Apple has now placed two more of its popular gadgets, including a widely used model of the iPhone, into their internal list of “vintage” products. Apple, the technology giant, sifts through devices and ranks them into this classification every other year, which generally happens two years before the items fall under the “obsolete” label of functionality. This action is indicative of a drastic shift in the mobility of support and repair services for quoted devices, demanding expensive consequences for the owners.
The new iPhone 6s and the 2018 Mac Mini now have limited hardware support.
The most recent addition to Apple’s “Vintage” list is the iPhone 6s and its once popular counterpart, the 2018 Mac mini. Apple’s internal policies define a vintage product as one that is sustained for five years after the last sale. Then after seven years the product is relocated into a supposedly retired “obsolete” list, where official hardware support is mostly unavailable for the majority of the device.
iPhone 6s’ Extended Availability Delayed its “Vintage” Status
The iPhone 6s began selling to the public in 2015, but its availability as a cheaper option up until 2018 is the reason behind it only recently being eligible for the “vintage” status. These eligibility criteria meant that the five-year mark from the device’s last distribution was just achieved, triggering a decline in Apple’s support system tier for the device.
iPhone 6s: A Landmark Device with Key Features Now Facing Limited Support
The iPhone 6s firmly established a significant milestone in Apple’s history as the first iPhone to come with 3D Touch technology, enabling users to interact with the screen by previewing content via a firm press. It was also the last iPhone model to feature the standard headphone jack, which had been a staple in previous models but was removed in newer iterations of the device. This shift in primary support means that the owners will increasingly find it harder to get repairs done officially.
“Vintage” Status Implies Limited Options for Repair and Uncertain Availability of Parts
The situation now impacts “vintage” device owners in that Apple’s warranty repair coverage is now significantly reduced. While some local Apple Stores or even authorized Apple service providers may want to assist in the repair of these devices, it rests entirely on whether or not Apple has the requisite stock of parts, which, due to the company’s dwindling supply, cannot be guaranteed.
Essential hardware support, including battery changes, will be greatly reduced.
One of the more troubling repercussions for owners of the “vintage” iPhones and the Mac mini is the almost total lack of vital hardware support, including in the most basic form, servicing like battery changes. This implies, for instance, that traveling to an official Apple service center to replace the battery of an iPhone 6s or a 2018 Mac mini is becoming an exceedingly more difficult endeavor.
MacBooks Have A Minor Exception For Battery Replacement
There is one exception to this rule, and it concerns the MacBooks. Apple might still advertise battery replacement for certain MacBook models within ten years post their last sale date, thus extending the timeframe for this specific part in their laptop lineup.
Apple’s “Vintage” List Continues to Grow with Previous Additions
Apple’s pattern of updating the “vintage” list regularly continues with this addition. Just this past January, Apple announced to their customers that the Apple Watch Series 4 would be moving to the list of products with limited support. “Vintage” in this case means Apple considers devices like the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle, along with the iPhone 6, to no longer be supported. It is worth mentioning that the larger iPhone 6 Plus was pushed to the even more restrictive ‘obsolete’ list in April last year. That is a clear indicator of more bounded support.
Advisement to Owners Is to Consider Upgrading as Hardware Support Systems Continue to Diminish
While devices on the “vintage” list will continue to function until their hardware fails, Apple encourages owners to consider upgrading to a newer device once their gadget receives this classification. The “vintage” label does not provide a user’s device respite from the gradually mounting difficulty in securing repairs or the eventual complete lack of hardware support. The expanding collection of obsolete iPhones illustrates the restriction on the lifespan of even the most popular technology.
