We all know that Apple declares obsolete a specific model of its devices seven years after it stopped selling it officially. So if the last Thunderbolt Display unit sold by Apple was on May 31, 2016, there's nothing more to say.
That does not mean that you have to renew it yes or yes, far from it. Your screen may continue to work well for many more years, but know that in the event of a breakdown, Apple is not going to fix it for you anymore. You will have to find a life with other unofficial repairmen.
Apple has a standard regarding the supply of spare parts. All of their items have an expiration date so they can be repaired by the company. Specifically, seven years since it stopped selling. And we now have a practical example with the external screen Thunderbolt Display Apple.
This screen was launched on the market in 2011, and Apple was selling it until May 31, 2016. Currently, this space is occupied by the monitor studio display, much more modern and with features in line with the current market for high-end monitors.
That same last day of May, along with the Thunderbolt Display, another Apple device will become obsolete. We refer to iPad Air first generation. It was the first model of the iPad Air, which was launched on the market in 2013, and was replaced by the second generation in 2016.
But what does it mean for Apple that a specific model is obsolete? Well, simply that it will no longer have a stock of spare parts, and it will not repair it anymore in case of failure. So if your Thunderbolt Display unfortunately breaks down after June 1, you will no longer be able to take it to an official Apple service to have it repaired. You will have to find an unofficial repairer to do it. It is the law of life...