A few weeks ago, Apple managed to announce that the iPhone XS Max and iPhone 6s Plus will now be considered “vintage” by the firm. By this Apple means that this is a model that has been discontinued for more than 5 years. Such a model no longer receives any updates but can still be taken to the store for repairs if needed. The “obsolete” classification makes it impossible to repair any models equipped with the latter. Today, new Apple products are now considered “vintage” by Apple.
Appliances are still eligible for in-shop repair.
These include the Apple Watch Series 4 and the 15-inch MacBook Pro from 2019. As a reminder, the Apple Watch Series 4 was launched in 2018 in several versions: a 40 mm model and another 44 mm in aluminum or stainless steel. This range was the first to offer a larger screen and a completely new design, which was followed by the following models. Then from 2019, the Apple Watch Series 4 stopped being sold in favor of the following range, the Apple Watch Series 5, which will go “vintage” from next year.
At the same time, the 2019 15-inch MacBook Pro model was followed by a 16-inch model later that year. 5 years later, it’s considered “vintage” by Apple here, but if you own the device, rest assured: it remains fully eligible for the latest updates and therefore retains its brand-new status at Apple. However, it will be fully usable in 2024. Be careful, though: Like the Apple Watch Series 4, the 2019 15-inch MacBook Pro will stop being repairable in stores in two years, when Apple deems it obsolete.
