Apple declares iPhone 5 OBSOLETE – here’s what this means if you own one
The iPhone 5 was discontinued five years ago, which means that it meets Apple's criteria for 'obsolete' devices
APPLE has quietly added the iPhone 5 to its list of "vintage and obsolete" products, now that the smartphone has gone five years without being manufactured by the Californian tech giant.
This means that Apple will no longer provide technical support for the iPhone 5, and that owners of the device will either have to use unauthorised repair shops or upgrade to a more expensive model.
Apple adds devices to its of 'obsolete' products every year, with its criteria being that a gadget is obsolete if it hasn't been manufactured for more than five years.
Well, the iPhone 5 was discontinued in late 2013, which means that it too has now been added to the list, despite launching in September 2012 for as much as £699 in the UK.
As Apple states on its Support pages, it "has discontinued all hardware service for obsolete products with no exceptions," which now means that owners of the beloved iPhone 5 will have to go elsewhere for repairs.
And given that the iPhone 5 sold in its first weekend alone, this change of status will affect a large number of people in the UK.
Combined with the fact that Apple stopped providing the iPhone 5 with software updates last year, the move to obsolete status turns the smartphone into something of a relic.
"R.I.P the last iPhone overseen by Steve Jobs. Owned it before getting my 6S to replace my 4 and it was awesome," one person on Reddit, where iPhone 5 fans flocked to mourn the passing of the smartphone into tech heaven.
"RIP. Probably the best all around iPhone I ever owned in my opinion," said another, while other posters worried that models like the iPhone 5S will be next on Apple's hit-list.
Now that the iPhone 5 is officially obsolete, owners of the phone could be running a risk by holding onto them.
Not only is the 2012 smartphone being denied all-important security updates that protect it from bugs and hackers, but users will have to take their phones to unauthorised repair shops in the event of problems and malfunctions.
This could make it even likelier that their iPhone 5s develop further problems, something which will ultimately force them to upgrade to newer, more expensive models, such as the £999 iPhone XS.
Still, in Apple's defence, quite a few iPhone fans on Reddit pointed out that the tech company provides support for its products for much longer than its rivals.
"Considering all the 'high end' flagship (expensive) Android devices I bought before switching everything to Apple were out of support before the contract was even up with my network provider, this is a really good run. Six years of support? Ain't nobody can rationally argue with that," said one Apple champion.
Are you disappointed that Apple has finally pulled all support for the iPhone 5? Let us know in the comments.
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