Today Apple updated its list of vintage and obsolete products, and the latest additions include the end of an era for the Intel Mac mini.
iPhone 6s and the last Mac mini with Intel are now ‘vintage’
Apple periodically adds devices to its ever-growing list of vintage and obsolete products.
That happened today, as spotted by MacRumors, with two noteworthy “vintage” additions:
- iPhone 6s
- Mac mini (2018)
The latter product is especially significant, because the 2018 Mac mini was the last remaining Intel model that was not yet labeled either vintage or obsolete.
Apple applies these designations based on the amount of time that’s passed since a product was last available for sale.
So what are those timelines exactly?
Per Apple’s definitions:
- Vintage: “Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago.”
- Obsolete: “Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago.”
Availability of service and parts is tied to vintage and obsolete status
Even though the iPhone 6s launched back in 2015, it’s joining the list at the same time as the 2018 Mac mini because Apple continued selling that iPhone much longer than its final Intel Mac mini.
Since these products are now considered vintage, Apple no longer guarantees that parts for repairs will be readily available.
For the first 5 years from a product’s last distribution, Apple does promise to make service and parts available. But now that these devices are considered vintage, you may or may not be able to get support.
After the 7 year “obsolete” threshold kicks in, Apple will officially no longer offer service or parts.
Currently out of Intel Mac minis, the 2018 and 2014 models are vintage, while all older models are obsolete.
Are you still hanging on to an Intel Mac mini? Let us know in the comments.
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