It was some of the hotly-anticipated units in Apple’s current historical past.
But now, the tech big has consigned its second era Apple Watch to the scrap heap.
It means homeowners of the $269/£269 device, launched again in 2016, will be left without any support from Apple if something goes wrong with it.
First seen by MacRumours, Apple has added the Apple Watch Series 2 to the official listing of merchandise it deems out of date.
Apple considers a product out of date when it stopped distributing it on the market greater than seven years in the past.
It means the device has misplaced support and is now not eligible for restore at an Apple Store or a certified third-occasion service supplier.
Essentially it means if the product stops working Apple is not obliged to repair it – rendering it barely greater than a relic from the previous.
Apple explains on its web site: ‘Products are thought of out of date when Apple stopped distributing them on the market greater than 7 years in the past.
Apple has as soon as once more up to date its dreaded out of date merchandise listing, consigning extra of its tech to the scrap heap (file picture)
Apple has consigned its second era Apple Watch to the scrap heap. It means homeowners of the $269/£269 device, launched again in 2016, will be left without any support from Apple if something goes wrong with it
‘Apple discontinues all {hardware} service for out of date merchandise, and service suppliers can’t order components for out of date merchandise.
‘Mac laptops could also be eligible for an prolonged battery-solely restore interval for as much as 10 years from when the product was final distributed on the market, topic to components availability.’
At the time a a lot-anticipated comply with-as much as the unique Apple Watch, the second era mannequin got here with added waterproofing and constructed-in GPS.
MailOnline’s 4 star evaluation known as it an ‘wonderful smartwatch’ with a sturdy enchancment in battery life, however not ‘essentially the novel redesign many had been hoping for’.
Apple Watch Series 2’s aluminum and chrome steel variants – which initially retailed for $269 (£269) – are on the listing which means they’re now out of date.
However the costlier ceramic model ($369/£369) is but to added, which means Apple ought to nonetheless present companies for it.
If you do have this ceramic model of Apple Watch Series 2, it could also be value getting any repairs sorted as quickly as doable.
Meanwhile, Apple has listed two smartphones as ‘classic’ – the iPhone XS Max (launched in 2018) and iPhone 6s Plus (launched in 2015).
Apple has additionally listed two smartphones as ‘classic’ – the iPhone XS Max (2018, pictured right here left) and iPhone 6s Plus (2015)
‘Vintage’ means Apple stopped promoting it greater than 5 years in the past and because of this it might or might not be capable to obtain Apple companies.
Although Apple releases a number of units to feverish fanfare yearly, much more are quietly consigned to the know-how scrap heap.
But environmental campaigners imagine a lifetime of lower than a decade is not cheap for a tech device retailing a number of lots of of kilos.
Tech corporations together with Apple have confronted fierce criticism for fuelling an ‘e-waste disaster’, the place piles of digital waste are build up in landfill.
After a device is discarded and e-waste is warmed up, poisonous chemical substances are launched into the air damaging the environment.
E-waste in landfills may seep poisonous supplies seep into groundwater, affecting animals and vegetation.
‘Electronic waste is the world’s quickest rising waste stream and represents a world disaster,’ mentioned Nathan Proctor, senior director of Public Interest Research Group’s proper to restore marketing campaign.
‘Companies that use software program to forestall suitable spare components from working totally make this drawback worse, whereas harming shoppers and undermining native restore retailers.’
Earlier this yr, Apple listed its final ever iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle fashions as out of date, in addition to the iPhone 6.
The tech big offered a number of generations of the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle between 2005 and 2015 – affectionately remembered by music lovers and tech followers alike.
iPod Nano was marketed because the mid-vary mannequin within the iPod household, whereas the little iPod Shuffle was well-known for coming without a display screen.
