Apple is expected to officially retire at least three of its well-known gadgets in 2025, and a fan-favourite iPhone model is likely among them.
The tech giant routinely phases out older products, eventually ending support and repairs. But Apple’s structured end-of-life policy provides a reliable roadmap for predicting which devices are next in line for retirement.
Apple categorises ageing products in two phases: vintage and obsolete.
A device is considered vintage once Apple has stopped selling it for more than five but less than seven years. During this window, Apple still offers service and repair support, but only if parts are available. Once a product passes the seven-year mark, it enters obsolete status, meaning Apple no longer manufactures parts for it, making repairs virtually impossible.
That includes essential components like batteries, which naturally degrade over time and are often needed by long-time users.
Apple also typically provides iPhones with at least five years of software and security updates, although some models have received patches beyond that timeframe.
Using this policy, we can anticipate which devices may be added to Apple’s "kill list" in the coming year, and at the top of the list is the iPhone X.
Launched in 2017, the iPhone X was a landmark device that introduced the notch and Face ID, dramatically reshaping the iPhone’s design language. It was discontinued just a year later, following the debut of the iPhone XR and XS.
With 2025 marking seven years since it was pulled from Apple’s lineup, the iPhone X is poised to become obsolete, meaning users may no longer be able to access official support or replacement parts.
But iPhones aren’t the only products heading for retirement.
Two popular iPad models are also expected to reach the end of their service life in 2025: the iPad (5th generation) and the iPad Air 2. Both were discontinued in 2018, placing them right at the threshold for Apple’s obsolete classification next year, per Macworld.
Of course, Apple hasn’t officially confirmed which products will be retired in 2025, and nothing is final until the company says so.
Still, based on Apple’s well-defined timelines, users of these aging devices may want to start planning ahead, especially if repairs or software support are a concern.