Apple has officially classified the iPhone X and 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro as obsolete, meaning the company and its authorised service providers will no longer offer repairs or replacement parts for the devices.
Key Highlights
- Apple has declared the iPhone X officially obsolete.
- The 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro has also been added to Apple’s obsolete products list.
- Apple and authorised service providers will no longer provide official repairs or replacement parts for the devices.
- The iPhone X introduced Face ID and an OLED display to Apple’s flagship smartphone lineup.
- The 2018 MacBook Pro was among the first Macs to feature Apple’s T2 security chip.
- Owners can continue using the devices, but will increasingly have to rely on third-party repair services.
The iPhone X, launched in 2017, was a major milestone for Apple, introducing Face ID in place of the traditional Touch ID Home button and bringing an OLED display to the iPhone lineup.
Apple classifies products as vintage when they have not been distributed for sale for more than five years but less than seven years. Products that have not been sold for more than seven years are classified as obsolete.
The company generally provides service and replacement parts for vintage products for up to seven years, subject to parts availability. Once a product becomes obsolete, Apple and its authorised service providers generally discontinue hardware service.
iPhone X Joins Apple’s Obsolete Products List
The iPhone X was added to Apple’s obsolete products list on Thursday, ending official hardware support for the nearly nine-year-old smartphone.
The device introduced Apple’s all-screen design, featuring a notch that housed the components required for Face ID.
The iPhone X experienced some hardware issues following its launch. Some users reported green lines appearing along the edges of the display, while others encountered problems with the Face ID system.
Apple provided in-store replacement options for affected devices in some cases, although the company did not issue a general recall of the iPhone X.
The obsolete classification does not mean existing iPhone X devices will suddenly stop working. Owners can continue using their phones, although obtaining official repairs and replacement components from Apple will become more difficult.
2018 MacBook Pro Also Declared Obsolete
Apple has also classified the 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro as obsolete.
The model was notable for being among the first MacBook computers to use Apple’s T2 security chip, which provided features including secure boot management and protection for Touch ID data.
However, the 2018 MacBook Pro also used Apple’s controversial butterfly keyboard mechanism, which was criticised by users for reliability problems.
Apple eventually introduced a keyboard replacement programme covering affected MacBook models. The programme continued until 2024.
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Software Support Also Limited
The iPhone X does not support software updates beyond iOS 16, while the 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro cannot officially upgrade beyond macOS Sequoia.
Some enthusiasts have used unofficial tools such as OpenCore Legacy Patcher to run newer macOS versions on unsupported Macs. However, such methods are not supported by Apple.
For owners of the iPhone X and 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro, third-party repair shops may therefore become the main option for hardware repairs.
Given the age of both devices, however, owners may need to consider whether the cost of repairing ageing hardware is justified compared with replacing the device.
