Apple declares iPhone 5 obsolete six years after launch
As this year's cutting edge iPhone XS and XR handsets ship to rave reviews, Apple quietly declared its six-year-old iPhone 5 -- itself once considered the world's most advanced smartphone -- obsolete.
The iPhone 5 was added to Apple's "vintage and obsolete" product list on Tuesday, noting the hardware is now considered vintage in the United States and obsolete in the rest of the world. Devices that fall into the "vintage" category, defined as products in production for more than five years but less than seven, are excluded from ongoing repair support except in regions where local laws preclude such prohibitions.
Mac Otakara noted the addition to Apple's product support document on Wednesday.
Apple debuted iPhone 5 at a special media event in 2012. The 4-inch handset was the first of Apple's smartphones to move away from the 3.5-inch screen size that dictated iPhone's form factor for five device generations. Apple has since embraced a looser stance on designs with larger screens, a trend toward "phablets" that culminated in this year's 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max.
Along with a larger Retina display, iPhone 5 introduced a number of technologies, some of which, like the proprietary Lightning port, are still in use today. The handset was Apple's first to support 4G LTE connectivity and its last to sport a 32-bit A-series chip. Apple cut off iOS support for iPhone 5, and other legacy devices with 32-bit processors, when it released iOS 11 last year.
Apple routinely obsoletes legacy devices as new hardware versions take their place.
The iPhone 5 was added to Apple's "vintage and obsolete" product list on Tuesday, noting the hardware is now considered vintage in the United States and obsolete in the rest of the world. Devices that fall into the "vintage" category, defined as products in production for more than five years but less than seven, are excluded from ongoing repair support except in regions where local laws preclude such prohibitions.
Mac Otakara noted the addition to Apple's product support document on Wednesday.
Apple debuted iPhone 5 at a special media event in 2012. The 4-inch handset was the first of Apple's smartphones to move away from the 3.5-inch screen size that dictated iPhone's form factor for five device generations. Apple has since embraced a looser stance on designs with larger screens, a trend toward "phablets" that culminated in this year's 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max.
Along with a larger Retina display, iPhone 5 introduced a number of technologies, some of which, like the proprietary Lightning port, are still in use today. The handset was Apple's first to support 4G LTE connectivity and its last to sport a 32-bit A-series chip. Apple cut off iOS support for iPhone 5, and other legacy devices with 32-bit processors, when it released iOS 11 last year.
Apple routinely obsoletes legacy devices as new hardware versions take their place.
Comments
It’s a shame Apple don’t offer a X series phone with the 5’s dimensions for those of use who don’t want to haul around increasingly larger and larger phablets. My only gripe over my iPhone 6 is its increased size means it doesn’t sit as comfortably in the front pocket of my Levi’s.
Remember, “retired” does not mean “dead”!
https://store.google.com/repaircenter
Still a very good phone too, receiving security updates, patches, and feature upgrades on my second hand but looks like new one. After next October I may not continue receiving security updates (barring some major issue), so kudos to Apple for extending most of the iOS version improvements/updates to even 5 year old devices. Even tho the security patches may stop late next year I would expect feature upgrades to continue, even some of those from the very latest Pixels.
and one would argue that that size would be perfect for the 'iPod'. [never say never...]
I have big hands and small fat thumbs... I have an 8 now (after a 6s), and find it 'tolerable', but the SE I had last year for work was quite fine for my primary phone work. I just picked up a Watch, and that does reduce my phone/pocket interactions, but still my thumbs aren't great reaching up to the top in one hand mode.
I wish the second generations would revert to a similar design with smaller radius corners and flat sides as the new iPads have. I'm hoping for the Xi to be that phone.
My #1 favorite still is the black 4, second is the slate 5 (the only model to be available in that color) I loved how it looked dark blue in certain light conditions. I believe it was also the lightest phone.
I picked it up the other day and it felt like a piece of paper! I still remember like it was yesterday waiting on that UPS truck to drop it off at my house on release day! I took the day off work just to be home to sign for it haha! Got it first thing in the morning.
It seems that most take its demise as a bench mark as to what to expect from future phones. But I don't think it is...
Then I bought my daughter a 5 and could not believe how much lighter it was than than the 4s and 5c. It was amazing.
I'm still rocking a rose gold SE!
Agreed...did you notice the new iPad Pro's have that 4/4s5/5s/SE vibe as far as the flat edges?