If you’ve been holding on to an older iPhone, iPad, Mac laptop, or even an Apple Watch and Apple TV device to avoid shelling out big bucks for the latest version, your time might have just run out.
Apple has just announced that millions of its products will be categorized as “obsolete.”
What Does Apple Mean by ‘Obsolete’?
When an Apple product becomes obsolete, that means the giant tech company will no longer support repairs or send iOS security updates to those devices.
This, of course, makes your Apple products vulnerable to malware, because if your product does not have the latest security update — which are being sent to iPhones at a seemingly constant clip — then customers can’t protect themselves from falling prey to cyber scammers digging for security gaps.
When you fall prey, these scammers can access your iPhone and potentially siphon money out of your bank account and have access to other accounts.
Related: New Study Shows the Average iPhone Is Older Than You May Think
According to Apple, “products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago. Monster-branded Beats products are considered obsolete regardless of when they were purchased.”
Apple also “discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products. Mac laptops may be eligible for an extended battery-only repair period for up to 10 years from when the product was last distributed for sale, subject to parts availability.”
Is Your iPhone On the List?
Apple considers the following iPhones obsolete:
- iPhone
- iPhone 3G (China mainland) 8GB
- iPhone 3G 8GB, 16GB
- iPhone 3GS (China mainland) 16GB, 32GB
- iPhone 3GS (8GB)
- iPhone 3GS 16GB, 32GB
- iPhone 4 CDMA
- iPhone 4 CDMA (8GB)
- iPhone 4 16GB, 32GB
- iPhone 4 GSM (8GB), Black
- iPhone 4S
- iPhone 4S (8GB)
- iPhone 5C
- iPhone 5S
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 6s (32GB)
- iPhone 6s Plus (32GB)
- iPhone SE
Similarly, Apple also has a list of products it considers “vintage,” which means they can still receive updates, and that parts for repairs are generally available but hard to track down.
Related: Apple Has Made A Big Move for Your Phone’s Wallet
Apple considers these iPhones vintage:
- iPhone 4 (8GB)
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 6s (16GB, 64GB, 128GB)
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 7 (PRODUCT)RED™
- iPhone 8 (64GB, 128GB, 256GB)
- iPhone 8 (PRODUCT)RED™
- iPhone 8 Plus (64GB, 256GB)
- iPhone 8 Plus (PRODUCT)RED™
- iPhone X
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
Mac Laptops and Desktops Also Listed
Apple’s list of obsolete Mac laptops and desktops is shockingly extensive. The list also includes external products for Mac laptops and desktops, including Apple’s wireless keyboards, base stations, studio displays, geoports, and more.
Apple considers the following iPads obsolete
iPad Air Wi-Fi
iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular (TD LTE)
iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi
iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad mini Wi-Fi, 16GB, Gray
iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular, 16GB, Gray
iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular, MM, 16GB, Gray
iPad mini Wi-Fi
iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular (MM)
iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi
iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi + 4G, GSM + CDMA
iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi
iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular (TD-LTE)
iPad [original]
iPad 3G
iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi
iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular (VZ)
iPad (4th generation) Wi-Fi
iPad (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular (MM)
iPad (5th generation) Wi-Fi
iPad (5th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad Wi-Fi
iPad Wi-Fi + 3G
iPad Wi-Fi + 4G
iPad Wi-Fi + 4G (Verizon)
iPad 2 Wi-Fi
iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G
iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G (Verizon)
iPad Pro 9.7-inch Wi-Fi
iPad Pro 9.7-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi
iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular
Apple Considers These Watches Obsolete
- Apple Watch (1st generation), 38mm
- Apple Watch (1st generation), 42mm
- Apple Watch Edition (1st generation), 38mm
- Apple Watch Edition (1st generation), 42mm
- Apple Watch Hermes (1st generation), 38mm
- Apple Watch Hermes (1st generation), 42mm
- Apple Watch Series 1, Aluminum (2nd generation), 38mm
- Apple Watch Series 1, Aluminum (2nd generation), 42mm
- Apple Watch Series 2, Aluminum (2nd generation), 38mm
- Apple Watch Series 2, Aluminum (2nd generation), 42mm
- Apple Watch Series 2, Stainless Steel (2nd generation), 38mm
- Apple Watch Series 2, Stainless Steel (2nd generation), 42mm
- Apple Watch Series 4, Hermes (4th generation), 40MM
- Apple Watch Series 4, Hermes (4th generation), 44MM
- Apple Watch Series 4, Nike (4th generation), 40MM
- Apple Watch Series 4, Nike (4th generation), 44MM
- Apple Watch Sport (1st generation), 38mm
- Apple Watch Sport (1st generation), 42mm
- Apple Watch Stainless Steel (1st generation), 38mm
- Apple Watch Stainless Steel (1st generation), 42mm
