Apple has officially placed all the versions of the iPhone 11 Pro Max and Apple Watch Series 3 in its vintage products, marking an important step in the life cycle of these devices. The company refreshed its vintage product list on 30 September, linging the devices that have either completed in the market after their launch. Interestingly, while Apple has marked the iPhone 11 Pro Max as vintage, the iPhone 11 Pro has not yet been added to the list. However, both devices will be compatible with the latest iOS 26.

What is apple’s vintage list

But what is this vintage list really? Well, “vintage” label apple’s product is part of the life cycle classification. According to the company’s policy, a device is once considered a vintage that more than five years have passed as Apple has stopped distributing it for sale. These products are no longer sold actively by Apple, but some service options are available.

Apple explains that authorized service providers can still repair these vintage products, but only while parts live in stock. Once these components are finished, the official support is limited or unavailable.

Why does it matter

The Apple Watch Series 3, introduced in 2017, has found a long phase in Apple’s ecosystem. It was one of the most popular wearer at the time of release, but in recent years, support for new WatchOS versions has been cut off. Along with the vintage situation, now official, its repair will also start decreasing.

For the iPhone 11 Pro Max released in 2019, in addition to the vintage list, Apple marks the beginning of the end for one of the most successful large-display flagship of Apple. Its design and features shaped the iPhone lineup over the years, but the support is now slowly decreasing.

What does it mean to owners of vintage apple devices

If you still use an iPhone 11 Pro Max or Apple Watch Series 3, don’t worry. Your equipment will continue to function normally, but the official support is entering its final stretch. The repair can be available at Apple Store or authorized centers, although there is no guarantee that parts will remain in stock for a long time.

Essentially, the vintage status is a warning signal for the users that the product is gradually moving towards untouchability. Once in the vintage list for five years, the equipment is transported to the “obsolete” category, the point at which Apple inhibits the availability of all hardware services and parts. Therefore it is better to update your equipment soon to get the latest ETCH from Apple and Extended software and security updates.

Apple device added to vintage list

The latest update adds two major product lines to the vintage category:

iPhone 11 Pro Max

Apple Watch Series 3 (all models), including:

• Aluminum (38 mm, 42 mm)
• Edition (Ceramic, 38 mm, 42 mm)
• Harams (38 mm, 42 mm)
• Nike (38 mm, 42 mm)
• Stainless Steel (38 mm, 42 mm)

In particular, the small 5.8-inch iPhone 11 Pro is not yet listed as vintage, which means it remains in the supported window for now.