5 MacBooks hit Apple’s dreaded ‘vintage and obsolete’ list

By

The new MacBook Air has more graphics power than it appears at first. Photo: Apple
Remember the 11-inch MacBook Air? That was a long time ago.
Photo: Apple

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models that launched in 2013 and 2014 moved onto Apple’s list of “vintage and obsolete products” at the beginning of May.

Despite what the name implies, this doesn’t mean these devices just became useless. It might be harder to get them serviced, though.

Newly vintage MacBooks in 2020

Apple promises that iPhone, iPad, iPod and Mac products can get repaired by Apple Stores or authorized service providers for five years after the product is no longer manufactured. According to the the official Vintage and obsolete products list, macOS laptops that passed the five-year mark at the end of April 2020 are:

  • MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013)
  • MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013)
  • MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2014)
  • MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014)
  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014)

All these models are now listed as vintage, not obsolete. No MacBook models were added to Apple’s official obsolete list.

Some MacBooks are vintage, others are obsolete

macOS and iOS computers and peripherals are considered vintage five years after they were last manufactured. With this designation, they can still get serviced by Apple and authorized service providers, but that’s “subject to availability of inventory,” according to Apple.

Vintage Macs can even get operating system upgrades. The 2012 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models classified as vintage are also on Apple’s list of computers compatible with macOS Catalina, the latest version.

After two more years, products are labeled obsolete, which is the end of the line for authorized repairs. “Apple has discontinued all hardware service for obsolete products with no exceptions. Service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products,” notes the Mac maker.

While this sounds harsh, the “newer” MacBooks currently classified as obsolete were made in 2011.

Newsletters

Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.

  • The Weekender

    The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.