Normally, an Apple product becomes vintage once five years have passed since it was last manufactured, meaning that Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) will no longer repair or service the product.
In late January, however, Apple launched a pilot program that permits Apple Stores and AASPs to continue servicing select vintage products, subject to parts availability. The program started in the United States and Turkey with the Mid 2011 iMac and expanded worldwide with the 2012 MacBook Air in August.
Now, Apple is further expanding the program to include the iPhone 5, which became vintage on Wednesday. In an internal document, Apple says Apple Stores and AASPs worldwide are authorized to continue servicing the CDMA variant of the device through October 31, 2020, and the GSM variant through December 30, 2020.
Apple's internal document, obtained by MacRumors from multiple sources, also outlines other soon-to-be vintage iPhones and Macs that will also be added to the pilot program at various dates throughout the remainder of this year:
Effective November 30, 2018:
- iPhone 4S
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)
Effective December 30, 2018:
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, Retina, Late 2012)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, Retina, Early 2013)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Retina, Mid 2012)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Retina, Early 2013)
- Mac Pro (Mid 2012)
If parts are unavailable for a specific repair for these vintage products, Apple Stores and AASPs are instructed to decline service. This is a pilot program to begin with, so it is subject to change or end at any time.
The exact reason for the pilot program is unclear, beyond Apple apparently having a surplus of service parts for these specific vintage products. Apple's internal document states that inventory of service parts will not be replenished, so repairs under the pilot program are certainly not guaranteed.
Top Rated Comments
Because here at Apple, we believe you're our b*tch, and you do as we say. Now, go and buy the new MacBook Glue. It's an iPad with a keyboard, sort of. But for twice the price. And best of all? There is no way anyone can ever repair it. Not even us. Yep, the new MacBook Glue. It's made of mostly glue! Starting at only $1799 if you're okay with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It has one USB port. Shut up. It's rose gold.
She’s been a good workhorse and I’d hate it when she finally dies. The laptop that is, not the wife.
If you’re catering for consumer repairs, or even professional repairs, there isn’t a company out there that would carry out on-the-spot component level solder (sorry, SODDER) repairs.
I used to love his channel as it was interesting, really impressive, and sure, he had a whinge about Apple. Now all his videos are nothing but anti-Apple clickbait to rile up the natives and get more money.
I had upgraded the memory myself to 16GB and replaced the HD with a 512GB SSD myself.
I really really miss all of those ports and the ability to upgrade the important things myself .
I have NEVER bought an Apple product based on how thin it was, and never will.
I am keeping my iPhone SE until it dies and then reluctantly going to replace it with an Android phone because everything that Apple now makes is too big, they may as well call it the pocket iPad.
Apple’s “technicians” don’t repair defects. They perform expensive shotgun part replacements. Instead of replacing a problematic part, they replace an entire assembly. I doubt you’d find a solder iron in their shop.