Apple Says My Phone Is Obsolete — Now What?

Industry News & Repair Guides — All Mobile Matters

All Mobile Matters • 6 min read

On August 13, 2026, Apple quietly updated a support document and moved the iPhone X onto its “obsolete products” list, right alongside the 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro. No press release, no announcement — just a line item change that a lot of tech sites picked up on within a day. If you’re one of our customers here in Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, or Tucson still carrying an iPhone X, I wanted to break down what this actually means for you, because the headlines make it sound scarier than it is.

What “Obsolete” Actually Means (and Doesn’t)

Apple runs a two-tier system for aging products, and it’s worth understanding both tiers:

Vintage — a device that’s been off the market for more than 5 but less than 7 years. At this stage, Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers may still repair it, but only if they happen to have parts on hand. It’s best-effort, not guaranteed.

Obsolete — a device that’s been discontinued for more than 7 years. At this point, Apple and its authorized providers stop hardware service entirely, and they can no longer order replacement parts for it at all — even if a customer is willing to pay full price.

The iPhone X launched in November 2017 and was pulled from Apple’s lineup in September 2018 when the XS, XS Max, and XR took over. That puts its obsolete date right on schedule — about seven years and eleven months after its last day of sale.

Here’s the important part: obsolete doesn’t mean broken, and it doesn’t mean unrepairable. It means Apple’s own service channels are closed. Your iPhone X will keep working exactly as it did the day before the announcement. And if the screen cracks or the battery starts swelling, you’ve still got options — they just don’t run through Apple anymore.

We Never Stopped Supporting These Devices

This is where All Mobile Matters comes in. We’ve been repairing older Apple devices for years after Apple walks away from them, and the iPhone X is no exception — we keep screens, batteries, back glass, charging ports, and camera lenses in stock for it at every location, from Scottsdale to Tucson.

Here’s the current list of Apple devices that have crossed into obsolete territory but that we still actively repair in our shops:

iPhones:
iPhone (original), iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and now the iPhone X.

iPads:
iPad (1st gen), iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad 5, iPad Pro, iPad Pro 12.9-inch, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad Mini, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 3, and iPad Mini 4.

If you’ve got a device from that list gathering dust in a drawer, or you’re happily still using one and just need a battery or screen, bring it into any of our Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, or Chandler locations, or reach out to our Tucson on-site team if you’re not near a shop.

A Personal Note on the iPhone X

I’ll admit this one stings a little. The iPhone X was a genuinely groundbreaking device — the first iPhone with an OLED display, the first with Face ID, the phone that killed the home button for good. It changed the direction of every iPhone that came after it. Seeing it get filed away as “obsolete” feels like the end of an era, even if the device itself is still perfectly capable for plenty of people.

If you’re one of those people who’s content with your iPhone X and sees no reason to spend $1,000+ on something new, we’re not going to talk you out of it. A fresh battery or a new screen can keep that device running well for years to come, and we’re here to make that possible.

Have Questions?

Whether it’s about this announcement, a device on the list above, or anything else, reach out — we’re always happy to help, whether you’re in Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, or the greater Tucson area.

Sources: MacRumors, Apple Support: Vintage and Obsolete Products

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