There was a time when a watch worn on the wrist was either a timekeeping device, or a luxury item.
Gone are those days, as some watches can also be considered "smartwatches," in which they are "smart," and can do much more than just telling the time, or becoming expensive devices.
Among those that manufacture smartwatches, include Apple.
Apple Watch as the company calls it, the devices incorporate fitness tracking, health-oriented capabilities, and wireless telecommunication. They can also integrate with iOS and other Apple products and services.
The first Apple Watch was released in April 2015, and quickly became the best-selling wearable device: 4.2 million were sold in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Then, 5 years later in 2020, it was estimated that more than 100 million people were using an Apple Watch.
And a year later, in 2021, or six years after the original Apple Watch release, Apple has added its 2015-made 38mm and 42mm Apple Watch models to its list of vintage and obsolete products.
Its inclusion on the vintage and obsolete list marks the first time that an Apple wearable has been declared a "vintage."
It is said that Apple defines "vintage" devices as those devices that have not been manufactured for more than five years but fewer than seven years.
"Obsolete" products, on the other hand, are those that have been discontinued for more than seven years.
When an Apple product is considered "vintage," it has a limited support or repair options.
For example, owners of "vintage" products can no longer visit the Genius Bar in Apple retails Stores or from Apple Authorized Service Providers to get their devices fixed. But Apple however, offers extended repairs for some vintage products, and in locations where extended repairs are required by law.
As for "obsolete" products, owners won't be able to ever receive hardware service from Apple technicians or Authorized Service Providers anymore.
And that is with "no exceptions."
Having updated its vintage list, the original Apple Watch devices join the likes of MacBook computers from as early as 2013, Mac computers made from as early as 2013, Mac mini devices that date from as early as 2010, iPhone 4 devices, iPod classic and more.
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