What actually happens when your iPhone becomes 'obsolete' as Apple announces device is doomed

In bad news for those of you too stubborn to let go of your trusty old device, as Apple recently announced another of its products is essentially doomed.

That’s because the tech company updated its ‘obsolete’ list to include an old model of the iPhone.

And if you’ve still got it, there’s not much helping you when things go south.

Essentially, products are considered to be obsolete when Apple ‘stopped distributing them for sale more than seven years ago’.

So, the iconic iPhone 5S was recently added to the ‘iPhone products obsolete worldwide’ list.

You could end up with a useless phone. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

It joins the likes of the iPhone 5C and iPhone 6 Plus as doomed devices where you’re pretty stuck now if they break. Because basically, they’ll stay broken.

The tech company explains: “Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products.”

All the iPhones on this ‘obsolete’ list are:

• iPhone
• iPhone 3G (China mainland) 8GB
• iPhone 3G 8GB, 16GB
• iPhone 3GS (China mainland) 16GB, 32GB
• iPhone 3GS (8GB)
• iPhone 3GS 16GB, 32GB
• iPhone 4 CDMA
• iPhone 4 CDMA (8GB)
• iPhone 4 16GB, 32GB
• iPhone 4 GSM (8GB), Black
• iPhone 4S
• iPhone 4S (8GB)
• iPhone 5C
• iPhone 5S
• iPhone 6 Plus

Just because your iPhone might be considered ‘obsolete’ doesn’t mean it’s going to suddenly shut down on you though.

Instead, it just means that if you’ve somehow still getting by with one of these aged devices, it’ll be truly over if any problems occur.

The support site adds: “Apple discontinues hardware service for certain technologically-obsolete products.”

There's a list of 'obsolete' products. (Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

At this point, your iPhone will be well past its warranty period anyway.

Typically, Apple’s smartphones tend to receive between six and eight years of software support, and usually they will become obsolete long after they stop receiving updates.

Oh, and it’s not just iPhones either with MacBooks, iMacs, iPads, iPods and Apple Watches also running their course.

But before a device does become obsolete, some of them get labelled as ‘vintage’. Apple explains: “Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago.”

There aren’t currently any iPhones considered ‘vintage’ but some Mac desktops and laptops are.

If you are still holding on to your beloved iPhone 5C – or somehow an even older model – it might be a good time to finally think about something a little more up to date before you’re technologically screwed.