If you’re considering of shopping for an older era or used iPhone, or questioning whether or not it’s price updating your present handset, one vital issue to contemplate is how lengthy Apple might be providing help for that handset.
There are two methods wherein Apple helps iPhones. One is the software program – making certain that any bugs and safety flaws are addressed. The opposite is the {hardware} – offering the components and labor to repair an issue along with your telephone (for a value, in fact).
It’s because of this that we dissuade folks from shopping for notably outdated iPhone handsets. The danger {that a} fault might happen or that you simply is likely to be uncovered to safety dangers is simply too excessive.
The excellent news is that Apple helps iPhones for a fairly very long time. Software program help lasts for round eight years, whereas {hardware} help may be obtainable on 5 to seven-year-old handsets, in line with Apple’s Classic and Out of date categorizations, extra on that under.
Learn on to seek out out which iPhones are supported with the most recent working techniques, and that are supported for servicing and repairs.
We even have a information to easy methods to get a damaged iPhone mounted and what Apple product repairs price and the way lengthy they take.
How lengthy does Apple help iOS?
Every now and then Apple points vital safety updates for iOS. It doesn’t subject an replace for each model of iOS although, which implies that some iPhones is not going to get this repair for what may very well be harmful vulnerabilities.
Apple points safety updates for the present model of iOS and, normally, the 2 previous variations. With the arrival of iOS 18 on September 16, 2024 meaning we will anticipate safety updates for iOS 18, iOS 17 and iOS 16.
The chart under exhibits every model of iOS and the iPhones it ran on. As you possibly can see, in recent times help for brand spanking new iOS variations has stretched again for round six years, whereas should you embrace the previous three variations, safety help goes again an extra yr.
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
The primary iPhone, which launched in 2007, was capable of run iPhone OS 3, which was supported by Apple up till 2010. The iPhone is taken into account out of date by Apple.
The iPhone 3G, which launched in 2008, was capable of run iOS 4.0, which was itself supported till 2011. The iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS are thought-about out of date by Apple.
The size of help elevated with the launch of the iPhone 4s in 2011. That telephone was capable of run working techniques all the best way as much as iOS 9. Apple was nonetheless supporting iOS 9 in 2019 when it issued a GPS-related replace that July. The iPhones 4 and 4s are thought-about out of date by Apple.
The iPhone 5c runs iOS 10, which additionally acquired the GPS-related replace in July 2019. The iPhones 5 and 5c are thought-about out of date by Apple.
The iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 each run iOS 12, for which Apple issued a safety replace in January 2023. This replace was issued for these few gadgets that don’t help iOS 15. Apple is unlikely to proceed help for iOS 12. These telephones are thought-about classic by Apple.
iOS 15, which arrived in September 2021, helps all iPhones from iPhone 6s onwards, simply as with iOS 14 and iOS 13. Each iOS 14 and 13 are thought-about out of date by Apple as a result of the identical telephones can run iOS 15. The iPhone 6s is already thought-about classic by Apple.
iOS 16, which arrived in September 2022 runs on all iPhones from the iPhone 8 onwards – however do notice that not all options can be found on the older handsets.
iOS 17 arrived in September 2023 and runs on all iPhones from the iPhone XS onwards – which means the iPhone X and iPhone 8 might be caught with iOS 16.
iOS 18 arrives on September 16, 2024 and, like iOS 17, will run on all iPhones from the iPhone XS onwards.
What’s the oldest iPhone nonetheless supported?
If the oldest model of iOS supported with safety updates is iOS 16, the oldest iPhones supported by Apple would be the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. These telephones had been all launched eight years in the past in 2017.
Assuming Apple ends help for iOS 15, this may imply that the next iPhones will now not be supported with safety updates:
- iPhone 7 (Plus) 2016
- iPhone SE 2016
- iPhone 6s (Plus) 2014
That’s along with the next iPhones:
- iPhone 6 (Plus) 2014
- iPhone 5s 2013
- iPhone 5c 2013
- iPhone 5 2012
- iPhone 4s 2011
- iPhone 4 2010
- iPhone 3GS 2009
- iPhone 3G 2008
- iPhone 2007
Word that the unique SE, iPhone 8 and iPhone X are already thought-about ‘Classic’ by Apple and the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are already thought-about ‘Out of date’–extra on that under.
We advise that when you have an iPhone 7, an authentic iPhone SE, or something older than these 2016 handsets, and are involved about safety it’s time to replace your iPhone. It’s because Apple is unlikely to subject any extra safety updates for that telephone.
Now we have an inventory of each model of iOS the place you possibly can see the most recent variations of iOS and the way lengthy Apple helps iOS for.
IDG
IDG
IDG
When does Apple cease supporting iPhones?
When it comes to software program that’s not a nasty exhibiting, but when your iPhone has a fault will Apple be capable of present the components to repair it with?
Apple will help iPhones (and all gadgets it makes) for seven years from the final time it bought that exact mannequin. So so long as your iPhone was nonetheless being bought by Apple as much as seven years in the past the corporate will nonetheless service it – in different phrases: assist you repair it (for a value).
That is the place Apple checklist of out of date and classic merchandise is available in.
Apple states on its web site right here that “House owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac merchandise might get hold of a service and components from Apple or Apple service suppliers for 5 years after the product is now not bought.”
The next iPhones are thought-about Out of date, which implies gross sales had been discontinued greater than seven years in the past and Apple has now discontinued all {hardware} servicing.
- iPhone
- iPhone 3G
- iPhone 3GS
- iPhone 4 (sure fashions at the moment are out of date)
- iPhone 4s
- iPhone 5c (discontinued September 2013, out of date in 2021)
- iPhone 5S (discontinued in 2016, classic in 2021, out of date in 2024)
- iPhone 6 Plus (discontinued in 2016, classic in 2021, out of date in 2024)
And the iPhones under are listed as Classic, which implies they haven’t been bought for greater than 5 years (however lower than seven years). Apple will nonetheless service these merchandise so long as it has the required components.
- iPhone 4 8GB (discontinued in 2013, however bought in India till February 2014, more likely to be out of date very quickly)
- iPhone 5 (discontinued September 2013, more likely to turn into out of date quickly)
- iPhone 6 (discontinued in 2016, classic in 2021)
- iPhone 6s (discontinued in 2016, classic in 2022)
- iPhone 6s Plus (discontinued in 2018, classic in 2022)
- iPhone SE, 2016 (discontinued in 2018, classic in 2023)
- iPhone 8 (discontinued in 2020, classic in 2024)
- iPhone 8 Plus (discontinued in 2020, classic in 2024)
- iPhone X (discontinued in 2018, classic in 2024)
All iPhones that adopted these handsets ought to be supported by Apple.
You might also have an interest to be taught how lengthy Apple helps Macs for and how lengthy Apple helps iPads for.
Is your iPhone slipping into obscurity? Discover a nice deal on a brand new iPhone right here or examine the very best costs under and try our round-up to decide on the Finest iPhone for you.