If you own an iPhone XS Max, now you need to take care of it more than ever, because it will be more and more difficult to repair. This month, Apple updated its list of vintage and obsolete devices, adding two iPhone models and four Apple Watch models.
Recently added to Vintage:
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 6s Plus
Recently added to Obsolete:
- Apple Watch Series 2, Aluminum (2nd generation), 38mm
- Apple Watch Series 2, Aluminum (2nd generation), 42mm
- Apple Watch Series 2, Stainless Steel (2nd generation), 38mm
- Apple Watch Series 2, Stainless Steel (2nd generation), 42mm
Interestingly, the iPhone XS Max and iPhone 6s Plus both once entered the vintage product list, even if there is a difference of three years between the two models. This means that the iPhone 6s Plus model, even though it is three years older, was withdrawn from sale along with the iPhone XS Max.
Related: Can you repair an iphone a few years old?
When an Apple product is between 5 and 7 years old since it was withdrawn from sale (not since it was released), it is added to the vintage list. That means the likelihood of finding replacement parts for that product drops quite a bit, as Apple no longer guarantees their supply. However, if you have an iPhone XS Max that you need to repair, you can try unofficial services. Most of the time, they reuse working parts from similar defective devices.
For "Obsolete" products, as they are Apple Watch Series 2, recently added, the probability of being repaired decreases even more. These products mean that they are more than 7 years old since Apple last put the unit on sale, and replacement parts are no longer being produced for them.
So, if you are the owner of an iPhone XS Max or iPhone 6s Plus, the probability of finding spare parts in an authorized Apple service has decreased.
