Apple labels 2017 MacBook Pro 'Vintage': What this means for users

Apple has designated the 2017 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar as a vintage product, joining the very first MacBook Pro with Touch Bar that was added to the list last year.

According to Apple's policy, a product is considered vintage five years after the end of its distribution for sales, which means that parts for repairs may no longer be available at Apple Stores or Authorised Service Providers (AASP).

This decision from Apple comes after the company confirmed that the 2017 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar will not receive the upcoming macOS 14 update.

2017 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

The 2017 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is the second generation of Apple's laptop featuring a touch bar. It was introduced with the 2016 models and gained popularity for its dynamic and context-sensitive functionality.

However, these MacBook Pro models faced notoriety due to issues with the Butterfly Keyboard, prompting Apple to acknowledge the problem and announce a recall for faulty keyboards.

Differentiating between Touch Bar and Non-Touch Bar Models

While the 2017 MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar are now classified as vintage, the non-Touch Bar version with only two Thunderbolt ports still has an additional year before it meets the vintage criteria.

Apple continued to sell the 2017 entry-level model without updates in 2018, extending its availability in stores.

Incompatibility with macOS Sonoma and Limited Support

All MacBook models introduced in 2017, including the Touch Bar ones, will not support the upcoming macOS Sonoma.

This latest macOS version, announced at WWDC 2023 and expected to be released this fall, will not be available for these laptops. Instead, these MacBook Pro models will receive only security patches for the next two years.

From Vintage to Obsolete

Apple has a separate category called "Obsolete Products" for discontinued products.

While vintage products may or may not have available repair parts, obsolete products are not eligible for any type of repair at Apple Stores or service providers.

A product enters the obsolete list seven years after the end of its distribution for sales. However, there is an exception for MacBook batteries. Apple offers battery repairs for up to 10 years after the laptop has been discontinued.

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