Although Apple launches new iPhone that takes the attention of all media, many users continue to use older models that still work perfectly, at least until now. And is that the company has updated its list of “Vintage” productsand two very popular models just entered this category.
It is about iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 (in its 64 and 256 GB versions). It may seem just a technicalism, but the truth is that this change has real consequences for those who still use these devices. In other words, Apple no longer treats them the same, and that directly affects repairs and technical support.
What is Apple's vintage product?
When Apple catalogs a device as “vintage”, it means that more than five years have passed since it stopped selling officially, but less than seven. In this period, the company still offers repairs and service, although Only if available parts are available. Overcome this period, the product becomes “obsolete”, and there the door is closed completely: it is no longer fixed, even in the authorized centers. The iPhone 7 Plus, released in 2016, was a key model for Apple, since it introduced the dual camera for the first time on an iPhone, the iconic bright black color and was also the first to have a Start button with haptic technology.
However, this iPhone brought controversial, especially for the one known as “Loop Disease”, a kind of loop failure caused by an error in the audio chip. Affected users experienced Microphone problems And the quality of the calls, to the point that, in some cases, the mobile phone could not be used. The situation reached such an extreme that Apple had to face a collective claim, which was resolved in January 2024 with Economic compensation between $ 49 and 350 for certain users. The problem is that, from now on, those who still retain one of these models and begin to notice similar failures, will have it complicated, because the availability of parts is limited and, if something breaks, the cost of repair could exceed the current value of the device.
As for the iPhone 8, Apple has become the 64 GB and 256 GB versions into vintage. This model, released in 2017, was the first of the brand to incorporate wireless load and was presented as a more “classic” option against the then Innovative iPhone X.that premiered that same year with Face ID and screen without frames. Interestingly, the 128 GB version of the iPhone 8 is not yet considered vintage, because Apple sold it for a longer time, but will soon be banished.
And if that were not enough, Apple has also decided that the iPad Air 2 and the iPad Mini 2 are now obsolete products. Both devices, with more than a decade behind them, will no longer receive any support or replacement pieces.
However, if you have one of these devices, it is not mandatory to change them immediately, but it is advisable to be aware that any breakdown can be its end.
