September 2, 2025, 12:39 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Apple has officially classified the MacBook Air 11 as obsolete. Nine years after sales stopped, no replacement parts are manufactured, and repairs are no longer possible. The MacBook Pro 2017 is also affected. Additionally, certain versions of the iPhone 8 Plus are receiving vintage status. Users need to look for replacements.
Apple supports most of its products significantly longer than other manufacturers. However, even at the iPhone company from Cupertino, there comes a time when it’s the end of the line. Seven years after a device disappears from the market, Apple officially classifies it as “discontinued,” meaning obsolete.
From this point on, Apple itself and authorized dealers and repair shops no longer offer these devices for repair because no replacement parts are available. Exceptions exist only for the battery of some MacBook models. When an Apple product reaches this status, software support is usually already discontinued. Affected users should therefore look for replacements, including those using a MacBook Air with an 11-inch display.
MacBook Air 11 Officially Obsolete
The particularly small and mobile version of Apple’s entry-level notebooks debuted in 2010 and disappeared from the lineup in fall 2016. Now—nine years later—Apple has officially declared the compact laptop as obsolete, according to “Macrumors.”
This marks the end of an era for Apple users, as the manufacturer no longer offers a direct replacement in the 11-inch format. An iPad with a keyboard might be a solution. However, the current MacBook Air models with M4 chip are not only much more powerful than the now-retired device but are hardly larger despite the 13-inch screen. The popular 11-incher had a huge display frame. Those who loved the 11-inch MacBook for its small size can confidently opt for the current 13-inch version.
Apple Moves More Devices to the Sidelines
The MacBook Air in the 11-inch format is not the only notebook Apple has retired. Alongside it, the MacBook Pro 13-inch with four Thunderbolt ports and the MacBook Pro 15-inch—both from 2017—are also being phased out.
In the smartphone sector, there are also candidates for retirement. The iPhone 8 Plus in storage variants of 64 and 256 gigabytes now officially falls under the “Vintage” category. In May, Apple already declared the (Product)Red version of the 8 Plus as vintage. This is the precursor to the obsolete status, which occurs about five years after sales stop. Repairs for these devices are only possible to a limited extent and depend on the availability of replacement parts.