Apple Declares iPhone 5 and 8GB iPhone 4 Obsolete

Apple has classified the iPhone 5 and the 8GB variant of the iPhone 4 as obsolete products worldwide, ending official hardware repair support and parts availability for these models through its service network.

The update, detailed in Apple's support documentation, moves both devices from their previous vintage status to obsolete. Under Apple's product lifecycle policy, a device becomes vintage more than five years after its last distribution for sale, during which repairs may still be possible if parts are available at Apple Stores or authorized providers. It shifts to obsolete after seven years, at which point the company discontinues all hardware servicing and stops supplying components. Both models crossed this threshold based on their final sales dates, primarily in emerging markets where they remained available as affordable options even after discontinuation in the United States.

The iPhone 5, released in September 2012, marked a significant evolution in Apple's smartphone lineup. It featured a redesigned glass and aluminum body, a taller 4-inch Retina display compared to the 3.5-inch screen of prior models, support for LTE cellular networks, and the introduction of the...