Apple on Tuesday added the original iPhone SE to its vintage and obsolete products list. The first version of the iPhone SE hit shelves in March 2016, making it seven years since it first launched.
The original iPhone SE was sold until September 2018, so it has been five years since it was last available for sale, making it eligible for Apple’s vintage designation.
Vintage products are no longer guaranteed to be eligible for repairs at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers, with service subject to parts availability. Obsolete products are no longer eligible for repairs or service at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers.
Apple also designated the second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro as vintage, as well as the special edition Mickey Solo3 Wireless headphones. The Powerbeats 2 and Solo2 Wireless headphones are now considered obsolete.
What’s Vintage, and What’s Obsolete?
Apple’s website explains the difference:
Vintage products are those that have not been manufactured for more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. Apple has discontinued hardware service for vintage products with the following exceptions:
- Mac products purchased in the country of Turkey. Owners of vintage Mac products may obtain service and parts from Apple service providers within the country of Turkey.
- Products purchased in the state of California, United States, as required by statute
- Owners of vintage Mac products may obtain service and parts from Apple service providers within the state of California, United States.
- Owners of vintage iPod products in the state of California may obtain service from Apple Retail Stores or by contacting AppleCare at 1-800-APL-CARE.
- Owners of vintage iPhone products in the state of California may obtain service from Apple Retail Stores or by contacting AppleCare at 1-800-APL-CARE.
For products purchased in France, see Statutory Warranties of Seller and Spare Parts.
Obsolete products are those that were discontinued more than 7 years ago. Monster-branded Beats products are considered obsolete regardless of when they were purchased. Apple has discontinued all hardware service for obsolete products with no exceptions. Service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products. All Apple Retail Stores and the Canadian, European, Latin American, and Asia-Pacific operating regions follow the U.S. product list, but make no distinction between vintage and obsolete. When applied to Apple Retail Stores and these operating regions, products on the U.S. vintage list (all models) are considered obsolete.
The full list of vintage and obsolete products can be found on Apple’s website.
