iPods: Even the last nanos and shuffles are "obsolete"
Apple's MP3 players have not been on the market for a long time. Now the last official repair support for nano and shuffle is ending.
Second generation iPod nano: Released in 2006.
(Image: Apple)
Apple officially withdrew its iPod nano and iPod shuffle from the market back in 2017. Now the company's last two genuine MP3 players are also officially "obsolete", meaning they are no longer even being repaired voluntarily and for a fee by the manufacturer and its service centers. This is clear from the list of officially discontinued models updated by Apple last week.
iPod touch still partially repairable
This means that almost all iPod models are now "obsolete", with the exception of three models: iPod touch 4G, 6G and 7G. While the 4G and 6G are now "vintage", i.e. with luck they will still have spare parts, the 7G is officially still being repaired (for a fee). The 5G, on the other hand, has already been dropped from overall support –, but it initially remained unclear why the 4G was not.
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Apple took a step-by-step approach to the end of iPod support. First came the iPod nano and iPod shuffle models seven years ago, which were primarily used for music playback (plus some special functions on the nano). The end of the iPod touch, which was actually an iPhone that had been stripped of the mobile phone part, came in spring 2022. Apple apparently no longer had any commercial interest in the device, which had only been maintained sporadically for a long time.
What "obsolete" actually means
"Obsolete" in Apple-speak means that there is virtually no chance of repair at Apple itself or its official repair partners (Apple Authorized Service Provider, ASP), as there are no longer any spare parts in stock. So if you want to have your shuffle or nano repaired, you need an independent workshop with access to (used) spare parts. "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 sales have ceased, but there is no obligation to do so, especially for accessories such as iPods.
Nevertheless, in certain countries such as France, longer repair times apply due to local laws. Devices usually become "vintage" five to seven years after they are no longer sold, and then "obsolete" after more than seven years. However, there are always exceptions. However, the iPod has long since been replaced by the iPhone, which Apple announced back in 2007 as a combination of telephone, multimedia iPod and Internet communicator.
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