If you are a proud owner of a classic Apple computer or a smartphone, this news is particularly for you. Starting Friday, June 30, series of Apple MacBook models, iPhones and Airport Express will be labeled vintage or obsolete. Do note that this isn't a label that will fetch you millions in an auction like the Apple-1 computer.
To clear the air, Apple's products turning obsolete will no longer receive repair support at Apple Retail Stores and Authorised Service Providers. In simple words, if you still have a working MacBook Air, Pro or an iPhone, which was discontinued 5-7 years ago then take good care of it or you're on your own.
Apple turns some of its own devices obsolete after a certain period of time because it cannot find the repairs. Although you can opt for unofficial channels, the Apple-authorized routes will be permanently shut for such products.
On June 30, these are the Apple products will have the final nail in their coffin:
- 11-inch MacBook Air (mid-2011)
- 13-inch MacBook Air (mid-2011)
- 15-inch MacBook Pro (late-2011)
- 17-inch MacBook Pro (mid-2009 and late-2011)
- 1st generation 802.11n AirPort Express
And finally, the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3GS will be moved to obsolete dump-yard – 8 years after its release in 2009 as the third-gen iPhone. (Those were the days!)
But there's an exception to this rule. In some countries, Apple is entitled to support the products that are obsolete elsewhere, albeit in limited extension. For instance, some of the products mentioned above will be labeled vintage instead of obsolete in Turkey and California, where the products will receive limited support for two more years.
Apple doesn't notify its customers about the vintage or obsolete status of their products, but a publicly available document will give all the information on which devices are no longer supported by Apple.
