Written by Moanis Hawass Sunday, December 10, 2023 08:00 AM
The 2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro officially joined Apple’s lineup of legacy products today, marking the end of guaranteed software support and hardware repairs from the company, with the transition occurring five years after Apple stopped selling the device.
The 2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro was a significant upgrade from its predecessor, featuring a sleek design, the faster A12X Bionic chip, and improved Face ID capabilities, and was praised for its powerful performance and large screen, making it a popular choice for creative professionals and students alike.
Five years after its launch, the 2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro has been eclipsed by newer iterations with faster processors, improved cameras, and additional features like Face ID, yet its legacy remains a testament to the immense potential of the iPad Pro line.
Although it can still run current versions of iPadOS, developers may prioritize newer devices for optimization and future software updates, and the move to legacy status means Apple will no longer guarantee hardware repairs for the 2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
However, authorized service providers may continue to offer repairs depending on parts availability, and in addition, Apple may continue to offer outdated software updates for some time, although this is not guaranteed.
What are old Apple products?
A Vintage Apple product is one that doesn’t get regular software products, and one of the notable features of an iPhone, iPad or Mac is that they continue to get software updates for at least five years.
But an old product cannot get any updates, and Apple also does not promise repairs or maintenance for these products. Apple explains on its support page that “products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago.” This does not mean that the device will stop working but it is just that the validity period will be denied again when the user does not get regular updates.
