When it comes to vintage technologies, the casette player or floppy disc might spring to mind.
But according to Apple, we have to look back just six years to deem devices ‘vintage’.
The tech giant has officially designated the 2017 iPhone SE as vintage.
‘Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago,’ Apple explained.
The iPhone SE joins Apple’s growing list of vintage smartphones – so, is it time to upgrade your device?
According to Apple, we have to look back just six years to deem devices ‘vintage’. The tech giant has officially designated the 2017 iPhone SE as vintage
Apple keeps two lists of older products – vintage or obsolete.
While ‘vintage’ produts are those less than seven years old, ‘obsolete’ products are those that haven’t been sold for more than seven years.
‘Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, and service providers cannot order parts for obsolete products,’ the tech giant explained.
The iPhone SE was first introduced as a cheaper alternative to high-end iPhones, costing just £359.
At the time of its launch, Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said: ‘iPhone SE is an exciting new idea — we started with a beloved, iconic design and reinvented it from the inside out.
‘The result is the most beautiful and powerful phone with a four-inch display in the world.’
The smartphone was sold until 2018, which means it’s been five years since it was last available.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), many Apple fans have expressed their amazement at the new designation
The iPhone SE is now one of eight Apple smartphones deemed vintage, alongside the iPhone 4 (8GB), iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s (32GB), and iPhone 6s Plus (32GB).
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), many Apple fans have expressed their amazement at the new designation.
‘Apple’s First iPhone SE is already considered vintage? Time flies! It’s amazing how far technology has come in such a short period,’ one user tweeted.
Another added: ‘The original iPhone SE is now vintage. Let that sink in.’
And one simply joked: ‘I feel so old…’
THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF APPLE
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1 1976 as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market.
Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh February 6, 1984 in California.
1981: Jobs became chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.
1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.
The then Chief Executive Officer of Apple, Steve Jobs, with the iPhone
2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.
2007: Apple unveils the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was unveiled.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones – the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner’s face.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.
2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers.
2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.
2020: In March, Apple closes all its bricks and mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus.
2021: In an online virtual event in April CEO Tim Cook declared Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year the iPhone 13 was announced.
2022: In September the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash as well as an improved camera system.
2023: So far this year Apple has brought back its ‘Home Pod’ after the first generation was discontinued. The ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home as it is powered by voice commands.
