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Understanding Apple's Lifetime iPhone Support
Apple's commitment to supporting its iPhones is impressive and often extends for six to eight years, which is much longer than the support life of most Android devices. If you're curious about the lifespan of support for your iPhone or are considering an upgrade, this guide will give you the insight you need.
We dive into the length of support for each iPhone model, including the latest iPhone 15, and highlight which models are now classified as obsolete or vintage by Apple.
iPhone support duration
To understand the length of Apple's support for its iPhones, it's crucial to understand what it means when a device becomes "too old." In short, this is due to the inability of the device to meet the new demands placed on its internal components by the latest OS updates or the technical requirements of the latest apps.
When a new iOS update is released and your device can no longer meet these requirements, support for that device will end. We've compiled a comprehensive list of all iPhone models, detailing their release dates, discontinuation dates, and iOS compatibility.
Please note that support end dates are estimates based on previous releases and may be subject to future changes.
| Model | Publication date | End date | Supported | iOS compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | 29-jun-07 | 15-jul-18 | Nee | iOS 3.0 |
| iPhone 3G | 9-jun-08 | 7-Jun-10 | Nee | iOS 4 |
| iPhone3GS | 19-Jun-09 | 12-sep-12 | Nee | iOS 6 |
| Iphone 4 | 24-Jun-10 | 10-sep-13 | Nee | iOS 7 |
| Iphone 4s | 14-oct-11 | 4-14 sept | Nee | iOS 9 |
| Iphone 5c | 20-sep-13 | 9-15 sept | Nee | iOS 10 |
| Iphone 5s | 20-sep-13 | 21 Mar 16 | Nee | iOS 12 |
| iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus | 25-sep-14 | 7-16 sept | Nee | iOS 12 |
| iPhone 6S / 6S Plus | 25-sep-15 | 12-18 sept | Nee | iOS 15 |
| iPhone SE (1st generation) | 31 Mar 16 | 12-18 sept | Nee | iOS 15 |
| iPhone 7/7 Plus | 16-sep-16 | 10-sep-19 | Nee | iOS 15 |
| iPhone 8/8 Plus | 22-17 sep | 15-apr-20 | And - until 2023 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone X | 3 november-17 | 12-18 sept | And - until 2024 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone XS / XS Max | 21-18 september | 10-sep-19 | And - until 2025 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone XR | October 26-18 | October 26-18 | And - until 2025 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone 11 | 20-19 sep | 7-22 sept | And - until 2026 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max | 20-19 sep | 13-oct-20 | And - until 2026 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone SE (2nd generation) | 24-apr-20 | 8-Mar-22 | And - until 2027 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone 12 | 23-oct-20 | In the making | And - until 2027 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone 12mini | 13-november-20 | 7-22 sept | And - until 2027 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone 12 Pro | 23-oct-20 | 14-21 sep | And - until 2027 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max | 13-november-20 | 14-21 sep | And - until 2027 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone 13/13mini | 24-sep-21 | In the making | And - until 2028 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone 13 Pro / Pro Max | 24-sep-21 | 7-22 sept | And - until 2028 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone SE (3e generation) | 18-Mar-22 | In the making | And - until 2029 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone 14 | 16-22 sep | In the making | And - until 2029 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone 14 Plus | October 7-22 | In the making | And - until 2029 | iOS 16 |
| iPhone 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max | 16-22 sep | In the making | And - until 2029 | iOS 16 |
Obsolete and vintage iPhones: what's the difference?
When discussing the duration of Apple's support for older iPhone models, it's important to understand the company'sdefinitions of "obsolete" and "vintage". According to Apple, owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac or Apple TV products can obtain service and parts from Apple service providers for at least five years from the time Apple last offered the product for sale.
This support can be extended for up to seven years, depending on parts availability.
Obsolete iPhones are models that have been out of stock for more than seven years, while vintage iPhones are models that have not been sold for more than five years but less than seven years.
Key learning points
In summary, Apple's commitment to supporting its products is remarkably long-standing. While Apple's devices may have a higher price tag than their Android counterparts, the assurance of up to seven years of support can provide customers with a sense of security, making the investment worthwhile.
As you can see from the data, Apple guarantees compatibility with the latest iOS 16 for older models like the iPhone 8/8 Plus, and iOS 15 compatibility for handsets as old as the iPhone 6S.
Apple continues to push critical security updates for iOS 14 to supported devices. However, some models become obsolete and Apple's official support for these devices ends.
It's also worth noting that as the 5G revolution continues to grow, 3G networks in the US and other countries will be gradually phased out. Some carriers will no longer offer 3G services and users with older devices may need to upgrade to a newer device to maintain connectivity.
In short: buying a refurbished product is an excellent way to save money, support the circular economy and purchase a fully functional device with a warranty.
