As 2026 gets underway, Apple has confirmed an update to its support lifecycle: by the end of 2025, several well-known devices—including the iPhone 11 Pro and the 13-inch Retina MacBook Air (2020)—have been added to its “vintage and obsolete” product lists.
If you’re still using one of these devices, there’s no need to panic. This is a routine part of Apple’s long-standing policy. The goal isn’t to suddenly make older products unusable, but to gradually scale back repair support over time while normal day-to-day use remains largely unaffected.
Under Apple’s official definitions, a “vintage” product is one that stopped being sold more than five years ago but less than seven years ago. An “obsolete” product, meanwhile, is one that has been discontinued for more than seven years.
Based on those timelines, the devices most impacted in this update are products released around late 2019 through 2020. The key models include the iPhone 11 Pro series, the 13-inch Retina MacBook Air (2020), and Apple Watch Series 5.
So what does “vintage” or “obsolete” actually mean for everyday users? And does it mean Apple has completely walked away from these devices?
The practical impact depends on the product—and on whether it’s classified as vintage or obsolete. Apple’s level of support isn’t identical across the board, and the differences matter.
For vintage products, Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers may still offer repairs as long as replacement parts remain available. However, Apple does not guarantee ongoing parts supply.
In other words, basic servicing may still be possible, but availability becomes less predictable over time. For obsolete products, hardware service support ends entirely—Apple stops providing repairs and parts.
In this case, the iPhone 11 Pro series, the 13-inch Retina MacBook Air (2020), and Apple Watch Series 5 are being labeled as vintage rather than obsolete, which is the more reassuring category.
Software support is where the picture becomes even more nuanced. Take the iPhone 11 Pro: despite being considered vintage, it can still upgrade to iOS 26. You may not get every feature or the same performance experience as the newest iPhones, but Apple’s ongoing iOS support for older iPhones remains one of the strongest in the industry.
That’s especially notable given the iPhone 11 Pro’s place in Apple history. It was Apple’s first iPhone with a triple-camera system, and it arguably marked the real beginning of the “Pro” iPhone identity—particularly in imaging and video capabilities.
The 13-inch Retina MacBook Air (2020), however, has a slightly more limited software runway. Its system updates currently top out at macOS Sequoia.
This model also represents a major turning point for Apple. It was the last MacBook Air generation built on Intel’s x86 architecture. After this, Apple’s laptop lineup moved fully to its in-house M-series chips. Seeing this Intel-era MacBook Air moved into the vintage category feels like a symbolic end to the x86 chapter in Apple’s notebook story.
As for Apple Watch Series 5, its update ceiling sits at watchOS 10.
It was also the first Apple Watch to support an always-on display, and even today, plenty of users continue to wear it daily. In practice, many vintage devices still handle most everyday tasks perfectly well.
Most core functions typically remain intact—device activation still works, iCloud services continue to run, and the essentials don’t suddenly disappear. What changes over time is the pace of security updates and the availability of repair options.
If your device needs service, it’s smart not to delay too long. As parts become harder to source, even routine repairs can become more difficult.
From a broader perspective, this kind of product lifecycle management is completely normal. Every device has a realistic support window, and no company can provide full service indefinitely.
What stands out is that Apple usually sets a high bar for long-term support. The fact that a 2019 iPhone 11 Pro can still move up to iOS 26 suggests roughly six years of software updates and service coverage—something many competing flagship phones don’t match, even with models released just three years ago.
Even for Intel-based Macs, Apple has historically offered multiple years of software and service support. Compare that with situations like the Windows 11 rollout, where hardware requirements—such as TPM 2.0—left many older PCs unable to upgrade at all. Against that backdrop, Apple’s approach often feels more consistent and more protective of long-term owners.
This is also part of why older Apple devices tend to hold value: buyers know Apple typically supports hardware and software for longer than many alternatives.
Of course, once a device reaches the vintage or obsolete stage, it usually means it’s genuinely old in real-world terms. User experience can become harder to guarantee, especially when you factor in aging batteries, wear and tear, and widening performance gaps.
Using the 2020 MacBook Air as an example, Intel chips lag far behind Apple’s M-series in performance and efficiency. Add years of usage and battery degradation, and it’s easy to see why Apple is moving it further along the lifecycle.
Ultimately, regularly updating the “vintage and obsolete” lists is a sensible practice. It gives users clear expectations and transparency, while allowing Apple to manage repair operations and parts inventory responsibly.
And importantly, this system works because Apple has already provided a long runway of support before a device ever lands on these lists.
If you’re still using an iPhone 11 Pro, a 2020 MacBook Air, or an Apple Watch Series 5, you’re definitely not alone.
