Every couple of months,
Apple
updates its list of obsolete and vintage products. According to a report by Macrumors, the original
iPad Air
has now joined the list of obsolete products.
The
iPad
Air was first launched in 2013 and had a 9.7-inch display. The A7 chip powered the tablet and was then pitched as the thinnest and lightest iPad around.
The iPad Air isn’t the only product to have become obsolete as the Thunderbolt Display is also part of the list now.
The Thunderbolt Display was first launched in 2011 and had a 27-inch screen featuring 1440p resolution, a thunderbolt port, three USB ports, among other features.
What are obsolete Apple products?
The word obsolete may sound a bit definitive in nature, Apple explains that “Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago.” In other words, you don’t get any updates and in addition to that Apple will not repair or service them at all. In fact, even service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products. So any product that has been launched around 2013 or 2014 is likely to be — or will get sooner than later — on the obsolete products. Like the iPad Air in this case.
Apple has also added the fifth-generation iPad as a ‘vintage’ product.
What are vintage Apple products?
A vintage Apple product is one that doesn’t get regular software products. A standout feature about the iPhone, iPad or Mac is that it continues to get software updates for a minimum of five years. But a vintage product doesn’t stand to get any updates and Apple also doesn’t promise repairs or service to these products. On its support page, Apple explains, “Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago.” This doesn’t mean that the device will stop working but it’s just that the shelf life is further refused when a user doesn’t get regular updates.
