iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 join Apple’s ‘vintage’ list; here’s what this means

Every now and then, Apple declares some of its older products, ‘vintage’. For instance, in November last year the company announced that the iPhone XS Max and iPhone 6s Plus would be making the list.

Cut to today, Apple has, once again, updated this list with two more devices – iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8. But what does this really mean for you? Should you panic and look for your next phone immediately? Well, yes… and no.

What happens when Apple declares a product 'vintage'?

Typically, Apple declares a product ‘vintage’ once it stops selling for more than five years. However, the product is usually less than seven years old. If you, or someone you know, has an Apple product that matches this criteria, it might be a good idea to start looking for a replacement.

Another reason why the brand may announce a product is ‘obsolete’ is when it is unable to source parts or carry out repairs for the said product. When this happens, your device will stop receiving updates, and chances are, the company may not issue you a service or repair.

ALSO READ: Evolution of the iPhone

And while you may not receive the newest updates, Apple may make an exception in case there is a need for a critical security patch. However, if your smartphone has made it to the list, you might just want to begin looking for a replacement — maybe gradually, if not immediately.

Other iPhones that are now 'vintage'

Apple introduced the iPhone 7 Plus along with the iPhone 7 back in 2016, which was priced at Rs 72,000 for the 32GB variant. In 2019, the brand discontinued its production with the debut of the iPhone 11 series.

The iPhone 8, on the other hand, was introduced in 2017 at Rs 64,000 for its 64GB storage variant. The phone stopped selling in 2020 once Apple brought in the iPhone SE (2020) for its users.

So far, all other configurations of the iPhone 7 have been categorised as obsolete; however, only the 64GB and 256GB variants for the iPhone 8 have made it to the list.

It isn’t really clear what the brand plans to do with the 128GB variant, which also remained available for purchase for a much longer duration. Here is a list of all iPhones that are currently considered ‘vintage’.

1. iPhone 4 (8GB)

2. iPhone 5

3. iPhone 6s (16GB, 64GB, 128GB)

4. iPhone 6s Plus

5. iPhone SE

6. iPhone 7 Plus

7. iPhone 8 (64GB, 256GB)

8. iPhone 8 (PRODUCT)RED

9. iPhone 8 Plus (PRODUCT)RED

10. iPhone X

11. iPhone XS Max

Does your iPhone make it to the list? You can always check out replacements on croma.com, or make sure to visit Unboxed by Croma for detailed and in-depth product comparisons.