Apple officially designated some classic products “vintage” Monday, as it put iPhone X plus original AirPods and HomePod on the “vintage” list. That’s a classification that the iPhone giant includes prior to the products becoming “obsolete” and no longer serviced.
Apple puts HomePod plus original AirPods and HomePod on ‘vintage’ list
The “vintage” classification applies to items that Apple stopped distributing for sale between five and seven years ago. While Apple Stores and Authorized Service Providers may still offer repairs for these products for up to two more years. But that’s subject to parts availability.
Eventually, these products will be classified as “obsolete,” which typically happens seven years after their last sale date. At that point, Apple will no longer offer service for them.
AirPods (1st generation)
The first-generation AirPods, released in December 2016, revolutionized wireless earbuds. Soon people were seeing the then-distinctive all-white design in ears all over the place.
Featuring the W1 chip for seamless pairing and efficient connectivity, the buds included sensors for automatic play/pause functionality and came with a portable charging case. Since then, Apple has released AirPods 3 (with AirPods 4 in the works in 2024) and AirPods Pro 2.
HomePod
Released in February 2018, the original HomePod was Apple’s first smart speaker. Powered by an A8 chip, it boasted high-quality audio with a custom woofer and seven tweeters. The device integrated Siri for voice control of music, smart-home devices and information services.
For a time HomePod 1 was Apple’s sole smart speaker, but then the $99 HomePod mini came along. Apple discontinued its big HomePod, but then launched HomePod 2 in January 2023 with a series of updates but no great leap forward.
iPhone X
The iPhone X, launched in November 2017, marked a significant milestone in Apple’s smartphone evolution. Celebrating the iPhone’s 10th anniversary, it introduced a bezel-less 5.8-inch OLED display and Face ID, replacing the home button and Touch ID.
Powered by the A11 Bionic chip with Neural Engine, it also featured wireless charging and a premium stainless steel and glass design. And iPhone X made news again when someone replaced its Lighting connector with USB-C and sold the handset on eBay for $86,000.
