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Apple regularly updates its product lists to determine which devices can still be repaired and which are no longer supported. These lists are relevant to many users, especially if they still have older devices in use. Apple has now added several products to the "vintage" or even "obsolete" category. This includes Macs, iPads, one iPhone model, and accessories such as AirPort routers.
The 2013 Mac Pro, also known by the nickname "Trash Can," is now on Apple's vintage product list. In addition to the unusually designed Mac, other Apple products from recent years have also been added to these lists. This has consequences for repairs and the availability of spare parts. The changes affect both individuals and businesses that continue to use older Apple hardware.
The Trash-Can Mac Pro: An ambitious but failed concept
The 2013 Mac Pro was presented as a completely new beginning. Instead of a traditional chassis, Apple opted for a compact, cylindrical design. The idea was to create a powerful, space-saving device for professional users. In practice, however, the concept proved too inflexible. The lack of expandability, especially with GPUs, was a particular disadvantage. As graphics processors evolved rapidly, Apple was unable to adapt the thermal design to new requirements. The Mac Pro was sold until December 2019. Only then did the new "Cheese Grater" model, a revised device, come onto the market, which returned to a classic, modular design. This long sales window explains why the 2013 Mac Pro is only now considered vintage. Apple classifies a device as vintage five years after the last official sale. In this case, a full twelve years passed from its launch before it was officially included in this list.
What does “vintage” mean at Apple?
Products classified as vintage generally still receive support from Apple Stores and authorized service providers, but only if replacement parts are available. If parts are no longer available, repairs will no longer be performed. This status therefore indicates a limited, but not completely discontinued, support offering.
From vintage to outdated: No longer repairable
Apple automatically moves devices to the obsolete product list two years after they are classified as vintage. These devices are then officially considered no longer supportable. Neither Apple nor authorized service partners offer repairs, nor do they supply replacement parts. The following products have now been classified as obsolete:
- Second-generation AirPort Express
- AirPort Time Capsule with 2 TB
- AirPort Time Capsule with 3 TB
- AirPort Extreme 802.11ac
Apple can no longer repair these devices.
More Apple products now on the vintage list
In addition to the 2013 Mac Pro, Apple has added other well-known devices to the vintage category. These include:
- MacBook Air 13-inch (2019)
- iMac (2019)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2018)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch, third generation (2018)
The 128 GB iPhone 8 has also now been added to the vintage list. The 64 GB and 256 GB versions were already classified earlier this year. The delay for the 128 GB model is due to its longer shelf life.
Long-term repairs only in exceptional cases
For some MacBook models, you can still have your battery replaced for up to ten years after the end of sale – but only if spare parts are still available. This only applies to batteries; other components are excluded.
End of support: These Apple products are now history
With the new classification, Apple officially ends support for several well-known products. The 2013 Mac Pro, in particular, marks a technical chapter that is now considered a failure. This demonstrates that even at a company like Apple, not every design decision is sustainable in the long term. For users, the new list means that repairs are no longer possible in many cases—now, at the very latest, the time has come to consider replacing the device. (Image: Shutterstock / Niks Evalds)
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