iPhone 6s is now a vintage Apple product
Apple has updated its vintage product list by adding the iPhone 6s and the 2018 Mac mini. For context, Apple considers products “vintage” five years after they are no longer distributed for sale. These products will now receive limited service and repairs worldwide.
The iPhone 6s was launched alongside the iPhone 6s Plus in 2015, but Apple continued selling the base model as an affordable option until 2018. While the iPhone 6s Plus was added to Apple’s vintage list late last year, the standard model is only now joining its larger sibling (via MacRumors). The current list of vintage iPhones includes: iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE (1st gen), iPhone 8 Red, iPhone 8 Plus Red, iPhone X, and iPhone XS Max.
The iPhone 6s was one of the best-selling smartphones in the world. According to reports ahead of the iPhone 7 launch, the iPhone 6s shipped 14.2 million units and accounted for 4% of all smartphones shipped globally in Q2 2016. It was reportedly the most popular smartphone in the world at the time, followed by the iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
The iPhone 6s was the first Apple smartphone to feature 3D Touch—a feature that, in my opinion, deserves a comeback. It was also the last flagship iPhone to include a headphone jack, as Apple removed the 3.5mm port with the iPhone 7.
The iPhone 6s was powered by the A9 chip and fixed iPhone 6’s “bendgate” flaw with a reinforced aluminum chassis.
As for the 2018 Mac mini, it was the last Mac mini to feature Intel chips. As a result, all Intel-based Mac minis are now considered either vintage or obsolete. The 2018 model housed Intel’s Coffee Lake processors, offering 4-core and 6-core configurations with Intel UHD Graphics 630.
If you’re still holding on to one of these products, be aware that Apple no longer guarantees the availability of parts for repairs. They’ll move to the obsolete category at the seven-year mark (from the last availability date), after which Apple Stores will stop offering repairs for the iPhone 6s and the 2018 Mac mini altogether.
