Obsolete Apple Products

Apple announced several products that are now considered either obsolete or vintage. Under the vintage category, the 2017 13-inch MacBook Air is the lone product. As far as variants that are now categorised as obsolete, they were as follows:

  • Apple TV HD (32GB)
  • iPad Mini 4 (Wi-Fi)
  • iPad Mini 4 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

This list can be found at Apple's official support document. It should be noted that the basis for their reclassification is based on when they were last sold and not when they first launched.

'Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago. [...] Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago,' according to Apple Support.

For obsolete models, this means that support and updates for them will no longer be available. For people who may still have and use the Apple TV HD and iPad Mini 4 variants mentioned, the only recourse is to look for third-party repair groups. Should there be none, the only recourse is potentially upgrading to a newer model.

As for the lone vintage candidate, the 2017 MacBook Air, repairs done through Apple service centres are still possible. However, the success of repairing this device will also depend on whether the affected parts are still available.

Timeline of Affected Obsolete, Vintage Apple Products

The 13-inch MacBook Air is best known as the last device Apple offered before it redesigned the succeeding variants in 2018. The most notable enhancement it got at the time was equipping it with a Retina display.

The Apple TV HD first came out in 2015 and was officially discontinued in 2022 with the introduction of the Apple TV 4K. Only the 32GB variant of Apple TV is considered obsolete as of this writing.

As for the iPad Mini 4, the mini tablet first came out in 2015. It was discontinued in 2019 after the Cupertino company released a much-superior successor in the iPad Mini 5. The iPad Mini 5 came out with a better processor in the A12 chip, a significant upgrade from the iPad Mini 4's A8 chip. It also lasted longer and adequately supported newer iPadOS features.

With these devices either obsolete or vintage, some users may want to check out the market for ideal replacements that won't be hard on the pocket. Based on what devices for each variant are available in the market, here are some options to consider, with prices coming from Apple.com.

The iPad 11th Generation 2026

For those working on a budget and looking for a reasonable Apple tablet, the 11-inch iPad 11th Generation makes sense. It comes armed with an A18 or A19 processor that should ensure smooth performance.

All that is complemented by 8GB of RAM, a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, and support for Apple Intelligence and Apple Pencil. The price for this iPad starts at $349 (£262).

Apple TV 4K 4th Generation

Folks who may be worried about the state of their Apple TV should start checking out affordable alternatives in the market. Based on features and price range, the Apple TV 4K 4th Generation looms as a wise buy.

It is considered one of the most affordable and competitive base models in the market at the moment and comes with connectivity updates. This Apple TV variant also comes with potential AI integration. The Apple TV 4K can be bought at prices starting at $129 (£97), per MacWorld.

Apple MacBook Neo

For those looking for a budget-friendly MacBook, the MacBook Neo should make sense. It was introduced to replace the MacBook Air as the most affordable entry-level laptop.

The MacBook Neo comes with a 13-inch Retina display that relies on an iPhone-style chip. The MacBook Neo also includes 8GB of RAM, a mechanical trackpad, as well as a battery that can last up to 18 hours, according to Wired.

Ideal for students or folks using a Mac for the first time, the MacBook Neo can be purchased starting at $599 (£449).

With Apple's announcement, the time to upgrade may be now. But for those who remain uncertain, perhaps the best way to approach this is to wear out your existing device while it is serviceable and start saving for a long overdue upgrade when ready.

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