If you own this iPhone Apple says it’s now ‘obsolete’

An iPhine 6 plus smartphone on a table with headphones

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Apple is expanding its list of obsolete and vintage devices with a pair of new additions. The latest update adds the iPhone 6 Plus to the obsolete list and the iPad mini 4 to the vintage list. If you still own these devices, you'll be able to continue using them, but there will be some changes that might make you want to finally upgrade to something newer.

What does the iPhone 6 Plus being 'obsolete' mean?

There will be some changes with the iPhone 6 Plus joining the obsolete page. Before getting to those, though, it's important to note that a device is obsolete when "Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago." This is an important distinction, as it's not based on when Apple released the device but when it stopped officially selling it.

What will be different for iPhone 6 Plus owners? Apple's support page says, "Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products."

What does the iPad mini 4 being 'vintage' mean?

The changes are a little less serious for iPad mini 4 owners, but they're moving the phone toward the dreaded obsolete stage of life. Products are considered vintage when "Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago."

For vintage products, like the iPad mini 4, Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers will continue to offer repairs for up to two more years (when they become obsolete), but these repairs are subject to parts availability. If the parts dry up, there's no guarantee that repairs will be possible.

Also joining the iPad mini 4 on the vintage list is the (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, but other colors aren't on the list yet as they were around longer.

Here's the complete list of iPad models on the vintage list:

iPad Air Cellular
iPad Air Cellular (TD LTE)
iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi
iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi
iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi + 4G, GSM + CDMA
iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi
iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad Pro 9.7-inch Wi-Fi
iPad Pro 9.7-inch Wi-Fi + Cellular
iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi
iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi, Cellular
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi
iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi, Cellular
iPad Wi-Fi + 4G, CDMA
iPad Wi-Fi + 4G, GSM
iPad (5th generation) Wi-Fi
iPad (5th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular

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Dave LeClair is the Senior News Editor for Tom's Guide, keeping his finger on the pulse of all things technology. He loves taking the complicated happenings in the tech world and explaining why they matter. Whether Apple is announcing the next big thing in the mobile space or a small startup advancing generative AI, Dave will apply his experience to help you figure out what's happening and why it's relevant to your life.