Tech News

Apple Moves Trash Can Mac Pro, Several iPads, and AirPorts to Vintage and Obsolete List

Highlights

Apple has added the 2013 cylindrical Mac Pro to its vintage list, citing its discontinued status and thermal design limitations.
Devices like the 2018 iPad Pro models, 2019 MacBook Air and iMac, and the 128GB iPhone 8 are now considered vintage.
AirPort Extreme 802.11ac, AirPort Express (2nd Gen), and Time Capsules (2TB/3TB) are now obsolete.

Apple has just updated its list of vintage and obsolete products once again. The company is now adding a bunch of older devices including the 2013 Mac Pro, some 2019 Macs, 2018 iPads, and multiple AirPort models. One of the most notable updates is that several AirPort products are now officially labeled as “obsolete.”

What Vintage and Obsolete Mean at Apple?

When Apple stops selling a product, it doesn’t immediately drop support for it. Instead, it follows a timeline –

After 5 years, the product is considered vintage. Apple may still offer repairs, but only if the needed parts are available.
After 7 years, the product becomes obsolete. At this point, Apple no longer provides any service or parts for it.

Devices Recently Added to the List

Vintage –

iPhone 8 (128GB)
2019 13-inch MacBook Air
2019 iMac
2018 11-inch iPad Pro
2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro
2013 Mac Pro (the cylindrical “trash can” model)

2013 Mac Pro (the cylindrical “trash can” model). (Image credit – Apple)

Obsolete –

AirPort Extreme 802.11ac
AirPort Express (2nd Gen)
AirPort Time Capsule (2TB)
AirPort Time Capsule (3TB)

The 2013 Mac Pro, often called the “trash can” Mac, was discontinued in December 2019 when Apple released the redesigned “cheese grater” version. It gained attention not only for its unusual design but also for Apple exec Phil Schiller’s now-infamous comment, “Can’t innovate anymore, my ass.” The bold design, however, didn’t pan out.

The small cylindrical form factor left no room for upgrading key components like GPUs. As GPUs grew in power and size, the Mac Pro couldn’t keep up. By 2017, Apple admitted it had boxed itself into a corner. Hardware chief Craig Federighi put it bluntly, “I think we designed ourselves into a bit of a thermal corner.”

The update is also significant for the AirPort lineup. With several models now obsolete, only the AirPort Express 802.11n (1st generation) remains on the vintage list, making it the only AirPort device that might still be serviceable, if parts are available.

FAQs

Q1. What does Apple mean by “vintage” and “obsolete” products?

Answer. After 5 years, the product is considered vintage, Apple may still offer repairs, but only if the needed parts are available. After 7 years, the product becomes obsolete, and Apple no longer provides any service or parts for it.

Q2. Which devices were recently added to Apple’s vintage list?

Answer. Apple added the iPhone 8 (128GB), 2019 13-inch MacBook Air, 2019 iMac, 2018 11-inch iPad Pro, 2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and the 2013 Mac Pro (the cylindrical “trash can” model).