Apple makes the iPhone X obsolete ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro

Apple is turning a page in its history by classing the iPhone X, released to mark the iPhone’s 10th anniversary, as obsolete. The move has been made official as the company prepares to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September. Apple is also expected to announce its very first foldable iPhone. Next year, it is expected to launch the iPhone XX to celebrate two decades of its flagship product.

This is part of a cycle. As new Apple products reach the market, older ones are automatically deemed “obsolete” once they reach a certain age. Apple gives this term a very specific definition. “A product is considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing it for sale more than 7 years ago,” an Apple support page explains. Once a device receives this status, Apple stops offering repair services for it, although an exception may be made for Mac batteries.

The iPhone X is now obsolete

Apple has recently added a landmark product to its list of obsolete devices: the iPhone X. Introduced by Apple in 2017, it paved the way for the modern iPhone. The company launched the iPhone X to celebrate 10 years of the iPhone, and it was Apple’s first smartphone with a “borderless” OLED display. Although it was not the first smartphone to feature this component, the iPhone X also helped popularise the “notch” screen design across the industry.

Apple is classing the iPhone X as obsolete just as it is preparing to reveal the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and possibly its brand-new foldable iPhone. Apple’s keynote is scheduled for September. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to deliver a significant improvement in processor performance. However, all signs suggest Apple will raise its prices because of the shortage of RAM and storage. The foldable iPhone, meanwhile, is expected to use a “passport” format similar to Samsung’s hugely successful Galaxy Z Fold8.

Apple is also preparing the iPhone XX

The iPhone X is becoming obsolete while Apple is already developing the new model intended to mark the iPhone’s 20th anniversary in 2027. Some media outlets refer to this smartphone as the “iPhone XX”. According to rumours, Apple has conceived a glass-focused design, with a curved screen and rear panel.

As usual, this information should still be treated cautiously, as it is only based on rumours. Nevertheless, it is almost certain that Apple will introduce major design innovations to mark the 20th anniversary of its flagship product.

What we think

Apple products have considerable longevity. On the software side, the company can provide security updates for very long periods, even if the length of iPhone support is not always clearly stated. On the hardware side, Apple still offers repair services for products released more than 7 years ago.