They were among the hottest gadgets of the 2010s.
But Apple has classed three more of its popular products as ‘obsolete’ – barely a decade after their release.
Owners still holding on to these devices will be without support if something goes wrong with them.
That’s because the tech giant does not provide any hardware services for an obsolete product.
All Apple products go through three categories – current, vintage, and obsolete – in the space of their relatively short lifespan.
Even the upcoming iPhone 17 will become obsolete one day, consigning it to the great technology scrap heap.
It’s an indicator of how fast the gadget industry moves to get consumers to constantly part with their money.
But Apple and other tech companies have faced criticism for exacerbating the problem of electronic waste.
Apple has once again updated its dreaded obsolete products list, consigning more of its tech to the scrap heap (file photo)
As first noticed by MacRumors, the products Apple has just added to its obsolete list include the 11-inch MacBook Air, now over a decade old.
Priced from $899/£749 when it was released in March 2015, the device was well-received for its elegant design, portability and long-lasting battery life.
But it was criticised for its 1,366 x 768 resolution display, even at the time considered low resolution, meaning on-screen text and images lacked sharpness.
Looking at photos of the 11-inch MacBook Air now, it notably lacks the ultra-thin bezels around the screen typical of Macs today, giving it a dated look.
Also now obsolete are two MacBook Pro models from 2017 – the 13-inch and 15-inch options – which cost $1,499/£1,449 and $2,399/£2,349, respectively.
Described by Apple at the time as ‘groundbreaking’, these were the ‘thinnest and lightest MacBook Pro ever’, packed with ‘Apple’s brightest and most colourful Retina display yet’.
The more expensive versions of these laptops replaced the traditional row of function keys with a small multi-touch-enabled OLED strip called the Touch Bar.
The two MacBook Pro models were released in June 2017, but barely eight years later they are now officially obsolete. Touch Bar, meanwhile, was widely seen as a gimmick and was scrapped in 2023.
Obsolete: The 11-inch MacBook Air (2015) notably lacked ultra-thin bezels around the screen typical of today, now giving it a dated look
Two MacBook Pro models from 2017 (13-inch and 15-inch) were hailed as ‘groundbreaking’ when they were announced in autumn 2016. Now, they’re ‘obsolete’
Apple considers a product ‘obsolete’ when it stopped distributing it for sale more than seven years ago.
As Apple explains, an obsolete device has lost support and is no longer eligible for repair at an Apple Store or an authorised third-party service.
Essentially it means if the product stops working Apple is not obliged to fix it – rendering it barely more than a relic from the past.
Apple explains on its website: ‘Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products.
‘Mac laptops may be eligible for an extended battery-only repair period for up to 10 years from when the product was last distributed for sale, subject to parts availability.’
Apple has also made iPhone 8 Plus models with 64GB and 256GB of storage officially ‘vintage’ – meaning it’s over five years old and as a result may or may not be able to receive Apple services.
iPhone 8 Plus, available from September 2017 starting at $799/£799, was notable for its glass back, 5.5-inch screen and dual 12-megapixel camera system.
At the time, the Daily Mail’s review described iPhone 8 Plus as having ‘the best camera ever seen on a phone’.
iPhone 8 Plus, available from September 2017 starting at $799/£799, was notable for its glass back, 5.5-inch screen and dual 12-megapixel camera system
Apple is currently preparing to unveil its next flagship smartphone, the iPhone 17, which will likely become obsolete in 2033 or 2034.
Last week, the tech giant revealed an invite for an ‘awe dropping’ event that will officially pull back the curtain on iPhone 17.
iPhone 17 is expected to come with an aluminum frame with a glass back, enhanced cameras, and a powerful A19 chip for advanced AI tasks.
Among the new iPhone 17 models will be an ultra-thin option branded ‘Air’, intended to rival similar slim devices from Samsung and Huawei.
Although Apple releases several devices to feverish fanfare every year, even more are quietly consigned to the technology scrap heap.
But environmental campaigners believe a lifetime of less than a decade isn’t reasonable for a tech device retailing for several hundreds of pounds.
A 2020 report from MPs said companies like Apple and Amazon have been ‘dodging their environmental responsibilities’ for the products they sell because they contribute to an e-waste crisis.
‘Too many devices have a limited, and sometimes decreasing, lifespan and end up in bins, eventually going to landfill or incineration,’ said former Environment Audit Committee chair Philip Dunne.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .