Which iPhones, iPods did Apple classify as ‘obsolete' and ‘vintage' now
Cupertino-based tech giant puts an end to two of its iconic products — What's at stake for users?
June 01, 2024
Cupertino-based tech giant Apple has officially classified the iPhone 5s as an “obsolete” product and the iPod Touch 6 (6th generation) as “vintage”.
This development means that Apple Stores and Apple Authorised Service Providers will no longer offer repairs or hardware services for the iPhone 5s. A product is deemed obsolete once seven years have passed since it was last sold, according to Apple's policy.
The iPhone 5s, launched in September 2013, came with several groundbreaking features at the time, but as an obsolete device, it will not receive software updates, including critical security patches, making it more exposed to security risks.
To boot, it will also give rise to compatibility issues with newer apps and software, further decreasing the device's usability.
With the resale value going down drastically, users are advised to recycle their old iPhone 5s through Apple's recycling programmes. Although third-party repairs may still be an option, those services cannot be trusted. Upgrading to a newer model is advisable to guarantee continued support and best performance.
Meanwhile, the iPod Touch 6 has been moved to Apple's "vintage" list. Modelled on the iPhone 6 with many phone-like functionalities, the iPod Touch 6 was powered by the then mighty Apple A8 processor, which made it better than the iPhone 5s.
According to Apple's standards, a product is considered vintage when it goes out of distribution for sale for over five years but less than seven.
