Apple Adding Thunderbolt Display and Original iPad Air to Obsolete Products List - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Adding Thunderbolt Display and Original iPad Air to Obsolete Products List

Apple will be adding the Thunderbolt Display and the first-generation iPad Air to its obsolete products list worldwide on May 31, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors. Obsolete products are no longer eligible for repairs or other hardware service at Apple Stores or Apple Authorized Service Providers.

Thunderbolt Display Feature
Introduced in 2011, the Thunderbolt Display featured a 27-inch screen, a 1440p resolution, a 720p camera, three USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a Thunderbolt port. The monitor was priced at $999 in the U.S. and was discontinued in 2016, resulting in years without an Apple-branded external display. Its modern day successor is the Studio Display, released alongside the Mac Studio last year.

The original iPad Air launched in 2013 and was also discontinued in 2016. The device was equipped with a 9.7-inch display and the A7 chip, and it was advertised as being 20% thinner, 28% lighter, and having 43% narrower display bezels compared to the previous iPad. Pricing started at $499 in the U.S. for the Wi-Fi-only model.

Apple classifies a product as technologically obsolete once more than seven years have passed since the company stopped distributing it for sale.

Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

apple tv 4k new orange

Apple Says Three More Products Are Now 'Vintage' or 'Obsolete'

Tuesday March 31, 2026 10:36 am PDT by
Apple today added the MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017) to its "vintage" products list, meaning the device is now only eligible for repairs at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers if parts remain available. The MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017) was the final MacBook Air model released before Apple redesigned the laptop and gave it a Retina display in 2018. Apple also added all iPad...
ipad air 3

Apple Adds Another iPad to Vintage Products List

Wednesday April 1, 2026 12:37 pm PDT by
Apple today updated its vintage and obsolete product page to add the Wi-Fi version of the third-generation iPad Air. Cellular iPad Air 3 models were already on the list, but the Wi-Fi models were sold for a longer period of time, and are now just appearing. The iPad Air 3 was released in March 2019, five years after the prior-generation iPad Air 2. It was a new iPad in Apple's tablet lineup, ...
ipad air prime day fall

Report: iPad Air to Gain OLED Display Early Next Year

Wednesday April 15, 2026 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will bring OLED displays to its iPad Air models next year, according to a new report from Korea's ET News. Citing industry sources, the outlet says Samsung Display will begin mass production of OLED panels around the end of 2026 or January next year, with a view to supplying panels for Apple's next iPad Air, expected to be released in early 2027. Apple last updated the iPad Air in...

Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️ Avatar
39 months ago
Who is waiting for this day?

Apple Adding Apple Polishing Cloth to Obsolete Products List

https://www.macrumors.com/2021/10/18/apple-releases-polishing-cloth/
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
asdfjkl; Avatar
39 months ago
Still pretty decent specs for a 12 year old display.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️ Avatar
39 months ago
The original iPad Air was launched in 2013.

Hard to believe this was 10 years ago. Wow! Where did the time go? RIP! 🪦
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
everlast3434 Avatar
39 months ago
I have a Thunderbolt Display that I use daily and it still works flawlessly!
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
3rdiguy Avatar
39 months ago
My Thunderbolt Display is still going strong. Will cop a new MBP or new Air and get the necessary cables to keep this party going.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
39 months ago
I still love the look of that display. I don’t have an air 1, but my air 2 is still going strong.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)