Apple fans aren’t too happy right now. The tech giant has quietly expanded its “no-fix” list, adding six well-loved gadgets that many people still use.
The change has caught a lot of users off guard because it basically means that if one of these devices breaks, you might not be able to get it officially repaired or supported by Apple anymore.
What’s surprising is that these products were once some of Apple’s biggest hits, and many have reached “vintage” status in less than a decade.
Before you get too excited, being labelled “vintage” doesn’t mean your device is suddenly worth a fortune on eBay. It’s simply Apple’s way of signalling that repairs could be tricky, and in some cases, impossible if something goes wrong.
From Current to Obsolete: How Apple Decides a Product’s Fate
Apple sorts its products into three categories: current, vintage, and obsolete.
This week, not only did six products join the vintage list, but three others slid into the even more worrying “obsolete” category, which means their official support days are over.
It is a reminder that even the shiny new iPhone 16 will one day meet the same fate, ending up on the ever-growing heap of outdated tech.
Apple and other tech companies have often been criticised for this short product lifespan, which adds to the growing problem of electronic waste.
The Six New ‘Vintage’ Devices
As first reported by MacRumors, the most notable name on the list is the 2013 Mac Pro. This was the cylindrical desktop computer people nicknamed everything from a “trash can” to a “rice cooker” or even “R2-D2.” When it came out over 10 years ago, it sold for $2,999 (£2,236.79).
The other five devices are surprisingly recent:
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13-inch MacBook Air (2019)
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iMac (2019)
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11-inch iPad Pro (2018)
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12.9-inch iPad Pro (2018)
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128GB iPhone 8 (2017)
What Being ‘Vintage’ Really Means
When Apple calls a product “vintage,” it means they stopped selling it over five years ago. Official repairs are still possible through Apple Stores or authorised repair centres, but only if the spare parts are still available.
The 2013 Mac Pro, loved by some but criticised for its “unsustainable” design, was discontinued in 2019 when Apple released the $6,000 “cheese grater” Mac Pro. Now, it is officially vintage.
When it launched, MailOnline called the iPhone 8 “the best handset Apple has ever made.” But now, all three storage sizes, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB, have been bumped to vintage status.
The 2018 iPad Pro models were widely praised as “the best tablet out there,” with their “stunning screen” and “blazingly fast” performance. Now, they too are on the list.
Three Products Now ‘Obsolete’
Three Apple routers have moved from vintage to obsolete:
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AirPort Express
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2TB and 3TB AirPort Time Capsules
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802.11ac AirPort Extreme
If you didn’t know, “obsolete” means Apple hasn’t sold the product in more than seven years. At this point, Apple stops all support, so you cannot get it repaired at an Apple Store or through authorised third-party services. As Apple puts it, “Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products. Mac laptops may be eligible for an extended battery-only repair period for up to 10 years from when the product was last distributed for sale, subject to parts availability.”
If your obsolete gadget stops working, Apple is not obliged to fix it, and it becomes more of a collector’s item than a functioning device.
The Bigger Picture and the Environmental Cost
Every year, Apple releases new products to huge fanfare. Quietly, many older devices are taken out of service and left behind.
Environmental groups argue that a lifespan of under 10 years is far too short for a device that costs hundreds or even thousands of pounds. They say it fuels the growing issue of e-waste, which is piling up with devices that still work but are no longer supported.
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