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Apple has just dealt a blow to millions of customers still clinging to their beloved older devices.
The tech giant quietly updated its support policy at the end of November, adding five products to its "obsolete" list.
This means if you own one of the following products, Apple and its authorised service providers will no longer offer repairs, battery replacements, or any other hardware support for these devices.
- iPhone SE (first generation)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (second generation)
- Apple Watch Series 4 Hermes models
- Apple Watch Series 4 Nike models
- Beats Pill 2.0
If you're looking to hang onto your devices for a little while longer, though, you'll have to turn to third-party repair shops instead.
The first gadget to get the chop is the original iPhone SE, which launched back in 2016 as Apple's first proper budget smartphone. It was a fan favourite at just £359, offering the compact design of the iPhone 5 with much better performance under the bonnet.
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Also joining the obsolete list is the 12.9-inch iPad Pro from 2017 – the second generation of Apple's premium tablet.
Smartwatch owners haven't escaped either, with the Apple Watch Series 4 Hermes and Nike editions now deemed beyond repair.
Rounding out the list is the Beats Pill 2.0 speaker, which first hit shelves way back in 2013.
The Apple Watch Series 4 was first released in 2018
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The original iPhone SE was discontinued in September 2018, meaning it's now crossed that seven-year threshold to become obsolete
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Apple sorts its products into three categories: current, vintage, and obsolete.
A device gets labelled vintage once Apple stops selling it for more than five years — during this time, you might still be able to get repairs, though spare parts become increasingly tricky to track down.
After seven years off the shelves, products graduate to obsolete status.
At this point, Apple completely pulls the plug on hardware support, and service providers can't even order replacement parts.
The original iPhone SE was discontinued in September 2018, meaning it's now crossed that seven-year threshold.
The Apple Watch Series 4 variants were pulled from sale around 2019, shortly after their launch.
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