Apple has again refreshed its list of vintage and obsolete products. This time, the company has added two iPhone models and two iPad models to the list. The iPhone 7 Plus and Select iPhone 8 variants are now officially classified as vintage, which means that any repair support for these devices is becoming increasingly limited. Meanwhile, iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 2 are now obsolete, which means that Apple will no longer offer official repair or support for these devices.

According to Apple’s official support documentation, a product is considered a vintage when it has not been sold for more than five years, but less than seven. Once a device crosses the last seven -year mark, it becomes obsolete. As the device becomes obsolete, Apple turns off all hardware service and stops supplying replacement parts for this.

With the iPhone 7 Plus now in the vintage list, all the models of the device are affected. The iPhone 7 Plus was launched in 2016 and it was one of the first Apple phones, which featured a dual-camera system and left the headphone jack.

For iPhone 8, only 64GB and 256GB variants are now considered vintage. The 128GB model, which continued for long periods, has not yet been included in the list. Additionally, the (product) red versions of both iPhone 8 and 8 plus were already on the vintage list before this update.

Meanwhile, Apple has shifted two iPads from the vintage list to the obsolete category: iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 2. Both devices were a popular budget -friendly option when launching, but now more than seven years old. With this new change, Apple has abolished all official support and servicing for these models. This includes any forms of battery replacement, performance repair, or hardware support.

For reference, Apple states: “Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than seven years ago.” Additionally, the official Apple service providers also cannot order parts for these devices, and repair options are now limited to informal third-party sources.

What to do if you have these devices

For users still holding these models, this update does not mean that your phone will stop working suddenly. Until it faces any problem, your Apple device will continue to function. However, your device will no longer receive guaranteed repair options through official apple channels. If a replacement part is no longer in stock, the Apple store and authorized service providers can remove you – even if you are ready to pay for repair.

Why Apple puts device in vintage or obsolete

Regular updates of Apple for your vintage and obsolete product lists are part of its ongoing product life cycle management. While the company designs its equipment for many years, a point comes when aging hardware can no longer live with new software demands or manufacturing logistics.