Apple has quietly updated its official list of vintage and obsolete products, and several familiar devices have now crossed over into the category where Apple support essentially ends. The most noticeable additions are the original iPhone SE, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (second generation), and select Apple Watch models.
If you own any of these devices, there are a few important things to know about what “obsolete” actually means in Apple’s world.
Five Devices Just Became Obsolete
As spotted by Aaron Perris on X, Apple has added five products to its obsolete list:
- iPhone SE (first generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (second generation)
- Apple Watch Series 4 Hermes models
- Apple Watch Series 4 Nike models
- Beats Pill 2.0
The regular Apple Watch Series 4 is still only listed as vintage for now, which means it will be two more years before it moves into obsolete territory. The Hermes and Nike editions were discontinued earlier, so they reached the seven-year cutoff faster.
What Obsolete Actually Means at Apple
Apple’s definition here is pretty strict. According to the company:
“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.”
Once a device enters the obsolete list, Apple stops offering hardware repairs of any kind. Service providers also lose access to replacement parts, so your repair options shrink to almost zero. There is one exception: certain Mac laptops may still qualify for battery replacements for up to ten years after the product was last sold, but even that is only possible if parts are still available.
This policy is why you sometimes see only specific variants of a product become obsolete earlier than others. It all depends on when that exact model stopped being sold, not when it launched. The Apple Watch Series 4 is a perfect example. The standard version stayed on store shelves longer, so it will not be considered obsolete for a little while yet. The Nike and Hermes versions were discontinued earlier and have now crossed the threshold.
Something similar happened recently with older AirPort units, so this is not unusual.
Why This Matters for Current Owners
Obsolete does not mean your device stops working. It simply means Apple will no longer service it, and authorized repair shops cannot access official parts. That usually becomes a problem if you need a screen replacement, a battery swap or a logic board repair.
If you are trying to future-proof your gear, it is worth keeping an eye on Apple’s vintage products list. A device stays in that category for five years after Apple stops selling it. Once it hits the seven-year mark, it transitions to obsolete status automatically. Everything on the vintage list today will be obsolete within two years or less.
Should You Be Concerned?
Not necessarily. Millions of older iPhones, iPads and Watches continue working long after they fall off Apple’s service radar. But if you depend on one of these devices every day, it is smart to know when repair options are going away so you can plan your next upgrade.
If you want to check whether one of your devices is approaching the cutoff, you can browse Apple’s full list of vintage and obsolete products on its support site.
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