• By Vikas Yadav
  • Tue, 02 Apr 2024 11:44 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND

Cupertino-based tech giant Apple updates its device list to incorporate old devices in the vintage and obsolete categories at regular intervals. In this latest series, the company has now added old iPhone and iPad models to the list. The tech giant now considers the iPhone 6 Plus "obsolete" and the iPad mini 4 as "vintage". The company also marked the (PRODUCT) RED iterations of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in the "vintage" list of devices.

According to Apple, the products are listed in the "vintage" category if it has been more than five years since Apple stopped the sale of the products. The service is offered for two more years for these products. Secondly, products get labelled as "obsolete" if Apple stopped distributing the product for sale "more than 7 years ago".

Also Read: iPhone SE: Apple Crowns First-Generation SE Model As 'Vintage'; Check Price And Specs Of SE Model

"Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products," the company said. However, Mac laptops may enjoy an exception of battery-only repairs (for up to 10 years). The company has a comprehensive list of products (including Mac, iPhone, iPod, iPad, Apple Watch and Beats products) that are marked as obsolete and vintage.

Speaking of "obsolete" products, Apple Stores and the company's Authorised Service Providers do not provide repairs or any other hardware service for these products. On "vintage" products, the company offers repairs via the Apple Store and authorised touch points for two more years, provided the brand has the available parts to facilitate the process.

Also Read: Is Apple Scrapping iPhone SE Series? Here's What We Know

Coming  to the devices, the company announced the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in September 2014. While the iPhone 6 Plus was discontinued in 2016, the vanilla trim was available via resellers in select regions for a longer period, according to MacRumors. Hence the iPhone 6 is not yet considered obsolete.

Meanwhile, support for iOS 13 was dropped in 2019. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus (PRODUCT)RED trims are now considered obsolete as other shades were available for a longer period and have not reached the threshold to make it to the list.