All gadgets are gradually becoming outdated, and Apple’s most recent action effectively puts the iPhone 5S out of production. It should be noted that Apple has now formally put this item to their list of obsolete devices for individuals who are still clinging onto it. Thus, Apple stores will no longer provide support or servicing. The earlier 21.5-inch iMac and the sixth-generation iPod Touch have also been discontinued in addition to the iPhone 5S.
As an update to the iPhone 5, the iPhone 5S was released in 2013 with twice the power of its predecessor and a fingerprint scanner. It now goes up against other discontinued Apple devices, such the iPhone 6 Plus and the iPhone 5c. On the other hand, the original iPhone 5, iPhone 6, 6S, and 6S Plus are still listed as vintage, meaning that although they are no longer in production, they might still be supported.
The 6th-gen iPod Touch, released in 2015, has enjoyed a lengthy life by Apple standards, as the company typically starts labeling products vintage after five to seven years out of production. Apple discontinued the iPod Touch line in 2022, and now all models up to the 3rd generation are considered obsolete.
The 21.5-inch iMac, which debuted in late 2015, is also on its way out. This model, now dwarfed by today’s larger screens, joins the 27.5-inch Retina 5K iMacs from 2015 in retirement.
For those still using the iPhone 5S, it’s worth noting that OS and security updates are no longer available. Only iPhone models from the second-gen iPhone SE and iPhone Xs onwards have access to iOS 17.
The iPhone 5S represents a different era for Apple, one where incremental upgrades were the norm. Now, with the iPhone 15 and the upcoming iPhone 16, we see more modest improvements. The anticipated iPhone 16 promises better performance and enhanced zoom, but the real advancements will likely come with iOS 18, featuring significant generative AI enhancements, set to be unveiled at WWDC 2024.
