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Apple Adds MacBook Models With Touch Bar and iPhone 8 Plus To Vintage And Obsolete List Ahead Of iPhone 17 Launch

Ahead of the highly anticipated launch of the iPhone 17 next week, Apple has updated its list of vintage and obsolete products, moving several older devices into retirement. The iPhone 8 Plus, MacBook Pro 15-inch (2017), MacBook Pro 13-inch (2017, four Thunderbolt 3 ports), and MacBook Air 11-inch (early 2015) have all been officially added to the company’s product graveyard.

Under Apple’s classification, a product is considered vintage once it has been off the market for more than five years but less than seven. These devices may still receive limited repair services at Apple Stores or authorised providers, depending on parts availability. By contrast, a product becomes obsolete after seven years, at which point Apple ends all hardware service and support, though in some cases MacBook batteries can be replaced for up to 10 years after production ceases.

Of the latest additions, the iPhone 8 Plus (64GB and 256GB variants) now falls under the vintage category. Originally launched in 2017 alongside the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, the device remained available until 2020, when Apple introduced the second-generation iPhone SE. The red-coloured editions of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus were already on the vintage list prior to this update.

The other three devices, the 2017 15-inch MacBook Pro, the 2017 13-inch MacBook Pro with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, and the early 2015 11-inch MacBook Air—are now obsolete. This means Apple no longer offers repairs or support, aside from exceptional cases where parts remain in stock.

The 11-inch MacBook Air, first introduced in 2010, stood out for its compact form factor and tapered unibody design. Apple iterated on the model until 2015, after which it was discontinued. The 2017 MacBook Pro models represented the second wave of a major redesign launched in 2016, most notably featuring the Touch Bar, a slim OLED strip that replaced the traditional function keys with dynamic, touch-sensitive controls.

However, these laptops also carry the legacy of Apple’s controversial butterfly keyboard, which was widely criticised for reliability issues. The flawed design sparked numerous consumer complaints and eventually led to a $50 million class-action lawsuit settlement.

Apple’s decision to retire these products is in line with its regular update cycle, which typically renders devices obsolete seven years after production ends. For consumers still holding onto these models, support options will now be increasingly limited, with no further software updates or hardware servicing guaranteed.

The move highlights Apple’s constant push toward newer technologies, as the company prepares to unveil the iPhone 17, shifting attention firmly toward its next generation of products.

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