Apple today added three Macs to the obsolete products list on its website, including the final model of the MacBook Air with a smaller 11-inch display.
The three Macs that are now obsolete:
MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, 4 Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
A device becomes "obsolete" once more than seven years have passed since Apple stopped distributing it for sale. Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers typically do not repair obsolete products, but Apple says MacBooks may be eligible for battery replacements for up to 10 years after distribution ended, subject to parts availability.
Apple discontinued the 11-inch MacBook Air following its October 2016 event, moments after introducing the first MacBook Pro models with a Touch Bar. Given that the 11-inch MacBook Air was just added to the obsolete list now, however, it likely remained available through select resellers until at least some point in 2018.
The current MacBook Air has 13.6-inch and 15.3-inch display size options. If you wish there was a smaller-screened MacBook, know that Apple is rumored to be planning a new 12.9-inch MacBook powered by the iPhone 16 Pro's A18 Pro chip.
Apple also added iPhone 8 Plus models with 64GB and 256GB of storage to the vintage products list on its website today.
Apple considers a device to be "vintage" once more than five years have passed since the company stopped distributing it for sale. Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers can continue to offer repairs for vintage products until they become fully obsolete two years later, subject to parts availability.
Apple announced the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in September 2017, alongside the iPhone X.
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It's pretty sad that they just make these still capable devices obsolete. You can have a 2008 PC running windows 11, or a chrome OS laptop from 2011 running the latest version of chrome OS or a PC from 1985 running the latest version of Linux. I hope when the M series macs fall foul to the planned obsolescence greed of Apple, they open up the architecture to at least allow Linux builds to fully optimise the chipset. One can only hope!!!
It's pretty sad that they just make these still capable devices obsolete. You can have a 2008 PC running windows 11, or a chrome OS laptop from 2011 running the latest version of chrome OS or a PC from 1985 running the latest version of Linux. I hope when the M series macs fall foul to the planned obsolescence greed of Apple, they open up the architecture to at least allow Linux builds to fully optimise the chipset. One can only hope!!!
I've been telling for awhile on here that PCs last longer. My dad built a PC back in 2003 and still works today and has Windows 10 on it. For word processing and reading the news etc basic tasks it's still capable, believe it or not.
It'd never ever happen with a Mac. Macs have a very short software support. Can you believe that Big Sur from 2020 doesn't receive any security updates?
11-inch MacBook Air was the perfect form factor. they need to bring that back.
Agreed.
there was a 11 inch mba ??
There was.
And it was one of the best computers that Apple ever designed; mine quite literally travelled the world with me.
I bought (ordered) a maxed out CTO, and, it was honestly the best computer I have ever owned. Loved it.
I wish they would! It's the perfect travel companion. It's been my go-to device when I don't need much horsepower and space is limited. It's runs a bit slow with Monterey installed but serves it's purpose quite well.
Again agreed.
A perfect travel companion: Portable, powerful, reliable. A wonderful computer - the very best I have ever had.
I think the 12" MacBook is far better.
12" MacBook was the sweet spot. That didn't need to be discontinued. Even more so now that we have Apple silicon. They would sell like hotcakes.
The 11" and 12" were both excellent computers.
Honestly I kinda don’t understand how people liked 11’ MacBook Air.
Portable and powerful and reliable.
And yet, it had a full - proper - beautifully designed, yet fully functional, keyboard with decent (tactile) travel on the keys. Gorgeous.
I can’t see stuff on my 13’! And 15’ came much later after I bought 13’. Imo the only adequate form-factor for laptop displays is 15-16’, and 17’ is ideal. Those were great days when Apple had MacBook Pro 17’, and it had awesome square-ish display, you could see everything on it.
Too large - and heavy - for me.
I get the idea of portability but probably the iPad is enough nowadays for most things.
No, it is not.
Not for those of us who like to write with a fully functional, tactile keyboard.
Personally, I loathe, loathe, loathe, detest, abominate touch screen keyboards; for writing, nothing beats the feel and function of a proper keyboard, with decent tactile sensation and proper travel on the keys.
In any case, I cannot abide the iPad, and deeply dislike the iPhone.
Can’t imagine how editing photos was like on it or watching movies
Actually, I still use it - mine - to watch movies, and stuff on YouTube.
