Apple adds the Apple TV HD to its ‘obsolete’ list despite it running tv OS 26 — and now users want a new 4K model more than ever | Tech Radar

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Apple adds the Apple TV HD to its ‘obsolete’ list despite it running tv OS 26 — and now users want a new 4K model more than ever

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Apple has listed the 32GB Apple TV HD and i Pad Mini 4 'obsolete', and the 2017 Mac Book Air is 'vintage'

A lot of users are confused, as the Apple TV HD is still getting tv OS 26 updates

It could mean a new Apple TV 4K is coming this year

Apple has added three more devices to its lists of ‘obsolete’ and ‘vintage’ products, and it’s caused a bit of confusion as all three are still in widespread use — and one in particular, the 32GB Apple TV HD, is still very popular.

The tech giant updated its support page yesterday (March 31), declaring the 32GB Apple TV HD and i Pad Mini 4, both which were launched in 2015, obsolete. It also added the 2017 13-inch Mac Book Air to its list of vintage devices.

What does this mean for users who still use these devices? For the 32GB Apple TV HD and i Pad Mini 4, it means they’re no longer eligible for repair services at Apple, so you’ll have to rely on third-party providers. Additionally, Apple will no longer supply spare parts for the two devices. The 64GB Apple TV HD remains fully supported.

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Because the 2017 Mac Book Air is now vintage rather than obsolete, it’s still eligible for Apple’s repair services, however this is subject to whether parts are available.

Every now and then, Apple adds a handful of products to its obsolete and vintage lists as it launches new devices across its i Phone, i Pad, Mac, and other categories, subject to specific criteria.

“Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago”, the company states on its support page. “Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago”.

Still using your 32GB Apple TV HD as if you bought it only yesterday? You’re not the only one, and many users can’t understand why Apple has made this decision.

Apple listing the 32GB Apple TV HD has surfaced a lot of confusion and frustration among users, especially since the now obsolete 32GB device runs tv OS 26, which rolled out just six months ago in September. Some of those users have taken to Reddit in protest, with one posting "This is honestly pretty weird."

Although the 32GB Apple TV HD is still receiving tv OS 26 updates, the fact that it’s been declared obsolete leads us to believe that it won’t be included in the roster of devices that will be eligible for tv OS 27, which is expected to be announced at WWDC 2026 on June 8 alongside i OS 27.

That suggests the next Apple TV 4K model could drop some time this year, having failed to appear after rumors suggested it was going to drop at the end of 2025.

Reddit users are also wondering why only the 32GB Apple TV HD is affected, and not the 64GB version. Apple hasn’t made any comment on why this is the case, so we’re just as stumped as everyone else. It could be that Apple is waiting until the announcement of the next Apple TV 4K to shift the 64GB Apple TV HD onto its obsolete list — we’ll have to wait and see what’s announced on June 8.

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Rowan is an Editorial Associate and Apprentice Writer for Tech Radar. A recent addition to the news team, he is involved in generating stories for topics that spread across Tech Radar's categories. His interests in audio tech and knowledge in entertainment culture help bring the latest updates in tech news to our readers.

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• Apple adds the Apple TV HD to its ‘obsolete’ list despite it running tv OS 26 — and now users want a new 4K model more than ever