Apple adds 2013 and 2014 MacBook Air, Pro models to vintage and obsolete list

Apple on Tuesday added a few additional MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models to its vintage and obsolete products list, a bit later than previously expected.

Back in the beginning of April, internal documents suggested that a pair of MacBook Air models and a 13-inch MacBook Pro would be added to Apple's vintage list by the end of that month.

That didn't turn out to be the case, but on Tuesday, May 12, Apple added the 11- and 13-inch MacBook Air models and the MacBook Pro model to the list. The specific products include 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air models produced in mid-2013 and early 2014, as well as the 13-inch MacBook Pro produced in mid-2014. Apple also added the fifth-generation iPod touch to its vintage products list.

Apple defines "vintage" devices as those that have not been manufactured for more than five years but fewer than seven years. "Obsolete" products, on the other hand, are any that have been discontinued for more than seven years.

Vintage products remain eligible for repairs and service at Genius Bars and Apple Authorized Service Providers, but only if those shops have the required parts in stock. Obsolete products are not eligible for repairs at these locations.

The company keeps a rolling list of vintage and obsolete products on its website, which includes recent additions like the iPhone 5 in 2018 and the iPad 2 in May 2019.

16 Comments

elijahg 18 Years · 2842 comments

About 4 years ago

The vintage/obsolete list makes me wonder when they'll discontinue parts for the 2013 trashcan MP. Will they really keep manufacturing parts until 2024, by which time the MP will be 11 years old?

On the other hand, 5 years seems like a pretty short lifetime for a premium machine, often which is still perfectly functional after 8 or 9 years - especially now that Moore's Law is very much dead. My 2012 iMac is absolutely fine and isn't slow in the slightest, but if the hinge defect manifests itself again you're SOL. Manufacturers of cars sold in Europe have to keep spare parts on the shelf for 10 years, not sure why manufacturers of other expensive, premium equipment aren't held to the same standard. Arguably most car parts use much much more physical space to store than computer parts too.

sflocal 16 Years · 6138 comments

About 4 years ago

elijahg said:

The vintage/obsolete list makes me wonder when they'll discontinue parts for the 2013 trashcan MP. Will they really keep manufacturing parts until 2024, by which time the MP will be 11 years old?

On the other hand, 5 years seems like a pretty short lifetime for a premium machine, often which is still perfectly functional after 8 or 9 years - especially now that Moore's Law is very much dead. My 2012 iMac is absolutely fine and isn't slow in the slightest, but if the hinge defect manifests itself again you're SOL. Manufacturers of cars sold in Europe have to keep spare parts on the shelf for 10 years, not sure why manufacturers of other expensive, premium equipment aren't held to the same standard. Arguably most car parts use much much more physical space to store than computer parts too.

If your Mac is running fine, then this is a non-issue. Worst-case is that your Mac no longer gets access to next-gen MacOS. It doesn't mean your Mac suddenly stops working.

dewme 10 Years · 5775 comments

About 4 years ago

A certain level of sadness ensues when another one of your prized Apple devices ends up on the obsolete list. Sigh...

elijahg 18 Years · 2842 comments

About 4 years ago

sflocal said:

elijahg said:

The vintage/obsolete list makes me wonder when they'll discontinue parts for the 2013 trashcan MP. Will they really keep manufacturing parts until 2024, by which time the MP will be 11 years old?

On the other hand, 5 years seems like a pretty short lifetime for a premium machine, often which is still perfectly functional after 8 or 9 years - especially now that Moore's Law is very much dead. My 2012 iMac is absolutely fine and isn't slow in the slightest, but if the hinge defect manifests itself again you're SOL. Manufacturers of cars sold in Europe have to keep spare parts on the shelf for 10 years, not sure why manufacturers of other expensive, premium equipment aren't held to the same standard. Arguably most car parts use much much more physical space to store than computer parts too.

If your Mac is running fine, then this is a non-issue. Worst-case is that your Mac no longer gets access to next-gen MacOS. It doesn't mean your Mac suddenly stops working.

Well no, worst case is that it breaks or becomes unusable because of a custom part that is no longer available after the 5/7 years. And of course it is a non-issue when the computer is running fine, if there were never any problems the vintage/obsolete lists would be, well, obsolete. This is nothing really to do with software, Apple generally supports macOS on Macs for a few years they've become obsolete, then artificially cuts off support. But that's a different matter.

F_Kent_D 6 Years · 98 comments

About 4 years ago

Most parts can be found on eBay. I’ve seen part for really old Mac machines available on eBay making repair of entire machines possible. If I had the $ I would be buying, rebuilding, and selling older Mac hardware in a heartbeat.

sflocal said:

elijahg said:

The vintage/obsolete list makes me wonder when they'll discontinue parts for the 2013 trashcan MP. Will they really keep manufacturing parts until 2024, by which time the MP will be 11 years old?

On the other hand, 5 years seems like a pretty short lifetime for a premium machine, often which is still perfectly functional after 8 or 9 years - especially now that Moore's Law is very much dead. My 2012 iMac is absolutely fine and isn't slow in the slightest, but if the hinge defect manifests itself again you're SOL. Manufacturers of cars sold in Europe have to keep spare parts on the shelf for 10 years, not sure why manufacturers of other expensive, premium equipment aren't held to the same standard. Arguably most car parts use much much more physical space to store than computer parts too.

If your Mac is running fine, then this is a non-issue. Worst-case is that your Mac no longer gets access to next-gen MacOS. It doesn't mean your Mac suddenly stops working.

Well no, worst case is that it breaks or becomes unusable because of a custom part that is no longer available after the 5/7 years. And of course it is a non-issue when the computer is running fine, if there were never any problems the vintage/obsolete lists would be, well, obsolete. This is nothing really to do with software, Apple generally supports macOS on Macs for a few years they've become obsolete, then artificially cuts off support. But that's a different matter.