A dozen Macs "vintage" or "obsolete"
Apple initially supports older Macs with spare parts, but after a certain point no longer supports them at all. Take a look at the most recent list of funerals.
MacBook Air 2015: One of the models that are now "obsolete".
(Image: Apple / Mac & i)
Apple has placed a whole series of once popular Mac models on its "Vintage" or "Obsolete" list. This is the result of an update that the company published in English last week. This affects a dozen devices with Intel chips – which are currently still supported by macOS.
What "obsolete" and "vintage" mean
The models now declared "obsolete" are from 2015 and 2016, nine machines in total. Three machines from 2017 and 2018 are "vintage." "Obsolete" means that there is virtually no chance of repair by Apple itself or its official repair partners (Apple Authorized Service Provider, ASP).
"Vintage", on the other hand, means that there may at least be certain repair options if Apple still has spare parts. The company normally keeps batteries in stock for up to a decade after discontinuing sales, but there is no obligation to do so. In certain countries, such as France, longer repair times apply due to local laws.
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List of affected Macs
"Vintage" are now MacBook Pro 13-inch from 2017 and 2018 with two and four TB3 ports (USB-C) respectively, as well as the MacBook Air Retina 13-inch from 2018. "Obsolete" are three iMacs from late 2015 (21.5-inch, Retina 4K, Retina 5K), the 12-inch MacBook from early 2016, the 13-inch MacBook Air from early 2015 and a total of four MacBook Pro models from 2015 (13-inch Retina, beginning of the year) and 2016 (13-inch with two and four TB3 USB-C ports, 15-inch).
"Owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Vision Pro and Beats products can get service and parts from Apple service providers for at least five years from the date the product was last offered for sale by Apple," Apple writes. Up to seven years applies if sufficient spare parts are still available. Those affected should always contact Apple Service first to find out whether help is still available – and ask for a cost estimate. If Apple can no longer help, a visit to an independent workshop will help, provided they can still find spare parts. They may also carry out repairs directly on the motherboard, which Apple does not usually offer.
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