s Authorized Service Providers. |
| Vintage | Refers to products that haven’t been offered for sale for longer than five but less than seven years. | Parts and service might be available, although this depends on local laws and inventory. There are no guarantees whatsoever. |
| Obsolete | Refers to products that haven’t been sold in almost seven years. | Parts are no longer offered by the company or its service providers, and the company has discontinued all hardware services. |
A device is no longer eligible for repairs, battery replacements, or any other service at the company’s Stores and Authorized Service Providers across the globe once it becomes obsolete.
According to the big giant Tech, an outdated device can no longer be repaired at its official Store or an approved third-party service since it is no longer supported.
In short, it means that Apple is not required to fix the product if it malfunctions, making it little more than a relic from the past.
“Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products”, the company’s official website stated.
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What Devices Are Obsolete This Year?
The once-groundbreaking iPhone SE is now seen as obsolete, according to Apple. Five years after a device is retired, it is deemed vintage by the tech giant, and after seven years, it is deemed obsolete. In the event that something goes wrong, customers of the iPhone SE will be left without assistance.
In March 2016, the iPhone SE was originally introduced as a more affordable and compact version of the original iPhone series. Its design was praised at the time as a significant step toward providing more affordable, high-end phones.
The iPhone SE was discontinued in 2018 despite its widespread use; therefore, it has only recently become obsolete. The four-inch display, Touch ID home button, and aluminum and glass frame of the iPhone 5S were all retained in the design of the iPhone SE. Compared to other small phones on the market, the paired-back phone is significantly speedier because it has the more recent A9 processor. At £359/$399 when it was first released, the iPhone SE boasted four times the graphics performance and twice the processing power of the iPhone 5S, along with a longer battery life.
Another Apple device that is now categorized as obsolete is the 11–inch MacBook Air, according to the company announcement in September. When it was first released in March 2015, the tablet cost $899/£749 and was well-received for its sophisticated design, mobility, and extended battery life. However, the MacBook’s display size was limited in relation to the computer’s size due to its high bezels.
Furthermore, The 13 and 15-inch 2017 MacBook Pros, which were initially priced at $1,499/£1,449 and $2,399/£2,349, respectively, were also rendered obsolete by Apple. The Touch Bar, a tiny OLED strip with multi-touch capabilities, replaced the conventional row of function keys in the most costly models of these laptops. Both are now seen as outdated, having launched less than eight years ago.
These announcements certainly gave rise to various reactions from the devices’ loyal users. One commenter wrote on X, “Apple please no.” While another tweet, “They’ll pry my 2016 iPhone SE from my cold, dead hands.”
On the other hand, Apple’s actions are very environmentally unfriendly. Environmental activists contend that a digital product selling for up to a thousand pounds shouldn’t have a lifespan of fewer than ten years.
Former Environment Audit Committee chair Philip Dunne said, “Too many devices have a limited, and sometimes decreasing, lifespan and end up in bins, eventually going to landfill or incineration.”
That’s all the article regarding Apple’s devices that are now categorized as obsolete in 2025. Users usually upgrade or leave their old devices for a new one when it is classified as such. Don’t forget to check other interesting articles and news only at Price in UK. See You!
