Apple Declares iPhone XS Vintage, iPad 5 Now Officially Obsolete
Apple officially put a popular iPhone model from 2018 on its vintage list. An iPad also becomes “obsolete”. Accordingly, the devices only receive limited or no support from the manufacturer.
Restricted support for popular iPhone
At regular intervals, Apple puts older products on its lists with only partially or no longer supported devices. In January it hit the Apple Watch Series 4 and the 15-inch MacBook Pro from 2019. Finally, repair support for the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 was also restricted. Now it hits another smartphone from Cupertino. So it has iPhone XS Now also officially the status “vintage”.
Apple refers to a device as “vintage” if five years have passed since the sale of the sale by official channels. The iPhone XS was removed from the Apple range a year after launch, but remained available from third-party providers even longer. Therefore, it only now reaches the decisive five-year mark.
No more repair guarantee
With the admission to the Vintage list repairs can still be carried out by Apple stores and authorized service partners, but only as long as spare parts are in stock. So there is no longer a repair guarantee. For owners of the smartphone presented in 2018, this means a double setback.
Because in addition to the fact that the phone will only receive limited hardware support, it will no longer get a software update on the iOS 26 recently presented by Apple 2025. In addition to the iPhone XS, the iPhone XR and iPhone XS Max will no longer be compatible with the upcoming operating system in the “Liquid Glass” design. The devices must remain at iOS 18, while newer models from the iPhone 11 will receive the update that will be introduced in autumn together with the new iPhone-17 models.
iPad completely without support
In another two years, the iPhone XS will be classified as “obsolete”, which means that Apple will no longer offer hardware support. Apple sets any hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers can no longer order spare parts.
This level now has that iPad 5 reached. Apple has moved it from the vintage list to the obsolet list, which means that this model is no longer available for official Apple support.
Options for action for owners
Owners of an iPhone XS do not have to act immediately. Your devices will continue to work and IOS 18 will keep the last big update. Security updates are also expected to be provided for a while. Apple supported the iPhone 6s three years after the last major iOS update with security patches. However, there will no longer be any new functions, and long -term important security improvements will be absent. In damage, it could be more difficult or more expensive to have the smartphone repaired because spare parts are becoming scarcer.
The price on the used market usually also drops as soon as Apple sets support. The iPhone XS was one of the most expensive smartphones on the market when it was introduced with prices from 1149 euros and was considered a flagship with innovative features such as Face ID and the borderless display. After almost seven years, it now reaches the end of its official life cycle.
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