iPhone XS Joins Apple’s Vintage List: What It Means For You

Everyone is eyeing the launch of the iPhone 17 series, expected to launch at the usual time of September this year. In the meantime, Apple is clearing up the old iPhone models while announcing some of them as Vintage and others obsolete. Recently, Apple has quietly added the iPhone XS to its vintage products list, marking another chapter closed in its iPhone lineup. If you’re still using the XS, this update might be worth your attention, especially when it comes to repairs and support. Also Read: iPhone 17 Series To Arrive At Your Door In Just 10 Minutes Via Blinkit

Apple classifies a device as “vintage” when it hasn’t been sold through its official stores for more than five years. The iPhone XS, launched in September 2018 and discontinued a year later, has now reached that milestone. Also Read: 5 Best iPhone 17 Alternatives To Consider If You Didn't Like It

What Changes For iPhone XS Users?

Being labelled vintage doesn’t mean your iPhone will suddenly stop working. But it does change how Apple handles it. You might still be able to get it repaired through Apple Stores or authorised service centres, but only if parts are available. However, once those run out, you could be out of luck.

And here’s a heads-up: in two more years, the iPhone XS will be classified as obsolete. At that point, Apple will no longer offer any hardware support for it, even if spare parts are lying around.

The iPhone XS arrived as a follow-up to the iPhone X and was mostly seen as an upgrade. It kept the same design but brought in a faster A12 Bionic chip, better cameras, and dual SIM support via eSIM. Its larger sibling, the iPhone XS Max, had already been added to the vintage list back in November 2024. Now, the standard XS joins it. 

Other Devices Affected

Apple didn’t stop with the iPhone XS. The fifth-generation iPad (from 2017) has now moved from vintage to obsolete, meaning no more official repairs. 

As for the 2018 Mac mini, Apple quietly updated its support page, telling users to check with an authorised service provider to know if their machine is still eligible for service. It had already been marked vintage a while ago, but now its support status seems less clear.