Avoid buying these 'antique' Apple devices

Apple has been quick to update its classic product lineup by adding the Apple Watch Series 4 and 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Launched in September 2018, the Apple Watch Series 4 has officially been classified as a 'classic' product, which applies to both the aluminum and stainless steel versions of the 40mm and 44mm variants. This product stands out with a new design, large screen and thin bezels.

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The Apple Watch Series 4 is vintage, so stay away.

While the ECG feature wasn't available from the start, it was added to the Apple Watch Series 4 via a later update. Early reviews of the product noted that 'the performance and new display were the highlights that made the Apple Watch Series 4 appealing'. However, with the release of watchOS 11 last year, the Watch Series 4 was no longer supported, making watchOS 10 the last update for the device.

Along with that, the 2019 15-inch MacBook Pro has also been added to the vintage product list. This is the last 15-inch MacBook Pro model from Apple before it is replaced in 2024 by the 16-inch version, marking the end of Intel processors in the company's laptop line. The difference here is that despite becoming a vintage product, owners of the 2019 15-inch MacBook Pro can still install and use the latest macOS.

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The 2019 15-inch MacBook Pro is no exception.

By Apple's definition, a product is considered 'vintage' when it's been five years but less than seven years since the company stopped selling it. Vintage products are still eligible for repair at Apple and authorized service providers if parts are available. Apple also maintains an 'obsolete' product list, which removes devices from repair service after seven years from when they were discontinued.

Even if repair parts are available, users should avoid purchasing devices that have been placed on the obsolete list to avoid inconveniences that may occur up to 2 years after purchase. This is because once a product becomes obsolete, it is very difficult to find replacement parts.