Apple recently added two more iPhone models to its list of vintage products, including the iPhone 8, which was the last traditional flagship model.
Apple classifies a product as “vintage” if it has not been available for sale for more than five years. At this point, service is provided on a “best effort” basis, depending on the availability of parts. Once a product has been off the market for seven years, it is considered “obsolete,” and Apple support and service providers will no longer offer any assistance. These timelines may vary in certain countries to comply with local regulations that mandate longer support periods.
Due to the numerous iPhone models released in various sizes, colors, and capacities over the years, there are instances where not all models of a particular iPhone generation become vintage simultaneously. Apple’s iOS update history can also lead to interesting situations like the iPhone XS Max being declared vintage in November, even though it can still run iOS 18. Whether it will receive iOS 19 remains uncertain, especially since the iPhone XS has yet to reach the vintage status.
Surprisingly, the iPhone 8 has outlasted the iPhone X, which was released in the same year. The iPhone X was discontinued in September 2018 when it was succeeded by the iPhone XS. On the other hand, the iPhone 8 remained on sale until April 2020, when it was succeeded by the iPhone SE.
Apple has a pattern of keeping older models available for a few years after launching new ones to cater to budget-conscious consumers. This trend was evident with the iPhone 8 and iPhone XR, similar to how the iPhone 14 was available until the recent introduction of the iPhone 16e.
Apple’s vintage criteria apply not only to direct sales but also to distribution through stores or carriers in any country. This explains why only certain models of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are now listed as vintage, as some variants were still being sold after April 2020.
For instance, the (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 8 Plus is considered vintage as it was a limited edition model exclusively sold by Apple. Similarly, the 128 GB iPhone 8 is not vintage yet because it was still available for sale somewhere in the world after April 2020.
Apple also added the 2016 iPhone 7 Plus to the vintage list, while the iPhone 7 has not been categorized as vintage or obsolete, possibly due to recent sales in emerging markets.
Comparing the vintage and obsolete lists reveals an interesting trend. The entire iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus families are now obsolete, indicating they have not been sold new for more than seven years. In contrast, the iPhone 5 from 2012 and even the 8 GB version of the 2011 iPhone 4s are considered vintage, suggesting that Apple continued distributing these models for sale after 2018.
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