Apple warning issued to people who own an old iPhone

You know it might be time to upgrade your phone when its manufacturer renders it 'obsolete'.

That's exactly what has just happened to millions of people that own an iPhone, with Apple saying one more particular model will be added to its ever-growing pile of disregarded tech.

And it's a move that has been put in place across the world.

So no matter where you live - the USA, UK, China or elsewhere - the phone has a very limited shelf life remaining.

It means 14 of Apple's iPhones are now 'obsolete'.

What does it mean when Apple renders a product 'obsolete'?

If Apple says a piece of its tech is 'obsolete', those owning it have very few places to turn should things start to not work.

It means that the Apple Store and Apple Authorised Service Providers will no longer offer repairs or other hardware services for the device in question.

A product usually becomes obsolete with Apple after a period of seven years since the phone was last officially sold by Apple.

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Which phone has been made obsolete?

Look away iPhone 6 Plus owners. Your phone has been put on the pile of products no longer receiving direct support from Apple.

The phone was launched back in September 2014 as an advanced model of the iPhone 6, complete with a bigger screen and Apple Pay.

Apple hasn't sold the iPhone 6 Plus since 2016, but the phone has remained a popular cheap handset throughout the world via resellers. You can still buy the phone for around £80 to this day.

The last iOS update for the iPhone 6 Plus came in 2019, so expect no more patches to fix important security issues.

Apple

As well as the iPhone 6 Plus, the iPad Mini 4 has also been put on the end of life pile; this time rendered 'vintage'.

Vintage differs slightly, with those who own such devices still having two more years of official Apple support. But it definitely acts as a warning that the support will not last forever, with many potentially thinking about upgrading as a result.

The irony of the iPhone 6 Plus is that its predecessor, the iPhone 6, is still receiving active support as official sales of the phone didn't stop until after the Plus model.

What does Apple say on its obsolete products?

"Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than seven years ago," the Apple website says.

"Monster-branded Beats products are considered obsolete regardless of when they were purchased.

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"Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products.

"Mac laptops may be eligible for an extended battery-only repair period for up to 10 years from when the product was last distributed for sale, subject to parts availability."