In November, Apple will reportedly include two new devices to its list of obsolete devices, marking the end of an era for its iPhone 5c and iPad mini 4. With this will come an official end of all forms of support for the two devices, including additional hardware repair assistance. The move comes as part of a regular process in which Apple classified a device as vintage once it crosses five years in age.
Why the iPhone 5c and iPad mini 4 were so popular
Both the devices now being considered as obsolete were key devices for Apple in their own right. The iPhone 5c, which was first introduced in September 2013, was over nine years old. Unlike the previous version of Apple''s flagship, it was now available as a more affordable version.
Apple''s attempt to offer a more affordable product to reach out to more people after its launch in the following year saw them switch to bigger displays, but the iPhone 5c, which was made available at a lower price in value sensitive markets such as India, was a gesture from Apple to cater to a wider range of markets outside the United States and the European Union.
The iPad mini 4, meanwhile, starred in delivering a display that was smaller than most tablets yet, at 7.9 inches, larger than most smartphones in the market. It also expanded Apple''s tablet portfolio in the tablet space, mainly designed for entertainment consumers and not professionals. The tablet was first released in September 2015.
Apple will no longer provide hardware support to any form of paid repair services as the devices are added to the list of obsolete devices.