Apple on Tuesday added two devices to its vintage products list, the 2018 Mac mini and the iPhone 6s. Both devices will now receive more limited service and repair support, due to now being considered vintage.
The iPhone 6s launched in 2015, but enjoyed a 3 year shelf life, thanks to Apple offering it as a low-cost handset until 2018. The iPhone 6s was powered by Apple’s A9 chip, and it boasted a strengthened aluminum chassis to avoid the iPhone 6 “bendgate” design issues. It was the first iPhone to be equipped with 3D Touch, and the last top-end iPhone to have a headphone jack.
The 2018 Mac mini was the last Mac mini that was powered by Intel chips. The 2018 mini used Intel’s “Coffee Lake” chipset with 4-core and 6-core options, with Intel UHD Graphics 630.
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.
(First noticed by MacRumors)
