Apple has just reorganized its list of vintage and obsolete products, with both the iPhone XS Max (released in 2018) and iPhone 6s Plus (released in 2015) now officially labelled as “vintage devices.” MacRumors spotted the change and is a normal part of Apple’s product lifecycle. A device becomes vintage if it has been more than five years since it was last sold new by Apple.
You can still get repairs and replacement parts from Apple and authorized repair facilities any time before the end of these five years. However, once a product becomes vintage, repairs and replacement parts may or may not be available depending on availability and issues.
Note that the exact timing of vintage status may vary, and an iPhone 6s Plus with 32GB of storage is already considered obsolete (next level after vintage). The product’s status will become official once Apple updates the list.
Apple Watch Series 2
Another update to Apple’s list is the discontinuation of the Aluminum and Stainless Steel models of the Apple Watch 2. A device becomes obsolete if it has been more than seven years since it was last sold new by Apple. From this point on, it will no longer be repairable by Apple or its authorized partners, and new parts will no longer be available to order. The only exception to this rule are some MacBooks, which in some cases can have their batteries replaced for up to 10 years.
Of course, you can get your old product repaired, but you’ll have to do it through a third party other than Apple. After seven years, it’s probably worth investing in an upgrade anyway.
The Apple Watch 2 with its ceramic case still retains its vintage condition and is therefore not yet outdated, but anyone still wearing the 2016 smartwatch should get the necessary repairs done today, not tomorrow.
