Apple has updated its official vintage and obsolete products list, adding several well-known devices, including the final Intel-based MacBook Air and the Apple Watch Series 5. These changes reflect Apple’s lifecycle policies for hardware that is no longer sold but may still qualify for limited support.
The MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) is now considered vintage; it was the final MacBook Air powered by Intel processors, and it was released in March 2020. It was powered by a 1.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core i3, a 1.1 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, or a 1.2 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7, depending on the configuration.
Its market lifespan was relatively brief, as Apple discontinued it after only eight months when the M1-powered MacBook Air was released in November 2020, signaling the start of Apple’s transition to Apple silicon.
The iPhone 11 Pro is now officially considered vintage.
The Apple Watch Series 5 has also achieved vintage status, with editions in Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Titanium, Ceramic, Hermès, and Nike available in both 40 mm and 44 mm sizes. Additionally, the iPhone 11 Pro has been added to the vintage list, following the iPhone 11 Pro Max, which was previously classified as vintage. The iPhone 8 Plus (128 GB) and iPad Air 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular models were also added, though some versions of these products were already considered vintage.
Apple considers a product to be vintage if it has been out of stock for more than five years. Vintage devices may still be eligible for repairs from Apple or Apple Authorized Service Providers, but only if replacement parts are available.
Alongside these changes, Apple delisted the limited-edition Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones, which were released in 2018 in honor of Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday, from the vintage category to obsolete. After seven years, devices are deemed obsolete, and hardware support is typically terminated. Depending on the availability of parts, Mac laptops are an exception, and they may still be eligible for battery-only repairs for up to ten years after discontinuation.
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