Another iPhone generation has officially entered Apple’s digital retirement home. The iPhone XS, once the major device of Apple, is now added to the company’s vintage list, hinting at that time, also moves quickly for reputed gadgets. Under the classification system of Apple, a product is labeled “vintage”, when the company stopped selling it through official channels, once five years have passed.

While repairs may still be possible at Apple stores and through the Apple authorized service providers, the service completely depends on whether the replacement parts are available.

The iPhone XS originally hit the shelves in September 2018 and was closed the next year when the iPhone 11 arrived. However, the device continued to move through various resellers, delaying its official move in the recent vintage position. Now, finally reached a five -year mile stone, it has earned its place in Apple’s vintage list.

Looking forward, the iPhone XS faces complete untouchability in only two years time. Once this happens, Apple will stop providing service completely, and the official repair will no longer be introduced – even if the part is available.

Interestingly, the iPhone XS Max, its elder brother with a huge 6.5-inch performance, was taken to the first vintage list in November 2024. At the time of their release, both devices were seen as a slight upgradation on the groundbreaking iPhone X, which users were given a speedier A12 bionic chip, induled cameras, and added. While XS Max capitalized its large screen size, both models were evolutionary for Apple instead of revolutionary.

Apple’s vintage list was not updated with iPhones only this time. The company also transferred the fifth generation iPad, known as the iPad 5, in an obsolete position from the vintage. This change means that Apple has now completely eliminated all hardware services for the 2017 tablet, regardless of the availability of the part.

By adding to the update era, Apple made a subtle change in the support position of some Mac devices. The 2018 Mac Mini, already listed as a vintage a few months ago, now comes with a small warning. According to the fine print added to the recent Apple’s support page, the owners of this particular Mac model are advised to investigate with the Apple Authorized Service Provider to confirm the service eligibility. The 2018 Mac Mini’s initial vintage classification has surprised some observers, as many people expected the device to enjoy a slightly longer service window.

For Apple users, these updates serve as a regular reminder of the company’s strict product life cycle, a one that continuously prefers tools of aging towards untouchability. While many iPhone XS owners can still be happy using their equipment, clocking, and future repair options are becoming increasingly limited.