An iPhone is a very significant investment, and it’s normal to want to make sure it will last a long time. On the hardware side, there is nothing to worry about. considering the powerful processors they have, including the new A18 and A18 Pro that the iPhone 16 has.
And what about the software? Well, there is not much to worry about in this regard. If they are known for anything in Cupertino, it is for the years they support their devices. Today we will see how long you can enjoy the latest iOS news on your iPhone depending on the years in which you will update.
How many years of updates does Apple provide to iPhones?
Apple recently confirmed a minimum of five years of security updates for iPhones. However, there is an unwritten rule: It’s usually about six years of full updates. We also see how the company is not taking any risks in terms of security and launched one earlier this year for the iPhone 5s, which has just celebrated 11 years since its presentation. There, it’s nothing.
For reference, iOS 18, which is the latest version of the operating system presented, is compatible with smartphones identical to iOS 17. That is, from iPhone XS and including iPhone XR. Of course, also to the new iPhone 16.
The oldest of these are the iPhone XS, XS Max and They will complete their seven years of rigor.
All iPhones that can no longer update
If we look the average number of years previous models have been updated We see that it varies between 4 and 6 years (with specific exceptions at the top and bottom).
|
ORIGINAL IOS VERSION |
FINAL VERSION OF IOS |
TOTAL YEARS OF SUPPORT |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
IPHONE (1ª GEN.) |
iPhoneOS1 (2007) |
iPhoneOS3 (2010) |
3 years |
|
IPHONE 3G |
iPhoneOS2 (2008) |
iOS4 (2011) |
3 years |
|
IPHONE 3GS |
iPhoneOS3 (2009) |
iOS6 (2013) |
4 years |
|
IPHONE4 |
iOS4 (2010) |
iOS9 (2016) |
6 years |
|
IPHONE4S |
iOS5 (2011) |
iOS9 (2016) |
5 years |
|
IPHONE 5 |
iOS6 (2012) |
iOS 10 (2017) |
5 years |
|
IPHONE 5C |
iOS7 (2013) |
iOS 10 (2017) |
4 years |
|
iphone5s |
iOS7 (2013) |
iOS 12 (2019) |
6 years |
|
iphone6 |
iOS8 (2014) |
iOS 12 (2019) |
5 years |
|
iphone6 plus |
iOS8 (2014) |
iOS 12 (2019) |
5 years |
|
iphone6s |
iOS9 (2015) |
iOS15 (2022) |
7 years |
|
iphone 6s plus |
iOS9 (2015) |
iOS15 (2022) |
7 years |
|
iphone se (1st gen.) |
iOS9 (2016) |
iOS15 (2022) |
6 years |
|
iphone7 |
iOS 10 (2016) |
iOS15 (2022) |
6 years |
|
iPhone 7 Plus |
iOS 10 (2016) |
iOS15 (2022) |
6 years |
|
iphone8 |
iOS 11 (2017) |
iOS16 (2023) |
6 years |
|
iphone 8 plus |
iOS 11 (2017) |
iOS16 (2023) |
6 years |
|
iphonex |
iOS 11 (2017) |
iOS16 (2023) |
6 years |
How many updates are left on your iPhone?
Now knowing which are the latest obsolete models, we can expect that Current models have a lifespan of around six years in totalexcept the ‘SE’. Of course, this statement will ultimately depend on the level of demand for each new iOS arriving and whether the hardware in older iPhones supports it. When in doubt, it will be Apple itself that will dispel our doubts.
|
ORIGINAL IOS VERSION |
FINAL IOS VERSION EXPECTED |
|
|---|---|---|
|
IPHONE |
iOS12 (2018) |
iOS18 (2025) |
|
IPHONE XSMAX |
iOS12 (2018) |
iOS18 (2025) |
|
IPHONE |
iOS12 (2018) |
iOS18 (2025) |
|
IPHONE11 |
iOS 13 (2019) |
iOS18 (2025) |
|
IPHONE 11 PRO |
iOS 13 (2019) |
iOS18 (2025) |
|
IPHONE 11 PRO MAX |
iOS 13 (2019) |
iOS18 (2025) |
|
IPHONE SE (2ª GEN.) |
iOS 13 (2020) |
iOS18 (2025) |
|
IPHONE12 |
iOS 14 (2020) |
iOS19 (2026) |
|
IPHONE 12 MINI |
iOS 14 (2020) |
iOS19 (2026) |
|
IPHONE 12 PRO |
iOS 14 (2020) |
iOS19 (2026) |
|
IPHONE 12 PRO MAX |
iOS 14 (2020) |
iOS19 (2026) |
|
IPHONE13 |
iOS15 (2021) |
iOS 20 (2027) |
|
IPHONE 13 MINI |
iOS15 (2021) |
iOS 20 (2027) |
|
IPHONE 13 PRO |
iOS15 (2021) |
iOS 20 (2027) |
|
IPHONE 13 PRO MAX |
iOS15 (2021) |
iOS 20 (2027) |
|
IPHONE SE (3rd GEN.) |
iOS15 (2022) |
iOS 20 (2027) |
|
IPHONE14 |
iOS 16 (2022) |
iOS 21 (2028) |
|
IPHONE14 PLUS |
iOS 16 (2022) |
iOS 21 (2028) |
|
IPHONE 14 PRO |
iOS 16 (2022) |
iOS 21 (2028) |
|
IPHONE 14 PRO MAX |
iOS16 (2022) |
iOS 21 (2028) |
|
IPHONE15 |
iOS17 (2023) |
iOS22 (2029) |
|
IPHONE 15 PLUS |
iOS17 (2023) |
iOS22 (2029) |
|
IPHONE 15 PRO |
iOS17 (2023) |
iOS22 (2029) |
|
IPHONE 15 PRO MAX |
iOS17 (2023) |
iOS22 (2029) |
|
IPHONE16 |
iOS18 (2024) |
iOS23 (2030) |
|
IPHONE16 PLUS |
iOS18 (2024) |
iOS23 (2030) |
|
IPHONE 16 PRO |
iOS18 (2024) |
iOS23 (2030) |
|
IPHONE 16 PRO MAX |
iOS18 (2024) |
iOS23 (2030) |
It would also not be strange if one year, two generations of iPhone were left behind instead of one. Maybe we will see an iOS with many new features and changesand it is something necessary. This last table is not official information from Apple, simply a calculated average of what would be reasonable to expect in the current situation, of course, situations change, so this is not necessarily something which will be like this.
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