July 14, 2025, 12:55 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Apple has released an extensive list detailing which devices will receive limited support or no technical assistance at all. After certain deadlines, Apple hardware is first classified as vintage and then as obsolete. Currently, a wide range of different devices are affected.
Apple has added several Mac and iPad models, as well as an iPhone, to its list of vintage products. The company is even completely discontinuing support for its popular internet routers.
Mainstream Support for Mac Pro Ends After 12 Years
One of the most interesting products to make the vintage list is the Mac Pro, released in 2013. Due to its cylindrical design, the high-end desktop computer was affectionately called the “Trash Can.” The device was meant to showcase Apple’s innovation–which it did to some extent. The Mac Pro packed high computing power into a tiny case for its time. However, the design turned out to be a dead end, as its highly integrated components allowed for virtually no significant hardware upgrades. For professional users who often rely on expansion cards, the Mac Pro was unsuitable. Additionally, the integrated cooling soon couldn’t keep up with more powerful graphics cards.
In 2017, software chief Craig Federighi admitted in a small discussion about the Mac that the company had “backed itself into a bit of a thermal corner.” In 2019, a completely redesigned Mac Pro in the classic tower format was released.
But only now has the “Trash Can” Mac Pro made it onto the vintage products list, as reported by “MacRumors.” The simple reason is that the computer was sold until the successor was introduced. Since its discontinuation, just over five years have passed–the period after which Apple classifies its products as “vintage.”
Apple Signals End of Support for Many More Devices
In addition to the 2013 Mac Pro, many other devices have landed on the vintage list:
- MacBook Air 13-inch (2019)
- iMac (2019)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
- iPhone 8 (128 GB)
The MacBook Air 13-inch from 2019 and the iMac from 2019 were among the last Macs with Intel chips to receive hardware support from Apple. From now on, the 2020 models are the only fully supported devices in their categories.
The iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation) and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) introduced the new iPad design in 2018, which all models from standard to Pro are now based on. Due to the excellent performance of the built-in Apple A12X Bionic chip, these iPads are still in use by many users today.
The iPhone 8 with 128 gigabytes of storage is now also a vintage product. The 64 and 256 gigabyte versions have been on the list since early 2025. However, the 128-GB version was on sale longer, which is why it is only now being added. Just a month ago, Apple also added the one-year-younger iPhone Xs to the list.
Popular Internet Routers and Backup Storage Now “Obsolete”
Seven years have passed since Apple discontinued its product category with network switches, internet routers, and NAS (Network Attached Storage). As a result, the last of these devices are now on the list of discontinued products that no longer receive hardware support:
- AirPort Express (2nd generation)
- AirPort Time Capsule (2 and 3 TB)
- AirPort Extreme 802.11ac (6th generation)
The AirPort Time Capsule was particularly popular because it allowed Mac backups to be performed on the local network. However, users report on social media that Apple will also discontinue software support with the next major software update for Macs (macOS 2026) for Time Capsule.
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How Long Apple Devices Receive Technical Support
Regarding technical support, Apple categorizes its products into three groups:
- Supported Devices: Apple products are considered supported up to five years after sales end. This means Apple offers repairs and replacement parts for them.
- Vintage Devices: Devices whose sales ended more than five and less than seven years ago. This means Apple only offers repairs if parts are available.
- Obsolete Devices: Devices that have not been sold for at least seven years. This means they no longer receive technical support in the form of repairs–neither from Apple nor from certified service providers.