Although Apple releases several devices to feverish fanfare every year, even more are quietly consigned to the technology scrap heap.
And 2024 is no different, as the multi-trillion-dollar company has quietly added several popular devices to its dreaded obsolete products list.
It means users worldwide are without any support if something goes wrong with their device.
These much loved gadgets, released not even a decade ago, let users listen to music on the way the old-fashioned way – without streaming apps.
So, do you still own one?
Apple has once again updated its dreaded obsolete products list, consigning more of its tech to the scrap heap (file photo)
First noticed by MacRumours, the products added to the list are its last ever iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle models, as well as the iPhone 6.
The tech giant sold several generations of the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle between 2005 and 2015.
iPod Nano was marketed as the mid-range model in the iPod family, while the little iPod Shuffle was famous for coming without a screen.
But the ones just added to the obsolete product list are the final models it ever released, back in 2015.
They are the £129 iPod Nano 7th generation in six colours – gold, silver, blue, pink, space grey and Product Red –and the £49 iPod Shuffle 4th generation in six colours – blue, pink, silver, gold, space grey, and Product Red.
Back in 2017, Apple discontinued the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle, meaning it was no longer selling them.
But now the devices have lost support, which means in the longer eligible for repair at an Apple Store or an authorized third-party service provider.
iPod Shuffle (fourth generation in new colours introduced on July 15, 2015) offered a sleek design with up to 15 hours of battery life, 2GB of storage good for hundreds of songs, and a VoiceOver button to hear a song title, playlist name, or battery status
The £129 iPod Nano 7th generation in six colours – gold, silver, blue, pink, space grey and Product Red – is now obsolete
Essentially it means if the product stops working Apple is not obliged to fix it – rendering it barely more than a relic from the past.
Apple has also added the iPhone 6 standard model to the list, having already made the larger iPhone 6 Plus obsolete back in April.
iPhone 6 is slightly older, having been released back in 2014 – although some say a lifetime of less than a decade isn’t reasonable for a tech device.
Tech companies including Apple have faced fierce criticism for fuelling an ‘e-waste crisis’, where piles of electronic waste are building up in landfill.
After a device is discarded and e-waste is warmed up, toxic chemicals are released into the air damaging the atmosphere.
Apple has also added the iPhone 6 standard model (pictured) to the list, having already made the larger iPhone 6 Plus obsolete back in April
E-waste in landfills can also seep toxic materials seep into groundwater, affecting animals and plants.
According to Apple, it considers its products obsolete when it stopped distributing them for sale more than seven years ago.
iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone X, IPhone 11, iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 have all been discontinued in recent years.
So it’s just a matter of time before these once popular devices – all retailing £500 or more at time of release – are made obsolete too.
MailOnline has contacted Apple for comment.