Apple recently updated its list of obsolete devices, marking the end of official support for several flagship products, including the iconic iPhone 5s. This decision is part of a common practice of the company, whose objective is to keep its product catalog updated and ensure constant innovation.
However, for many users, this means the end of a technological era, since the products that enter this list will begin to be relegated and may present errors or run security risks. That is why it is important to be aware of these types of updates to know if any of our devices are in this group.
To understand the impact of this decision, it is crucial to understand what it means for a device to be declared obsolete by Apple. The company considers a product obsolete when more than 7 years have passed since its last sale on an official channel. As of this moment, the company stops distributing parts for repair, marking the end of any official hardware and software support.
In addition, there is an important intermediate date: when 5 years have passed since the last sale of a device, Apple may stop offering official services and repairs, although it is not marking it as obsolete yet.
According to the support page, “service and parts can be obtained for longer, as required by law, or for up to 7 years, subject to parts availability. Besides, Mac laptops may be eligible for an extended battery-only repair period for up to 10 years from the last time the product was distributed for salesubject to parts availability.”
The iPhone 5s is perhaps the most notable device in this obsolete list update. Launched in 2013, this model was revolutionary in many ways. It was the first iPhone to incorporate a 64-bit processor, the Apple A7, which marked a milestone in the company’s history. It was also the first to include Touch ID, the fingerprint sensor that quickly became an industry security standard.
The iPhone 5s is remembered for its elegant dual-tone gold and white design, which attracted many users. Although it was very popular at the time, It is likely that there are very few active devices left today.
The iPhone 5s is not the only device on this obsolete list update. Apple has also included the 6th generation iPod Touch and the 21.5-inch iMac with Retina 4K display from late 2015. These products meet the age criteria and will no longer have official support from the brand.
The 6th generation iPod Touch, released in 2015, was one of Apple’s last attempts to keep the iPod line alive, a device that revolutionized the music industry. However, with the rise of smartphones and streaming services, its popularity decreased significantly.
On the other hand, the 21.5-inch iMac with Retina 4K display, also launched in 2015, was a benchmark in terms of screen quality and performance for professional and creative users. Despite its power and design, the constant evolution of computers has left this model behind.
For owners of these devices, the declaration of obsolescence means that they will no longer be able to request official repairs in the Apple Store or certified stores. The distribution of parts has ceased, and the only option will be to turn to the second-hand market to obtain components.
The decision to declare these devices obsolete is not arbitrary. Apple follows a policy of planned obsolescence to ensure that its product catalog remains modern and competitive. This allows them to focus their resources on developing and supporting more advanced technologies, rather than maintaining older products.
At the moment, Apple has more than 230 obsolete devices and products, including Mac, iPod, iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Beats. All of these are no longer for sale and no more spare parts will be manufactured, as well as software updates.
To see the list in detail you must go to support.apple.com/en-us/102772. In this link you can see each type of device in detail and see all the obsolete models, which are mostly products that went on sale more than 10 years ago or more.
