Your Apple Watch Series 4’s new ‘vintage’ status means fixing it just got more complicated – here’s why
ZDNETThose of you still wearing an Apple Watch Series 4 on your wrist could now run into problems if your watch ever needs to be repaired. That’s because Apple labels products beyond a certain lifespan as “vintage,” which affects if, how, and where you can get them fixed if they break down.Also: 8 times the Apple Watch predicted danger and saved lives in 2024On the latest version of a page that explains what happens if an Apple product’s warranty has expired, the company added a couple of new devices to its vintage lineup on Thursday. Tops on the list is the Apple Watch Series 4, which debuted in 2018. That year aligns with the new designation. Based on Apple’s assessment, devices become vintage when the company has stopped selling them more than five years but less than seven years ago.What does it mean if you own a vintage product?If the device is still working, great. Keep using it as long as you want. But if it conks out, you may have trouble getting it fixed.You might be able to request parts and servicing; however, that depends on the availability of the parts. If your local Apple Store or third-party repair shop doesn’t have the parts in stock right away, you’ll have to wait until they’re found, or you may be out of luck completely. In that case, you may have to check eBay or a third-party reseller to try to uncover the parts yourself. More