Apple Inc. will soon classify the iPhone X and iPhone SE as obsolete, following their discontinuation in 2018. These devices will lose all support and repair options next year.
The classification process involves three stages: discontinuation, vintage status after five years, and finally, obsolescence after seven years. The iPhone SE, launched in 2016, will be redefined as obsolete in 2024, while the iPhone X will follow suit.
Other devices scheduled for obsolescence include the iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 2, and the 2015 MacBook Air, all discontinued in 2017. The second-generation Apple Watch Series 1 is also expected to lose support next year.
Apple's policy ensures that devices receive at least five years of operating system updates and six years of security updates, a practice that has influenced competitors like Samsung and Google to extend their support timelines.