Apple has a category of products that catalog like “Vintage”which means that more than five years have passed since the last time it was available in official stores. In this context, the company has added two more, and if you still use them, you have to read this article to know how to proceed.
Although many still keep them working without problems, Apple has decided to take the final step: the iphone 6s and the 2018 mac mini They just entered the list of vintage products. What does this mean for users? Basically, these devices go to a kind of “terminal phase” in their useful life within the Apple ecosystem. And yes, this implies that repairing will be increasingly complicatedeven in authorized technical services.
What are Apple's vintage products
The iPhone 6s was a milestone in its day. Originally launched in 2015, it remained in the official catalog until 2018 as an economic and reliable option. He was the first to incorporate 3D Toucha technology that offered new ways to interact with the screen according to the pressure exerted. It was also Apple's last flagship to have a headphones Jack port. In addition, it included the A9 chip and a more robust chassis redesign, necessary after the controversy of the “bless” that affected the iPhone 6.
For its part, the Mac Mini of 2018 It supposed the swan song for Intel processors in that model. With four and six nuclei configurations based on the “Coffee Lake” architecture and Intel UHD 630 integrated graphics, it was a very popular option among developers and users who were looking for a compact but powerful machine. It was also the last Mac Mini before jumping to the Apple Silicon chips.
When Apple catalogs a product like vintage, it means that more than five years have passed since the last time it was officially available in stores. From that moment on, both Apple Store and authorized service centers can still offer repairs, but with a condition: Only if there are parts available. And there is the real problem. With the passage of time, those pieces are scarce, and what can be repaired today, tomorrow may not have a solution beyond going to the second -hand market or unofficial workshops.
Is it the same as obsolete products?
The answer is no. The following category in this kind of technological purgatory is that of obsolete products. This happens when seven years have passed since the last official sale of the device. At that time, Apple stops lending any type of support, and authorized suppliers are not obliged to repair them, not even if they have stock pieces.
This news not only generates nostalgia among users, but also some concern. There are many who still use these equipment daily, especially the iPhone 6S, which thanks to their solid performance and prolonged updates, reaching iOS 15, have demonstrated an exceptional longevity.
In any case, if your iPhone 6S continues to work well and your Mac Mini of 2018 meets your needs, there is no immediate reason to change equipment. But it is convenient to be prevented: access to parts, services and support will be increasingly limited. Maybe the time has come to start looking for replacement options, especially if you depend on these devices to work or save sensitive information.
