Last updated: October 10, 2026
Apple does not provide support for its hardware indefinitely. Every product eventually falls into one of two official categories—“vintage” or “obsolete”—and it is this status that determines whether Apple or an authorized service provider will still be able to repair your device.
“Vintage” does not mean “antique.” In everyday language, “vintage” implies something very old. In Apple’s terminology, it’s merely an intermediate stage: a “vintage” product is a device that Apple stopped selling 5–7 years ago. Many “vintage” devices, such as the iPhone 8 or iPhone 11 Pro, are still perfectly suitable for everyday use. The designation that truly means “too old for official repair” is “obsolete.”
A product becomes “vintage” when Apple stopped selling it more than 5 but less than 7 years ago. It becomes “obsolete” when Apple stopped selling it more than 7 years ago. The count begins from the moment Apple last released the product for sale, not from the date of your purchase or the date of manufacture. As a rule, this happens six months to a year after production of a particular device model has ceased.
Apple’s Official Categories
| Status | Time since Apple stopped selling it | What it means for repairs |
|---|---|---|
| Supported (no special label) | Less than 5 years | Service and parts are available from Apple and its service providers |
| Vintage | More than 5 and less than 7 years | Service and parts are still possible, but depend on parts availability |
| Obsolete | More than 7 years | Apple discontinues all hardware service, and service providers cannot order parts |
Apple states that owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Vision Pro and Beats products can get service and parts for a minimum of 5 years from when the product was last distributed for sale. Support may last longer where the law requires it, or up to 7 years depending on parts availability.
Note that “new” and “current” are not official Apple labels. You will see them used informally for devices that are under warranty or still within the first five years, but Apple’s own documentation only defines vintage and obsolete.
How the Timeline Works
The most common mistake is counting from the day you bought the device. Apple counts from the moment the model left the sales channel.
For example, if Apple stopped selling a phone in September 2019, it enters the vintage period in September 2024 and becomes obsolete in September 2026. A device that you bought as one of the last units sold ages out earlier than you might expect, while a model sold for several years only starts counting once Apple pulls it from sale.
A related point: a device can sit on the shelf for a long time before you buy it. Buying a model near the end of its sales life means a shorter service window.
What “Vintage” Means for You
Vintage products can still be repaired, but with limits:
- Repairs depend on whether Apple has the necessary spare parts. If a part is not available, the repair cannot be done.
- For Apple Watch, vintage service is available through Apple Stores only.
- Mac laptops may qualify for an extended battery-only repair period of up to 10 years from when the product was last distributed for sale, subject to parts availability.
If your device is vintage, it is a good time to replace an aging battery or fix a cracked screen, because the option may disappear within a year or two.
What “Obsolete” Means for You
Obsolete products have lost official hardware support:
- Apple discontinues all hardware service.
- Service providers cannot order parts for the device.
- The only exception Apple describes is the extended battery-only repair for Mac laptops, up to 10 years and subject to parts availability.
- Monster-branded Beats products are considered obsolete regardless of when they were purchased.
You can still use an obsolete device, and independent repair shops may fix it using third-party or used parts. But Apple itself will not repair it.
Local law can extend your rights. Apple’s page notes that in France, owners of a new iPhone or Mac laptop purchased after December 31, 2020, or a new iPad purchased after June 24, 2024, may obtain service and parts for 7 years from the date the product model was last supplied for distribution in France. Other countries may have their own rules, so check consumer-protection laws where you live.
Examples From Apple’s Current Lists
The lists change over time as more products age out. Here are representative examples from Apple’s page published September 15, 2026.
| Device | Vintage (5–7 years since last sold) | Obsolete (more than 7 years) |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone 6s and 6s Plus (16GB, 64GB, 128GB), iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, iPhone XS and XS Max, iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max | Original iPhone through iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, iPhone 5s and 5c, iPhone SE, iPhone X, 32GB versions of iPhone 6s and 6s Plus |
| iPad | iPad Air 3, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad (6th generation) | iPad Air and iPad Air 2, iPad mini through iPad mini 4, iPad (5th generation) and earlier, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st and 2nd generation) |
| Mac laptops | MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019 and 2020), MacBook Pro (13-inch and 15-inch, 2019), MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015), MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) | MacBook Pro 2016 to 2018 models, MacBook Air models up to Retina 2018, older MacBooks, all PowerPC-era PowerBooks and iBooks |
| Mac desktops | Several iMac models from 2013 to 2019, Mac mini (Late 2014), Mac Pro (Mid 2012 and Late 2013) | Older iMacs and Mac minis, Mac Pro models up to Mid 2010, all PowerPC-era desktops |
| Apple Watch | Series 3, 4 and 5 (most variants) | Apple Watch (1st generation), Series 1 and Series 2 |
| AirPods | AirPods (1st generation) | None on the list yet |
| Apple TV | None on the list yet | Apple TV (1st, 2nd and 3rd generation) |
