Report: Apple to Start Fixing 'Vintage' Products

Heads up, Apple tree device owners: An upcoming pilot program may help you get more than life out of your old gadgets.

Citing unnamed sources "familiar with the initiative," 9to5Mac reports that Apple is gearing up to launch a "Repair Vintage Apple tree Products Pilot" program for older devices it previously stopped supporting. At launch, the list will include the iPhone v, mid-2012 MacBook Air laptops, and mid-2011 iMacs.

Apple tree reportedly plans to expand the airplane pilot later this calendar month to include even more devices such, as the iPhone 4s and mid-2012 MacBook Pro. In Dec, it volition add together support for more 2022 and 2022 MacBook Pro models, and the mid-2012 Mac Pro.

"For the new Pilot programme, Apple will just exist offering repairs for vintage devices based on function availability," 9to5Mac notes. "Otherwise customers volition be told that inventory isn't bachelor because the production is considered vintage."

Apple tree did not immediately respond to PCMag'southward request for comment.

Apple normally stops offer repairs and parts for iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac devices v years after it stops manufacturing them. The Cupertino tech giant classifies products discontinued betwixt 5 and 7 years agone as "vintage" and those discontinued more than 7 years agone as "obsolete."

Recent research from The NPD Group indicates that United states consumers are generally in no rush to upgrade their smartphones these days. As of the second half of 2022, the average US smartphone upgrade cycle, was 32 months, up from 25 months a year prior. It's also not uncommon for people to now hold onto their smartphones for more than three years, the inquiry firm reported.

About Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag'south proficient on fitness and smart domicile products. Teaching yoga for nearly 10 years has helped her in evaluating a range of connected health products including fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength training machines, treadmills, and more. Angela also tests smart abode devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, just to name a few.