Latest news with #iPhoneXS
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Apple makes this iPhone vintage ahead of iPhone 17 launch
Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17 series in September 2025. Now, just ahead of launch, the Cupertino-based tech giant has announced another older generation iPhone series as 'vintage'. This time it's the iPhone XS, which was launched in 2018. The other two models, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, are already on the list, despite being launched at the same time. Therefore, if you are still using the iPhone XS in 2025, then it may finally be time to upgrade to the latest generation model. But what does it mean to be vintage? Well, Apple could provide a repair for the smartphone at Apple Stores and Apple Authorised Service Providers. However, the part replacement will depend on the availability. Therefore, know more about how iPhone XS users will be affected. Also read: Apple to launch major Siri AI upgrade with iOS 26.4 by March 2026 Apple officially adds the iPhone XS to its vintage list, which already includes several previous generations' models such as iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 series, and iPhone XS Max. Apple released the last software update for iPhone XS with iOS 18. Now, the smartphone will not get the upcoming iOS 26 version, hinting at users to finally upgrade to the latest versions of iPhones. These devices will stay on the vintage list for about 2 years before they are announced obsolete. But how will iPhone XS users be affected? Also read: iPhone 17 Air likely to come with optional accessories for lasting battery life- Details Well, being vintage does not mean that the iPhone will stop working. If the smartphone is in good working condition, the iPhone XS will be able to carry out basic functions smoothly. Apple will provide repair support for these vintage phones. However, the part replacements and major repairs will be based on the availability of parts and components required to fix the device. However, it is quite possible that it will be harder to get the official repair parts. Also read: iPhone 17 Pro may not come with anti-reflective display coating as Samsung- Details Furthermore, Apple will no longer provide software support to iPhone XS, which means after September, the device will not get the upcoming iOS 26 update. Therefore, the software will also get dates, making it crucial for iPhone XS users to upgrade to experience new functionalities. Now, with iPhone 17 series launch on the way, it could come as a great time to upgrade your iPhone to the latest version.
CNET
4 days ago
- CNET
Your 2018 iPhone XS Is Now a 'Vintage' Device: Here's What That Means
Things don't last forever, and in the tech world, they rarely even last five years. Apple lists older products on what it calls the vintage list, which consists of Apple products that the company stopped selling 5-7 years ago. And if you bought your iPhone in 2018, the iPhone XS, your phone is now officially vintage. The iPhone XS launched in 2018 and was officially discontinued in 2020 once all of its stock ran out. The phone joins other recent additions to the list, including the iPhone 7 Plus, two iPhone 8 models, the iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone 6S Plus, all of which have been added to the list since the calendar flipped to 2025. Now that it's there, the iPhone XS, along with the other iPhones listed abov,e will spend the next two years as a vintage device on Apple's roster. Once they hit the seven-year mark, these phones will be moved to the obsolete list. The most recent device to be added to be rendered obsolete by Apple is the 5th-generation iPad. You have a vintage phone, what now? The good news is that having a vintage phone doesn't mean much in the immediate short term, but it will before the end of the year. Apple products continue to have repair support for up to five years after they leave store shelves, but can still be repaired after the five-year mark, provided that there are still parts available. That means that the iPhone XS and the other models listed are no longer officially supported, but repair techs can still order parts as long as Apple has them. Such parts are likely in abundance since the phone just entered the vintage list. However, over the next two years, it'll become harder and harder for repair shops to find official parts for the iPhone XS. That means if your phone breaks next year, there is no guarantee that a repair shop will be able to find official parts to fix it. In terms of software, it's much the same story. Apple is still releasing iOS 18 updates and will continue to do so until iOS 26 comes out. After that, Apple tends to stop supporting the prior generation of iOS. Since the iPhone XS is not included on the list of iOS 26-compatible devices, software support will mostly end later this year once the new version comes out. Apple did this last year as well, with the final iOS 17 update releasing on Nov. 19, 2024. Apple typically guarantees support for devices for up to five years, and since the iPhone XS came out in 2018, it has long since surpassed the minimum. Being put on the vintage list can be construed as a light warning from Apple that your phone will no longer be supported very soon. If you own an iPhone XS, you'll have software support until November when iOS 26 launches, and you'll have repair support as long as the parts hold out. You don't need a new phone today, but it's something you may want to look into sooner rather than later.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Apple just gave another iPhone 'vintage' status — and that has big implications for repairability
Like a beautiful old car or your dad's long-serving leather jacket, the iPhone XS is officially "vintage," at least according to Apple. And that means a few things have changed. Alongside the 5th-gen iPad from 2017, the iPhone XS has been added to Apple's vintage products list now it has been "a minimum of 5 years from when Apple last distributed the product for sale." Apple itself stopped selling the iPhone XS in 2019, but other retailers kept the torch alive for a little longer, hence why the XS is only hitting vintage status seven years after it was first sold. The iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR, launched at the same time, were already on the list. Apple introduced the world to the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR in 2018. It was a big year for the iPhone, getting offered in three versions for the first time, including the first Max-sized iPhone, and setting the stage for the first pro iPhones the following year. But the smartphone industry keeps moving, and as the iPhone 16 series reigns supreme, with the iPhone 17 series edging closer, even once cutting-edge phones must be consigned to history. Vintage status doesn't stop the iPhone XS from getting repaired by Apple — but that will depend on if it has the parts available to do it. Similarly, while the iPhone XS received its last main software update with iOS 18, making it unable to upgrade to the newly announced iOS 26, Apple may still push out security updates if something needs to be addressed. It will be another two years until Apple declares the iPhone XS obsolete, when it will refuse to repair the phone. So the clock's ticking if you want to keep your XS going past that date. If you need an upgrade, our best iPhones list will guide you towards the ideal model for you available right now. But if you're hoping to upgrade to the latest model, then read up on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max rumors so far while we wait for their likely September launch. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Phone Arena
5 days ago
- Phone Arena
Apple just closed the door on an entire era as another iPhone just went vintage
Receive the latest Apple news Subscribe By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy To be fair though, Apple does offer one of the best long-term support experiences in the industry. Seven years of hardware and software coverage (to some extent) is impressive – especially considering that until recently, most other companies didn't even come close. only started offering 7 years of OS updates with the To be fair though, Apple does offer one of the best long-term support experiences in the industry. Seven years of hardware and software coverage (to some extent) is impressive – especially considering that until recently, most other companies didn't even come close. Samsung only started offering 7 years of OS updates with the Galaxy S24 series in early 2024. And Google started with the Pixel 8 series in late 2023, also promising 7 years of updates and parts availability . Which, honestly, is how it should be – if you are going to give me software support for that long, I should be able to keep my hardware alive, too, right? And now, after the company added three more units to the list just last month , another device joined the iPhone XS has officially been added to Apple's vintage list , closing the door on the X era in iPhone history (the iPhone X and iPhone XS Max are already part of the list).The iPhone XS launched back in September 2018 and was discontinued a year later. But since it stuck around through third-party sellers a bit longer, it only now qualifies as vintage under Apple's timeline. And yep – in just two more years, it will hit the obsolete label, which means no more support from Apple at then, Apple Stores and authorized repair centers can still try to fix a vintage iPhone XS, but only if they've got the right parts in stock. If the parts are gone, you are out of luck. So, repairs are possible but not for software updates, vintage iPhones no longer get regular updates. In rare cases, they might still get a security patch if there is a critical issue. Once the device hits the obsolete stage, it is basically game over. No repairs, no updates, nothing. That is now the case with the iPad 5, for example, which just got moved to the obsolete list.
India Today
6 days ago
- India Today
Ahead of iPhone 17 launch, Apple puts iPhone XS on the vintage list and makes iPad 5 obsolete
Another iPhone generation has officially entered Apple's digital retirement home. The iPhone XS, once hailed as Apple's flagship device, has now been added to the company's vintage list, signalling that time moves quickly, even for iconic gadgets. Under Apple's classification system, a product is labelled "vintage" once five years have passed since the company stopped selling it through official repairs may still be possible at Apple Stores and through Apple Authorised Service Providers, service depends entirely on whether replacement parts remain iPhone XS originally hit the shelves in September 2018 and was discontinued the following year when the iPhone 11 arrived. However, the device continued to linger in circulation through various resellers, delaying its official move to vintage status until recently. Now, having finally reached the five-year milestone, it has earned its place on Apple's vintage list. Looking ahead, the iPhone XS faces full obsolescence in just two years' time. Once that happens, Apple will cease providing service entirely, and official repairs will no longer be offered — even if parts happen to be the iPhone XS Max, its larger sibling with the spacious 6.5-inch display, was moved to the vintage list earlier, back in November 2024. Both devices, at the time of their release, were seen as modest upgrades over the groundbreaking iPhone X, offering users a speedier A12 Bionic chip, improved cameras, and the added flexibility of dual SIM support. While the XS Max capitalised on its larger screen size, both models were evolutionary rather than revolutionary for vintage list wasn't only updated with iPhones this time. The company also shifted the fifth-generation iPad, known as the iPad 5, from vintage to obsolete status. This change means that Apple has now fully ended all hardware services for the 2017 tablet, regardless of part to the round of updates, Apple made a subtle change to the support status of certain Mac devices. The 2018 Mac mini, which had already been listed as vintage a few months ago, now comes with a small caveat. According to fine print recently added to Apple's support page, owners of this particular Mac model are advised to check with an Apple Authorised Service Provider for confirmation of service eligibility. The early vintage classification of the 2018 Mac mini has left some observers puzzled, as many expected the device to enjoy a slightly longer service Apple users, these updates serve as a regular reminder of the company's strict product lifecycle, one that steadily nudges ageing devices towards obsolescence. While many iPhone XS owners may still be happily using their devices, the clock is ticking, and future repair options are becoming increasingly limited.
