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Apple Classifies Early 2013 21.5-inch iMac as Obsolete

This is why all that hand wringing about whether to bump up to the next processor to “future proof” your computer is pointless. Once support is dropped for that year of machine it doesn’t matter if it has a Quad core 2.7GHz or a hamster on a wheel in your Mac. They all lose support the same day.
 
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Happily getting the value out of a late-2009 21.5” iMac upgraded with an Intel SSD and patched to run Mojave 10.14.5 :)

MacRumors said:



Apple has added the Early 2013 21.5-inch iMac to its vintage and obsolete products list. The model of iMac is now classified by the company as vintage in the United States and Turkey, and obsolete in the rest of the world.

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Apple defines vintage products as those that have not been manufactured for more than five but less than seven years. Macs and other products on the vintage and obsolete list are generally no longer eligible for hardware service at a Genius Bar or Apple Authorized Service Providers.

That being said, also-obsolete Late 2012 model iMacs are currently eligible for Apple's pilot program that allows for repairs to continue into the vintage period, subject to parts availability. It's not clear if the Early 2013 model 21.5-inch iMac will also come under the pilot program, but Apple has expanded it to include additional Macs and other Apple devices in the past.

The Early 2013 21.5-inch iMac was originally only available to educational institutions, taking advantage of a cheaper dual-core Intel Core i3 processor and integrated graphics to offer pricing of $1099, which was $200 less than the entry-level pricing for the consumer 2.15-inch iMac models Apple was selling at the time. The education-only iMac, which carries a model number of ME699LL/A, also included just 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.

Article Link: Apple Classifies Early 2013 21.5-inch iMac as Obsolete
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Let's destroy planet Earth! Apple should release more headless Macs, including low, middle and high products, from Mac mini to Mac Pro, and also a new mini tower. CPU may last seven years (then you cannot install new macOS releases but displays last more than 20 years. Fight programmed obsolescence, protect the environment and fight climate change and global warming.
 
As a 2012 owner, welcome to the club.

But look at the bright side, we can still upgrade to Catalina :)
 
now i see it said:
it's all about churn & burn. Churn & burn. That's why buying a high end loaded config of any of their products is such a poor investment. (looking at you MacBook Pro, IMac Pro, new Mac Pro)
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Tbf, that's always been the case with PCs too. Paying more to spec up has always been a very poor investment with little more being fetched over the base spec when it comes to selling years down the road.

ColdShadow said:
That’s way too early..
I still have my 2011 21.5” iMac and use it as my work machine and it runs great..no way it’s obsolete..
They should have started from 2010 and older.
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Except my 21.5" 2010 iMac can run Mojave (and, it seems, Catalina too) with no hardware changes whereas my 2011 27" model is stuck on High Sierra.
 
Marx55 said:
Let's destroy planet Earth! Apple should release more headless Macs, including low, middle and high products, from Mac mini to Mac Pro, and also a new mini tower. CPU may last seven years (then you cannot install new macOS releases but displays last more than 20 years. Fight programmed obsolescence, protect the environment and fight climate change and global warming.
Click to expand...

You do know it is not a bit that gets flipped and your computer is suddenly a boat anchor - the computers will still work, they just won't support them if something goes wrong, right? Also, just so you know, there is a thing called Target Display Mode. Look it up.
 
retta283 said:
Still using a 2010 iMac as my main machine. Low Sierra and some upgrades make this thing run great. If I need repairs done, I will do them myself.
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Isn’t that the model where it’s really easy to open up because it’s got magnets holding the screen? I worked on my brother in laws and I think his was the 2010, the magnets and screws are such a novel idea... better then glue!!
I maxed the RAM and stuck in a nice SSD HDD hybrid drive if I remember of 1 or 2 terabytes. Been running fine since.
He wants a new one still though but my sister won’t allow him haha..
 
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apolloa said:
Isn’t that the model where it’s really easy to open up because it’s got magnets holding the screen? I worked on my brother in laws and I think his was the 2010, the magnets and screws are such a novel idea... better then glue!!
I maxed the RAM and stuck in a nice SSD HDD hybrid drive if I remember of 1 or 2 terabytes. Been running fine since.
He wants a new one still though but my sister won’t allow him haha..
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Yes, only the new thin iMacs since 2012 are glued together. With patience, these are very easy to work on.
 
Staff member: Obsolete the 2012 Mac Mini?

Tim: That’s gonna be a big C-E-NO, Bob.

Staff member: Sir, my name is Mac.

Tim: I know what your name is.

Mac: ...Mac Book. (Reveals he’s using a Surface)

Tim: Gtfo
 
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I wonder how long the average whiner/complainer expects Apple to officially support old hardware... would be an interesting sociological study for the “I’m the only person that matters” generations
 
Some people don't seem to understand the difference of the year a product is released and when Apple stops selling them.

5 years support is from when they stop selling them, for some products this means it's more or a lot more than 5 years, my 2012 13" MBP was still sold until October 2016, so still 2 years to go.
The current Mac Pro (2013) will be supported until December 2024!!!
 
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timborama said:
Yet it looks exactly the same as the current models.
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Not quite exactly... it got thinner... but if you rightfully want to ignore the thinness, then I'd point out that it's almost indistinguishable from the 2007 iMac (the only giveaway is that from 2007-2012, the black border was rounded on the bottom and didn't extend all the way to the edges of the frame.)

And... really, Apple has had the same basic design for the iMac since 2004, although the frame was made of white plastic instead of aluminum from 2004-2007.

The iconic fun plastic Mac design only lasted from 1998-2003... the aluminum footed design has been going for 15 years now, since 2004. And the dumb flower one hardly lasted anytime at all (just 2002-2004, overlapping with both the iconic fun one before it and the flat foot after it.)
 
I have a 27”. Still runs well, wish i could say the same for my previous windows machines at 2-3 years old.
 
Important to note this is for the Early 2013 model, which was a stripped down 2012 model with integrated graphics only, initially only sold to education markets.
 
justperry said:
Some people don't seem to understand the difference of the year a product is released and when Apple stops selling them.

5 years support is from when they stop selling them, for some products this means it's more or a lot more than 5 years, my 2012 13" MBP was still sold until October 2016, so still 2 years to go.
The current Mac Pro (2013) will be supported until December 2024!!!
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This means the 2015 15 rMBP should be supported until July 2023. That's awesome.
 
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Pelea said:
Excellent News, to be honest products should be immediately classified as obsolete as soon as a newer model comes out. Why would people even want to have an old ugly product instead of having the latest and greatest every year!
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Money does grow on trees I hear
 
apolloa said:
Isn’t that the model where it’s really easy to open up because it’s got magnets holding the screen? I worked on my brother in laws and I think his was the 2010, the magnets and screws are such a novel idea... better then glue!!
I maxed the RAM and stuck in a nice SSD HDD hybrid drive if I remember of 1 or 2 terabytes. Been running fine since.
He wants a new one still though but my sister won’t allow him haha..
Click to expand...

Its not ‘glue’ holding the screen on on newer models, its just a sticky tape, and its fairly easy to remove and do hard drive upgrades, etc. - with the right tools (courtesy of ifixit).

I’ve done a few upgrades on 2013-2019 iMacs.
Actually easier than the ones with the magnets and the screws imo, since the magnets made it fairly difficult to get the screws back in.

Also, the older models had 4 wires connecting the screen to the mother board, the newer ‘taped on’ screen iMacs have only two wires.

iFixit is your friend. Look at upgrade instructions on their site before you spread disinformation.
 
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macpeach55 said:
Looks like my late 2013 27" iMac could be for the block soon then
(According to Apple that is - I popped a Samsung 860 EVO 2TB in a few months ago, & it's running great! )
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I have the same with full RAM, an i7 and the 4 GB GPU option. I hope they don’t retire it, because it still screams, but they probably will. :(
 
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