If you have devices that have been around for years, you run the risk that they will no longer be supported by the manufacturer in the long run. Which devices still run on the latest operating system and which phones are no longer provided with updates? We made an overview with the current iOS support. And as a bonus, our expectation about which iPhones will no longer be supported in the near future.
In 2007, Apple released the first iPhones, namely the iPhone 2G and 3G(s). We are now years further and we are at the iPhone 11. And the adventure does not end for Apple fans: the company is already working on a successor.
You will understand that Apple no longer supports the older models. That costs too much effort and money and does not encourage you to buy a new iPhone. And that is of course what Apple is doing a little bit. In addition, the older phones have too little RAM to run properly on the latest version of the iOS operating system.
For example, you can only upgrade the oldest iPhones to iOS 6. The iPhone 4 from 2010 works with iOS 7, the iPhone 5 from 2012 with iOS 10.
Many devices support iOS 13
By comparison, we are now at iOS 13. Surprisingly, many Apple phones still support the latest operating system:
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone X
iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 7
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 6S Plus
iPhone 6S
iPhone SE
If you consider that the iPhone 6S dates back to 2015, Apple will remain loyal to users with an old model for quite some time. That is no superfluous luxury: the extra functionalities on new phones are not nearly as revolutionary as they used to be and people are therefore less inclined to buy a new device. In addition, the phones last longer than before. And Apple seems to realize that.
IOS 14
Still, it is obvious that Apple will give up support for older models in the near future. The launch of iOS 14, which is rumored to be presented in June and will be available at the end of September, could be the starting signal. The iPhone 6s, 6s Plus and iPhone SE may no longer be supported. The phones are all equipped with the same chip and internal technology. Moreover, according to the latest rumors, Apple is working on a successor to an iPhone SE, in the form of an iPhone SE 2. It therefore does not make sense that this device will be supported any longer.
Yet there are also reports that contradict that support for the phones mentioned will be discontinued, so that's just a matter of time. It is almost certain that the iPhone 7 to 11 will run on the new operating system.
