Apple has now officially called the iPhone 7 Plus and the iPhone 8, as well as two more types, vintage. Not long ago, these phones were some of the most popular iPhones around. Currently, Apple is confirming that they are considered vintage since they have been released for more than five years. As a result, there will be only a limited number of repairs these devices can receive.
The iPhone 7 Plus was released in 2016. For the first time, the iPhone came with two cameras in its rear design. It also introduced a home button that did not physically move and came in a shiny jet black color. The iPhone 8 followed a year later in 2017 and brought wireless charging for the first time to an iPhone.
What does ‘vintage’ mean at Apple
Apple uses the word vintage for products that it stopped selling more than five years ago but less than seven years ago. When a product reaches this stage, Apple will try to repair it if parts are still available. Once a product is older than seven years, Apple calls it obsolete, and repairs are no longer offered.
This change was officially made on May 21, according to Apple. From now on, people using these iPhones might face problems if their phones stop working. Getting them fixed might take longer, cost more, or may not be possible at all.
Many users remember the iPhone 7’s biggest issue
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were known for a major problem called “Loop disease.” This issue affected the audio chip inside the phone. For many users, it caused the microphone to stop working. This meant the phone could not make calls properly.
So many people reported this problem that a class-action lawsuit was filed. The case ended in January 2024. Apple agreed to pay between $49 and $350 to affected users. However, only people who used the phone between September 2016 and January 2023 were included in the settlement.
People who bought the iPhone 7 later are not part of this deal. That means they will now have to handle repair costs themselves. Since the iPhone 7 Plus is now vintage, it may not be easy to find parts or service anymore.
iPhone 8 still has one model under support
Apple has now included two models of the iPhone 8 as part of its vintage list. There are 64GB and 256GB models in this device. There is no mention of the 128GB iPad yet. This is the case because it was offered for sale for a longer span. The iPhone 8 came with a glass back and was launched with the iPhone X. At that time, the phone was a cheaper choice for people looking for a traditional home button.
Although the iPhone 8 had a good reputation for many, being added to Apple’s Vintage list makes it complicated to solve problems with the device. Apple says it will still try to help users as long as parts are available, but nothing is guaranteed.
Older iPads reach the end of the road
In addition to the iPhone going obsolete, Apple has marked the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 2 as obsolete as well. They were introduced more than ten years ago. Because of this, Apple and its service partners won’t be able to fix or support them anymore. No surprise here, since these gadgets can’t work with the newer programs and apps.
Users may want to start thinking about upgrades
Now that Apple is declaring older products vintage or obsolete, users will see their phones and tablets working differently. As time goes on, the software on your phone might become unusable, fixing problems could be more difficult, and you won’t get automatic updates.
If you have an iPhone 7 Plus or iPhone 8, now might be the time to get a better option. Currently available iPhones are quicker, secure, and feature advanced camera and battery features. A phone upgrade could help regular users save time and cash in time to come.
The move by Apple shows how fast technology moves forward. Devices that once felt new and powerful are now reaching the end of their journey. But for many users, these iPhones will always hold special memories.
