Four days before Apple is expected to unveil a new Apple TV 4K, the company is retiring the first model in the series. The 2017 Apple TV 4K has been on Apple's vintage product list since October 9th. Repairs are now only available as long as parts are still in stock.
Apple has added the first-generation Apple TV 4K to its list of vintage and obsolete products. The English version of the document is dated October 9, 2026, and lists the device as "vintage worldwide," so the classification also applies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The German version of the list, on the other hand, is still dated September 15 and does not yet include the model. Just in September, the 2019 iMac with Retina 4K display, another device from the same sales period, was added to the list.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The Apple TV 4K (1st generation) from 2017 has been considered vintage worldwide since October 9th.
- Repairs and spare parts are only available while supplies last.
- The device is expected to be discontinued in spring 2028, at which point hardware service will end completely.
- The model was no longer included in tvOS 27 in September.
What vintage means to owners
Apple classifies a product as vintage if it has not been sold for more than five and less than seven years. During this time, Apple and authorized service providers continue to offer repairs, but only as long as the necessary parts are available. There is no longer a guarantee of parts availability.
After more than seven years, a product is considered discontinued. Apple then ceases hardware service, and service partners can no longer order parts. None of the special rules that Apple applies to batteries in Mac laptops, for example, apply to the Apple TV.
The timetable in numbers
Apple discontinued the first-generation Apple TV 4K in spring 2021 when the second generation was introduced. This results in the following timeline:
| Step | Time |
|---|---|
| Market launch | 2017 |
| End of sale | April 2021 |
| Five years without a sale | April 2026 |
| Inclusion in the vintage list | October 9, 2026 |
| Seven years without a sale | April 2028 |
Between the end of the five-year period on April 20th and the inclusion in the list, 172 days passed. For the 2019 iMac, which was discontinued on the same date, it was 148 days – the classification therefore does not occur on the cut-off date.
No more tvOS 27
Regardless of its service status, the device had already stopped receiving software updates. When Apple released tvOS 27 on September 14th, the first-generation Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV HD were no longer supported. Both remain on tvOS 26 and will not receive any new features. The second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K are supported.
Apple TV itself shows which model you have in your living room: The model is listed under "Settings" > "General" > "About". According to Apple, the first-generation Apple TV 4K has the model number A1842, and the second-generation A2169. The number is also printed on the bottom of the device and on the packaging.
The successor is already on the doorstep
The timing fits: Apple has scheduled its own event under the motto "Welcome home" for October 13, at which, according to Bloomberg, a new Apple TV 4K is also set to be unveiled. Apple's code already shows a product image labeled "Apple TV 4K (4th generation)." Alongside the Apple TV, a smart home hub and a new HomePod mini are among the new products Apple is expected to show in October 2026.
Anyone still using a 2017 Apple TV 4K won't lose anything in everyday use due to its vintage classification. The device will continue to work, and apps and streaming services will function as before. However, I would still recommend waiting until after October 13th before buying a new one: the older model won't receive any new features, and the expected successor is likely to further widen the gap between it and current hardware.
Are you still using a first-generation Apple TV 4K, and is it sufficient for your everyday needs – or are you waiting for the new model anyway? Tell us in the comments how long you've been using your Apple TV.
