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RIP iPhone 5: Apple makes 6-year-old device obsolete

It’s the end of the line for the iconic iPhone 5

Cast your mind back to 2012, when the iPhone 5 changed the smartphone landscape for years to come. It was the first iPhone to embrace a 16:9 widescreen display, an HD front-facing camera, 4G cellular connectivity, and the now-ubiquitous Lightning connector. Its design would become a fan favorite even after the iPhone 6 mixed things up two years later. And now, sadly, it’s officially dead.

In the wake of the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR releases over the last two months, Apple has officially added the iPhone 5 to its “vintage and obsolete” list. This means that support and repairs are no longer provided for the device, except in a few regions where laws dictate a longer shelf life for consumer products. For most parts of the world, however, iPhone 5 owners are out of luck. Even licensed service providers can no longer order replacement parts it.

This is hardly a surprise – Apple tends to declare its products “vintage” after five years, and iPhone 5 is a little over six years old. It’s a pretty long lifespan for a smartphone. Despite allegations that the #iPhoneSlow controversy was a ploy to encourage consumers to buy new iPhones, Apple devices tend to outlast competing devices by some margin. In fact, iOS 12 has actually sped up many older iPhones and iPads.

So, if you’ve still got an iPhone 5 kicking about, consider this a reminder to treat it with care – repairs are off the table from now on!