Apple has officially classified the 2012 fourth-generation iPad as an obsolete product as of November 1. That means the device is no longer eligible for hardware service. Apple has added the fourth-gen iPad, as well as the late 2012 model Mac mini to its vintage and obsolete products list.
The fourth-generation iPad was the first to do away with the classic 30-pin connector, adopting the Lightning connector that had debuted the same year on the iPhone 5. The fourth-generation iPad was powered by Apple’s A6X chip, which provided up to twice the CPU performance and up to twice the graphics performance of the A5X chip in the third-generation iPad.
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.
