TECH NEWS – Apple has once again refreshed its list of discontinued products, and this time several widely used iPhones, an iPad, and an Apple Watch have officially reached the end of their supported lifespan. For many users, this marks the complete shutdown of repair options.

Each year, Apple updates its internal catalogue of discontinued products, signalling to users that certain devices are approaching the end of their functional lifespan. This time, two iconic iPhone models, a beloved version of the iPad, and a well-known Apple Watch are being retired. The list includes four emblematic Apple devices: the iPhone XS Max, the iPhone 6s Plus, the iPad Air 2, and the Apple Watch Series 2.

Apple uses the “vintage” label for products discontinued more than five years ago but less than seven. These devices may still be repaired as long as spare parts are available through official channels. The “obsolete” category, however, applies to devices whose discontinuation exceeds seven years – from that point on, Apple no longer provides repairs, and authorized service providers can no longer order new components.

Why These Devices Are Being Retired

The iPhone XS Max, one of Apple’s flagship handsets of the last decade, launched in 2018 and is only weeks away from officially becoming obsolete. The same fate awaits the 32 GB iPhone 6s Plus – a long-time bestseller still used by many for everyday tasks, despite its age. Once the cutoff arrives, official support will cease entirely.

The iPad Air 2 and Apple Watch Series 2 sit on the other end of the timeline: the former, famous for introducing Touch ID to the lineup in 2014, now crosses into “obsolete” territory and loses access to official repairs. The Series 2 watch – a milestone model that added GPS and water-resistance features for swim tracking – has also been reclassified as obsolete, leaving owners dependent on third-party repair shops.

In practice, this means a “vintage” device can still receive a genuine replacement battery, whereas an “obsolete” one forces users to rely on refurbished or aftermarket parts. Losing repair support marks the true end of an Apple product’s lifecycle, independent of operating system updates. Few companies match Apple’s commitment to maintaining devices for up to seven years, even if the end eventually comes for every model.

Source: 3djuegos