Apple has a warning for people who own an old iPhone
Older iPhone users beware, as Apple has given you a 'not so gentle' nudge to update your handset.
It's no secret that Apple would like their customers to regularly upgrade to the newest model on the market, however, the manufacturer declaring your phone to be obsolete should be a sign that you're a little behind on the times.
iPhones typically receive a seven year life span, which means that any mobiles which haven't been officially manufactured and distributed since 2017 or earlier have now secured their place in the technology graveyard.
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This is a move that will be rolled out across the world, which means that it doesn't matter if you like in the US, the UK, China or the rest of the world - if Apple renders your phone obsolete, it's obsolete.
As of 2024, 14 of Apple's iPhones will now become '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.
As mentioned before, a product usually becomes obsolete with Apple after a period of seven years since the phone was last officially sold by Apple.
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.
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.
"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."
Topics: Technology, iPhone
Tom Earnshaw