According to a report from MacRumors, Apple moved the 2016 iPhone SE to its obsolete products list on Dec. 1, 2025. This update comes seven years after the device was discontinued in September 2018. Once a product receives this status, Apple Stores and Authorized Service Providers will no longer offer repairs or battery replacements for it.
Apple’s support timeline works in two stages: Devices become “vintage” five years after they’re no longer sold, which still allows for limited repair options. After another two years, they transition to “obsolete,” cutting off official service entirely.
The original iPhone SE first arrived in 2016, offering the internal hardware of the iPhone 6s - including Touch ID - in a compact body reminiscent of the iPhone 5s. It also marked the end of Apple’s 4-inch smartphones, as the company had already shifted its flagship models to 4.7 inches the year before.
The SE line didn’t receive an update until 2020, followed by a third-generation model in 2022 that added 5G and a newer processor. In 2024, Apple appeared to retire the SE branding altogether with the introduction of the iPhone 16e, an entry-level model that maintained Apple’s core experience at a lower price.
Several other older Apple devices were also added to the obsolete category this year, including the Apple Watch Series 1, the 11-inch MacBook Air from 2015, the 15-inch MacBook Pro from 2017, and the second-generation AirPort routers.
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