Apple Adding Thunderbolt Display and Original iPad Air to Obsolete Products List

[MacRumors]

Apple will be adding the Thunderbolt Display and the first-generation iPad Air to its obsolete products list worldwide on May 31, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors. Obsolete products are no longer eligible for repairs or other hardware service at Apple Stores or Apple Authorized Service Providers.

Introduced in 2011, the Thunderbolt Display featured a 27-inch screen, a 1440p resolution, a 720p camera, three USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a Thunderbolt port. The monitor was priced at $999 in the U.S. and was discontinued in 2016, resulting in years without an Apple-branded external display. Its modern day successor is the Studio Display, released alongside the Mac Studio last year.

The original iPad Air launched in 2013 and was also discontinued in 2016. The device was equipped with a 9.7-inch display and the A7 chip, and it was advertised as being 20% thinner, 28% lighter, and having 43% narrower display bezels compared to the previous iPad. Pricing started at $499 in the U.S. for the Wi-Fi-only model.

Apple classifies a product as technologically obsolete once more than seven years have passed since the company stopped distributing it for sale.

Article Link: Apple Adding Thunderbolt Display and Original iPad Air to Obsolete Products List

 

[ct2k7]

Rest in peace

 

[dantracht]

I still love the look of that display. I don’t have an air 1, but my air 2 is still going strong.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

The original iPad Air was launched in 2013.

Hard to believe this was 10 years ago. Wow! Where did the time go? RIP! 🪦

 

[asdfjkl;]

Still pretty decent specs for a 12 year old display.

 

[tomtad]

I don't agree with this decision

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Who is waiting for this day?

Apple Adding Apple Polishing Cloth to Obsolete Products List​

Apple Releases Polishing Cloth for $19

Apple today released a microfiber Polishing Cloth accessory, designed for cleaning the screens of Apple devices, for $19. Although today's...

www.macrumors.com

 

[dannyyankou]

The iPad Air is such an iconic design, it's still being used today in the 9th gen iPad

 

[Populus]

I still have an original iPad Air in my home, and I think I have until may 31st to change its battery, but honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it. Being stuck at iOS 12 and with 1GB of RAM, I think it’s better to let it rest.

 

[chewbaka]

Still pretty decent specs for a 12 year old display.

Especially considering all the 27-28” FHD displays the big PC manufacturers are still hocking.

 

[TrenttonY]

I’ve always loved the look of the Thunderbolt Display. I wish the iMac would take that design.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Even accounting for inflation, the $999 Thunderbolt Display was much cheaper than the $1599 Studio Display.

As far as the iPad Air, good riddance. It should have never had only 1GB of RAM. The Air 2 was so much more "future-proof" in that regard, and it was proven with its much longer support for iOS.

 

[headlessmike]

Still pretty decent specs for a 12 year old display.

And it was essentially just a refreshed LED Cinema Display from 2008, taking the same case and panel and updating the I/O. I have the older model and it works beautifully with my M1 mini.

 

[asdfjkl;]

Even accounting for inflation, the $999 Thunderbolt Display was much cheaper than the $1599 Studio Display.

After 12 years, an inflation adjusted $999 is only ~$1370. So Apple's upped the price ~$200. I personally don't think the Studio Display will have the same legs as the Thunderbolt display. Time will tell.

 

[ocnitsa]

I still love my Thunderbolt Display.

I was shocked it hadn’t been put on the obsolete list years ago, however!

 

[chewbaka]

After 12 years, an inflation adjusted $999 is only ~$1370. So Apple's upped the price ~$200. I personally don't think the Studio Display will have the same legs as the Thunderbolt display. Time will tell.

Irrelevant, unless the new display has the exact same component and labor cost in real dollars, which I doubt it does.

 

[3rdiguy]

My Thunderbolt Display is still going strong. Will cop a new MBP or new Air and get the necessary cables to keep this party going.

 

[anshuvorty]

After 12 years, an inflation adjusted $999 is only ~$1370. So Apple's upped the price ~$200. I personally don't think the Studio Display will have the same legs as the Thunderbolt display. Time will tell.

Although expensive, for some reason, I prefer to watch content on my ASD than on my other monitor. It might possibly be the glossy finish, but the colors seem more vibrant and more accurate on the ASD than on the other OEM monitors, such as LG, Asus, etc.

 

[randolorian]

The Thunderbolt Display is awesome. I hope the Studio Display is as reliable.

 

[stevec618]

It's still a great display. Mine only cost me £150 and works perfectly with my Mac Studio.

 

[SDJim]

Reading this on my Thunderbolt Display 😈
You failed to mention the quality microphone (not a guarantee on devices with cameras) and solid speakers meant to clear your desk of anything except your monitor. It was is a great product! Even with having to use a TB2 -> TB3 adapter! 😅

 

[daneoni]

Ran my 27" LED Cinema Display pretty much daily from 2012 until last month, and it was absolutely bullet proof.

I'll never forget it because it was a 'free' upgrade from Apple, after they couldn't fix my 24" model. I remember powering it on and just being like...wow.

But alas, i wanted Retina on my desktop. So i upgraded to the ASD.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

Don't forget that while Apple and authorized repair providers won't fix these, there are plenty of un-authorized repair shops that absolutely will.

And they generally do a better job than Apple, and frequently cost less. You should ALWAYS go to independent repair shops FIRST if your Apple products are out of warranty.

 

[TVreporter]

Again Apple taking the environmental approach - we aren’t fixing it, but we’ll sell you a new one!

 

[everlast3434]

I have a Thunderbolt Display that I use daily and it still works flawlessly!