Check Apple’s latest obsolete devices list: MacBooks and iPhones affected

New Delhi: Apple has quietly moved a few of its older devices to the "obsolete” and "vintage” categories on its support website. This time, it includes some well-loved MacBook models and an iPhone that many people might still have lying around at home. If you’ve been holding on to an old MacBook Air or an iPhone 8 Plus, it might finally be time to check what Apple’s latest update means for you.

According to Apple, once a product is more than seven years past its last date of sale, it becomes "obsolete.” That means Apple Stores and authorised service providers generally stop offering repairs, except for some limited services like battery replacement if parts are still around. For products that are five to seven years old, Apple marks them as "vintage,” which means they can still be serviced in most cases, but only until they eventually move into the obsolete bracket.

The company has added three MacBooks to the obsolete list:

The most striking one here is the 11-inch MacBook Air. It was Apple’s smallest laptop and had a loyal fan following. The model was discontinued in October 2016, right after the company launched the first MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar. But since it only just entered the obsolete category now, it suggests that Apple or resellers kept selling it until around 2018.

As of now, the smallest MacBook you can buy is the 13.6-inch MacBook Air. Apple is rumoured to be working on a 12.9-inch MacBook powered by the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro chip, but nothing is official yet.

Apple has also shifted the iPhone 8 Plus (64GB and 256GB storage models) into the "vintage” category. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus were launched alongside the iPhone X in September 2017. Being labelled as vintage means these devices are more than five years old, and repairs are still possible in Apple Stores or through authorised providers, but only if the necessary parts are available. In two years, these models will move into the obsolete list as well.

For many people, the 11-inch MacBook Air was the perfect travel laptop. It was compact, light, and did the basics well. I remember using one on flights where tray tables were tiny; it actually fit better than most other laptops of its time. Seeing it on the obsolete list feels like the end of a very specific era of Apple design.

On the iPhone side, the 8 Plus was one of the last models with the traditional home button before Apple fully shifted to Face ID. It still runs decently for everyday tasks, and some people keep it as a backup phone. But support and repairs will slowly fade away, which usually means higher costs and fewer options if something goes wrong.

Apple’s device cycle is a reminder that even premium products have an expiry date in terms of official support. For MacBook owners, this means looking at newer Air or Pro models, all of which start at 13 inches or bigger. For iPhone 8 Plus users, the writing is on the wall: while it may keep running, repair and service options will be limited.