If you are thinking of buying an older generation or used iPhone, or wondering whether it’s worth upgrading your current iPhone to a new one, one important factor to consider is how long Apple will continue to offer support for that handset. The good news is that Apple supports iPhones for a long time. In general, you’ll get seven to eight years of software updates, while battery and other repairs are often available on five to seven-year-old handsets, according to Apple’s Vintage and Obsolete categorizations.
Read on to find out which iPhones are supported with the latest operating systems, and which are supported for servicing and repairs. We also have guides for getting a broken iPhone fixed and how much Apple product repairs cost.
How long does Apple support iOS?
As a general rule, Apple doesn’t guarantee any length of time for updates. However, buyers can expect at least five years of iOS updates and six years of security updates, though Apple regularly goes beyond that. For example, we expect the iPhone XS and XR to be dropped from support when iOS 19 arrives in 2025, giving those phones seven years of OS and security updates.
The chart below shows each version of iOS and the iPhones it ran on. As you can see, in recent years support for new iOS versions has stretched back for around six years, while if you include the past three versions, security support goes back a further year.
Foundry
Apple issues security updates for the current version of iOS and, usually, the two preceding versions. Since the arrival of iOS 18 on September 16, 2024, we can expect security updates for iOS 18, iOS 17 and iOS 16. Indeed, iOS 17 received a security update on the day iOS 18 was released. (Note: It is possible Apple won’t continue to update iOS 17 because iOS 18 is compatible with the same phones.) iOS 16 was last updated on Augsut 7, 2024.
From time to time Apple issues important security updates for iOS. It doesn’t issue an update for every version of iOS though, which means that some iPhones will not get this fix for what could be dangerous vulnerabilities.
iPhone OS history
The first iPhone, which launched in 2007, was able to run iPhone OS 3, which was supported by Apple up until 2010. The iPhone is considered obsolete by Apple.
The iPhone 3G, which launched in 2008, was able to run iOS 4.0, which was itself supported until 2011. The iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS are considered obsolete by Apple.
The length of support increased with the launch of the iPhone 4s in 2011. That phone was able to run operating systems all the way up to iOS 9. Apple was still supporting iOS 9 in 2019 when it issued a GPS-related update that July. The iPhones 4 and 4s are considered obsolete by Apple.
The iPhone 5c runs iOS 10, which also received the GPS-related update in July 2019. The iPhones 5 and 5c are considered obsolete by Apple.
The iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 both run iOS 12, for which Apple issued a security update in January 2023. This update was issued for those few devices that don’t support iOS 15. Apple is unlikely to continue support for iOS 12. These phones are considered vintage by Apple.
iOS 15, which arrived in September 2021, supports all iPhones from iPhone 6s onwards, just as with iOS 14 and iOS 13. Both iOS 14 and 13 are considered obsolete by Apple because the same phones can run iOS 15. The iPhone 6s is already considered vintage by Apple.
iOS 16, which arrived in September 2022 runs on all iPhones from the iPhone 8 onwards – but do note that not all features are available on the older handsets.
iOS 17 arrived in September 2023 and runs on all iPhones from the iPhone XS onwards – meaning the iPhone X and iPhone 8 will be stuck 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 is the oldest iPhone still supported?
If the oldest version of iOS supported with regular security updates is iOS 17, the oldest iPhones supported by Apple will be the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. These phones were all introduced six years ago in 2018.
That means the following iPhone models will no longer receive regular updates, though some models may occasionally get a critical security update:
- iPhone X (2017)
- iPhone 8/8 Plus (2017)
- iPhone 7/7 Plus (2016)
- iPhone SE (2016)
- iPhone 6s/6s Plus (2014)
- iPhone 6/6 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)
For more information, see our list of every version of iOS.
IDG
When will Apple stop supporting each iPhone?
Truth is we don’t know for sure, but on the basis that Apple supports phones for five to seven years after they are removed from sale:
- iPhone XS (2018-2019) – Approx 2024-2026
- iPhone XR (2018-2021) – Approx 2026-2028
- iPhone 11 (2019-2022) – Approx 2027-2029
- iPhone SE2 (2020-2022) – Approx 2027-2029
- iPhone 12 (2020-2023) – Approx 2028-2030
- iPhone 13 (2021) – Approx 2032
- iPhone SE3 (2022) – Approx 2033
- iPhone 14 (2022) – Approx 2034
- iPhone 15 (2023) – Approx 2035
- iPhone 16 (2024) – Approx 2036
It is possible that the arrival of AI features and their requirement will mean that the older iPhones become obsolete faster.
When does Apple stop fixing iPhones?
When it comes to repairs, Apple supports iPhones (and all devices it makes) for seven years from the last time it sold that particular model. So as long as your iPhone was still being sold by Apple up to seven years ago, the company or a third-party service provider will still service it.
Apple states on its website that “Owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac products may obtain a service and parts from Apple or Apple service providers for five years after the product is no longer sold.” The following iPhones are considered Obsolete, which means sales were discontinued more than seven years ago and Apple has now discontinued all hardware servicing.
- iPhone
- iPhone 3G
- iPhone 3GS
- iPhone 4 (certain models are now obsolete)
- iPhone 4s
- iPhone 5c (discontinued September 2013, obsolete in 2021)
- iPhone 5S (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021, obsolete in 2024)
- iPhone 6 Plus (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021, obsolete in 2024)
- iPhone 6s (32GB) (discontinued in 2018, obsolete in 2024)
- iPhone 6s Plus (32 GB) (discontinued in 2018, obsolete in 2024)
And the iPhones below are listed as Vintage, which means they have not been sold for more than five years (but less than seven years). Apple will still service these products as long as it has the required parts.
- iPhone 4 8GB (discontinued in 2013, but sold in India until February 2014, likely to be obsolete very soon)
- iPhone 5 (discontinued September 2013, likely to become obsolete soon)
- iPhone 6 (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021)
- iPhone 6s (16GB) (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2022)
- iPhone 6s Plus (16GB) (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2022)
- iPhone SE, 2016 (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2023)
- iPhone 8 (discontinued in 2020, vintage in 2024)
- iPhone 8 Plus (discontinued in 2020, vintage in 2024)
- iPhone X (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2024)
All iPhones that followed those handsets should be supported by Apple.
You may also be interested to learn how long Apple supports Macs and how long Apple supports iPads.
Is your iPhone slipping into obscurity? Find a great deal on a new iPhone here or check the best prices below and take a look at our round-up to choose the Best iPhone for you.
Author: Karen Haslam, Managing Editor, Macworld
Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple's PR agency prior to joining Macworld more than two decades ago. Karen's career highlights include interviewing Apple's Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Having edited the U.K. print and online editions of Macworld for many years, more recently her focus has been on SEO and evergreen content as well as product recommendations and buying advice.