Apple has officially classified the iPhone 5 as an obsolete product, marking the end of official repair and service support for one of the company’s most important early iPhone models. The device first launched in 2012 and introduced several key changes that shaped the direction of future iPhones, including a new design, faster connectivity, and the debut of the Lightning connector.
According to Apple’s updated list of vintage and obsolete devices, the company has now moved the iPhone 5 from the vintage category to the obsolete category. Apple also moved the 8GB iPhone 4 to the same list at the same time.
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Apple classifies a product as vintage when five years have passed since it was last sold, while the obsolete label arrives after about seven years. Once a device becomes obsolete, Apple retail stores and authorized service providers stop offering repairs because the company no longer supplies replacement parts.
Apple launched the iPhone 5 in 2012 and discontinued it in 2013 after introducing the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c. The device brought a taller 4-inch display, LTE support, a slimmer glass and aluminum design, and the first Lightning port that replaced Apple’s long-used 30-pin connector.
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