With the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus taking over the smartphone space, Apple is readying itself to make an important change which will primarily impact customers using the older versions of iPhones. The fourth generation — the iPhone 4 will be added to the vintage and obsolete product list.
Japanese website Mac Otakara has shown that the iPhone 4 will be placed in that list along with other Apple products which is 13-inch Macbook Air, third-generation Airport Extreme, and mid-2009 Airport Time Capsule.
The source however refers to the Japanese market, but since Japan is included in the global category on the Apple’s vintage and obsolete product list, this will impact devices in other countries too.
This change means that the device(s) in question will no longer receive repairs in Apple stores and at partners, except for a few countries where the company is forced to offer support because of local regulations.
Apple explains on its website, vintage products are devices that have not been manufactured for more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. Furthermore, obsolete products are those that were discontinued more than 7 years ago.
“Apple has discontinued all hardware service for obsolete products with no exceptions. Service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products,” the company explains. The iPhone 4 was incidentally one of the most acclaimed devices for Apple. The 4 was launched in June 2010 and is no longer supported by the iOS since the release of iOS 7 in April 2014.
