How to Obtain Service for your Apple Product After the Warranty Expires

Navigating Apple Support After Warranty Expiration

Apple provides good service for their devices as long as you are still in warranty or have AppleCare. However, this becomes less so as your device becomes older. Their warranty only lasts for one year and AppleCare is closer to an insurance product than an extended warranty.

This is particularly true if the product has been ruled “vintage” or “obsolete” by Apple, which impacts whether you can get your device repaired by Apple or get new (as opposed to used) parts for it.

What is a “Vintage” Apple Product?

Apple considers a product to be vintage if it was taken off the market between five and seven years ago. For example, this includes the MacBook Retina, 12-inch early 2016, the iPhone 5, etc.

Note that this dates from the last date you could have purchased the product, not the date on which you purchased it. Some Apple products have longer shelf lives than others. Typically a product goes off sale from Apple when it is replaced with a newer model. Note that it is sometimes possible to purchase these products from other retailers after they have been removed.

Vintage devices no longer receive software updates and Apple does not guarantee repairs. This is because parts may not be available. In some places, a longer period may be required by law, but seven years is the standard.

What does “Obsolete” Mean for Apple Products?

A product is marked “obsolete” when Apple stopped selling it seven years ago or more. Apple does not provide service for obsolete products with the exception of laptops, which can still receive new batteries for a period of time. Service providers cannot order parts for these products, and those parts are no longer available. In many cases, obsolete products no longer receive any updates including security patches.

The reason Apple will not repair these devices is because they no longer purchase parts for them. This is obviously a decision made to support Apple’s bottom line rather than the customers, although given the large number of devices Apple has produced over the years, it is understandable that they may not be able to get parts for everything.

Apple lists which products are considered vintage and obsolete on their website, so if you are not sure you can cross check your device against the link and find out whether it is vintage or obsolete. As time moves on, more and more devices are moved to these lists.

Does “Vintage” or “Obsolete” Mean My Device is Junk?

Not at all! Apple products are built to last a long time and may well work just fine for years after being declared obsolete by Apple.

For some use cases, such as if you are handling more sensitive information, you may want to replace a device if it is no longer receiving security updates. In most cases, Apple stops providing major upgrades when a device is vintage, but may still continue to provide security patches.

A device that is not receiving security updates is more vulnerable to attacks than one which is, but how much you need to worry depends on your chances of being targeted in the first place. This is one reason why business users tend to replace devices more often than regular consumers.

For the average user, there is no reason to stop using an obsolete device (unless, of course, you want to upgrade) until it finally stops working, and many devices will last ten years or more before experiencing a significant hardware failure.

They can often be kept alive even longer by using parts from lightly used devices. Specialist iPhone repair shops can help you keep your obsolete device running.

Many people keep their devices well into the “vintage” period with no problems at all. While slower than more recent models, they are generally just as reliable. Older iPhones may, however, suffer from reduced battery life. Replacing the battery, which has to be done by a service provider, can put a major shot of new life into your old phone.

In other words, Apple will not repair or service your obsolete device even if it is perfectly usable, due to the fact that they no longer keep in parts for older devices.

FAQ

Can I Still Have my “Obsolete” iPhone Repaired At Apple?

No. Apple does not provide hardware service for obsolete items, nor do they sell parts for them. You will need to take your obsolete iPhone to a repair shop that specializes in older Apple devices.

Apple will sometimes provide advice on obsolete devices.

Does Apple Offer Any Extended Warranty?

No, Apple does not offer any extended warranties for any obsolete or vintage products. Extended coverage is only available within 90 days of the original purchase. So if your Apple product is already marked as obsolete or vintage, you’re probably 5-7 years past that window.

Apple offers a standard one-year warranty on new devices. However, you can only extend your warranty by buying an AppleCare subscription. AppleCare is, however, closer to insurance than a warranty, and you can even purchase theft and loss coverage on your phone. You still have to pay a deductible for each service.

For many users, AppleCare is not worth the expense, especially for lower end devices, and seeking service from a third party may prove to be a cheaper option. This is particularly true if you have a problem which requires that the device be sent to a service center, as Apple can keep it for anything up to a couple of weeks.

Where can I find parts for my “Obsolete” or “Vintage” Apple Products

How long does Apple support iPhones?

With a new iPhone, you get 90 days of free tech support and a 1-year warranty. Apple continues to provide hardware and software support until the phone becomes obsolete, but will not guarantee hardware support on vintage phones. Vintage phones stop getting major software updates but may continue to receive security patches.

Apple devices can last many years, especially if you look after them properly. While Apple continues to provide service for several years, many devices outlive Apple support, and you may need to look elsewhere for technical and hardware support on your device. This is also the case for an expired warranty, as it is sometimes cheaper to get your device serviced by a third party provider.