Apple Faces User Backlash After Dropping Support for iPhone 7 From iOS 16

[Abazigal]

If "dictation emoji search" and "neural engine lockscreen" had to be disabled for older devices, so be it.
That's a fair tradeoff.

Apple seems to be basing their iOS 16 update policy on which iPhones can support the new lockscreen feature. While it may be possible to create a watered down version that is basically iOS 16 in nothing but name for these devices, I find I am in agreement with Apple that it's just cleaner to simply not upgrade them altogether.

If you bought an iPhone 7 in 2019 (a model that is already 3 years old at this point), expecting that it will be supported for as long as the iPhone 11, I feel that says more about your lack of due diligence as a consumer than it does about Apple being greedy. At the end of the day, I remain of the opinion at beyond a certain point, consumers have to enter a transaction with their eyes open, and be cognisant of what it means when you are purchasing a product from Apple that is already a couple of generations old.

And you have to wonder just how many of the people currently ranting about this online are even still using iPhone 6s or 7s, or if it's simply another case of outrage for the sake of outrage (which, having followed Apple news for well over 10 years, I find I am no stranger to). I imagine the actual owners are like "whatever"; they bought an older iPhone or are still hanging on to one because they use it for the basic functions and don't really care what version of iOS it runs.

I will say it again - it's much ado over nothing.

 

[JoeShades]

I would like them to continue supporting my 7+ but it is not going to stop working, only when apps stop supporting IOS 15 will it be a problem and by then I doubt many will still have the 7.

 

[jav6454]

I do agree with this.
Apple's vintage / obsolete definitions are listed here:

Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty - Apple Support

Learn about your options for getting service and parts for Apple devices that are past their warranty period.

support.apple.com

A product becomes vintage 5 - 7 years after last sold by Apple.
A product becomes obsolete > 7 years after last sold by Apple.

Apple should clearly state why iPhone 7 is no longer being updated while it is still 2 years from vintage status.
There may be some technical hurdle. Not explaining creates rumors and guesses and honestly, some fairly deserved angst.

Another user who get's it. Apple simply sold the device too long and now many people are being hosed.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I will say it again - it's much ado over nothing.

We’ll agree to disagree (completely)

Cheers

 

[jav6454]

Apple seems to be basing their iOS 16 update policy on which iPhones can support the new lockscreen feature. While it may be possible to create a watered down version that is basically iOS 16 in nothing but name for these devices, I find I am in agreement with Apple that it's just cleaner to simply not upgrade them altogether.

[...]

Again, I'll use your argument against you. Several non-Neural engine iPads (A9 and A10) are getting iOS 16 and they aren't getting the new lock screen feature. So, your criteria goes out the door.

 

[duffman9000]

Well if they want their phones lagging and crashing let them have it lol

But then they’ll come here to complain about Apple giving them an update that slowed down their phone lol.

 

[AlexMac89]

Again, I'll use your argument against you. Several non-Neural engine iPads (A9 and A10) are getting iOS 16 and they aren't getting the new lock screen feature. So, your criteria goes out the door.

iPadOS isn’t a 1-to-1 comparison to iOS. iPadOS is forked just enough to run on separate development teams and timelines (app Library, widget implementation, etc). I don’t see how a difference in iPadOS 16 (which from a feature standpoint is unfortunately different with what it is usually lagging on from its yearly numbered iOS variant) support this year is any different than any other year.

The features implemented in iOS16 this year required certain hardware the dropped models this year didn’t possess. As iPadOS16 doesn’t have these features, it doesn’t have this problem.

Apple should not be expected to continue to have to deploy multiple versions of major updates for devices that lack key hardware for current features. We already have enough issues with bugs from version to version (sometimes minor, sometimes not so much 🤬). We don’t need to dump even more legacy support on the current problem.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Again, I'll use your argument against you. Several non-Neural engine iPads (A9 and A10) are getting iOS 16 and they aren't getting the new lock screen feature. So, your criteria goes out the door.

Well said

Most egregious is that Apple plans all this stuff years in advance, yet kept that ip7 for sale, brand new, as recently as 3 years ago.

 

[Abazigal]

Again, I'll use your argument against you. Several non-Neural engine iPads (A9 and A10) are getting iOS 16 and they aren't getting the new lock screen feature. So, your criteria goes out the door.

That's the whole point. These iPads are getting iOS 16 precisely because the iPads are not getting the new Lock Screen feature. My 2018 iPad Pro isn't either, and it certainly has the specs for it.

The iPhones are, it's very likely the key selling point for iOS 16 and the new iPhones later this year, and Apple has decided that they want all iPhones getting iOS 16 to be capable of supporting the new lockscreen features. Key reason perhaps to get developers on board?

It's not an unreasonable thing to do, and there is a difference between "Apple is wrong to do this" and "Apple is not wrong; I just don't like it and wish they could have done it differently".

 

[turbineseaplane]

That's the whole point. These iPads are getting iOS 16 precisely because the iPads are not getting the new Lock Screen feature. My 2018 iPad Pro isn't either, and it certainly has the specs for it.

The iPhones are, it's very likely the key selling point for iOS 16 and the new iPhones later this year, and Apple has decided that they want all iPhones getting iOS 16 to be capable of supporting the new lockscreen features. Key reason perhaps to get developers on board?

It's not an unreasonable thing to do, and there is a difference between "Apple is wrong to do this" and "Apple is not wrong; I just don't like it and wish they could have done it differently".

This feels like wrapping oneself around the axle to try to find a rationale to defend Apple.

There really isn’t a cogent defense of this move given the other moves on iPads

 

[russell_314]

I have zero sympathy for people complaining about 6 year old phone not getting an update. The 5th, 6th, and 7th gen ipad are all newer.

This so much! Android users are bragging that they now get 3 years but people are complaining about Apple only having double that.

They'll still get security updates for much longer as well so it's just new features that the hardware just can't do.

 

[Abazigal]

This feels like wrapping oneself around the axle to try to find a rationale to defend Apple.

There really isn’t a cogent defense of this move given the other moves on iPads

In the same vein, I really don't feel this is something worth criticising Apple over. The 6s and 7 have had a good long run, we all knew that they were running on borrowed time since iOS 13 (remember the 5s only got up to iOS 12), and the bonus two years that they have been updated since then is precisely that - a bonus.

 

[dynAdZ]

If you use a 6 years old phone, you obviously don't care too much about new features. You will also still receive security updates, so it should really not a big deal to stay on iOS 15.

 

[turbineseaplane]

If you use a 6 years old phone, you obviously don't care too much about new features. You will also still receive security updates, so it should really not a big deal to stay on iOS 15.

You’ve made a fair bit of incorrect assumption and assertion here.
I would encourage you to please consider reading back through the thread a bit.

 

[Abazigal]

You’ve made a fair bit of incorrect assumption and assertion here.
I would encourage you to please consider reading back through the thread a bit.

A 6 year old phone is still a 6 year old phone, regardless of when it was purchased.

 

[iAFC]

If a new iOS release leaves your old phone out, that's planned obsolescence. And if a new iOS release makes your old phone slower, that's also planned obsolescence. Apple can't win in this situation.

 

[laptech]

A 6 year old phone is still a 6 year old phone, regardless of when it was purchased.

and if that 6 year old phone is still a fully functioning 6 year old phone then the manufacturer should still support it. if a company stops providing software/driver support for their electronic devices which will prevent the device from being able to fully function then that manufacturer should be forced to accept the ewaste of that device.

There are millions upon millions of iphone 7's in the world that will now end up as a glorified ipod. Owners will be trashing their iphone 7's into bins whilst Apple will be washing their hands of it saying 'no longer our problem'.

 

[MajorFubar]

Put me in the "no sympathy" camp. Apple already provides OS updates for their phones much longer than any other manufacturers, and if focusing on devices that are more capable of supporting the advanced features leads to faster, more efficient and cleaner software updates, that's a win.

Besides, every major phone carrier has deals where you can basically upgrade to a free iPhone on your plan. It may not be the brand new model, but it will be one that supports iOS software updates for at least the next 3-4 years.

Maybe they do in America. Not the rest of the world.

 

[MajorFubar]

This term grates at me.
I would be 100% on your side if the iOS just stopped working for the device. That would be "force".
People are free to continue using their devices on older operating systems for some time to come. There is no need to upgrade a device, unless you want to.

What specifically will you miss if you do not upgrade to a device less than 6 years old?

Read my post properly rather than being triggered by one word. I'd already answered what 'forced' means in this instance.

 

[MajorFubar]

Deprecating major feature updates from an OS isn't new, Apple is not the only one who does it, and like others, Apple has made it a point to update previous versions of iOS with security updates for those devices who no longer support the latest version. Even then, any software company eventually ceases support for those OS.

People really should not be acting like this is the end of the iPhone 7, it's so dramatic. Not only will it continue to work just as well as it does now (supposedly. I don't have one, but everyone, including you, are claiming it's still great, so what's the issue?) it will continue to work well until the device itself is no longer useful, or major apps you care about deprecate support for iOS 15, which isn't going to happen any time soon.

There is quite literally a non-issue here. Again, unless the basis of this doom-and-gloom being "but the phone is still amazing!" isn't actually true, and y'all just want latest and greatest without having to pay for it.

I don't have one either if you'd care to read my signature. I'm just stating the facts as I see them. Seems pretty obvious to me that at least the 7+ would have no problem hosting iOS16.

And yes, all manufacturers now have to do this, because as of about 5 years ago the hardware across the piste reached a level of performance that most people don't need to upgrade from. So how otherwise are manufacturers going to make you buy a new phone?

 

[MajorFubar]

And I am only 2 years old if you count from the end of the last decade.

That comparison obviously makes sense to you in your mind.

 

[laptech]

Maybe they do in America. Not the rest of the world.

The post reminded me to check my upgrade plan (am not in the US) and my upgrade plan only allows for an iphone 12 mini or an iphone SE and the ONLY way i can get them free on my upgrade is if I chose the highest monthly payment plan. If i chose a lower payment plan then I have to pay an upfront cost of the phone.

The ONLY way I can get the latest iphone is if i was to cancel my current contract and start a new one as my upgrade options do not allow me to upgrade to the latest iphone because it is not offered, only the iphone 12 mini and iphone SE is being offered. My network provider is EE

 

[MajorFubar]

The post reminded me to check my upgrade plan (am not in the US) and my upgrade plan only allows for an iphone 12 mini or an iphone SE and the ONLY way i can get them free on my upgrade is if I chose the highest monthly payment plan. If i chose a lower payment plan then I have to pay an upfront cost of the phone.

The ONLY way I can get the latest iphone is if i was to cancel my current contract and start a new one as my upgrade options do not allow me to upgrade to the latest iphone because it is not offered, only the iphone 12 mini and iphone SE is being offered. My network provider is EE

Snap. Or 'Nothing Nowhere' as i like to call them (maybe I just live in a bad reception area).

 

[Abazigal]

There are millions upon millions of iphone 7's in the world that will now end up as a glorified ipod. Owners will be trashing their iphone 7's into bins whilst Apple will be washing their hands of it saying 'no longer our problem'.

They are welcome to send it to Apple who will recycle it for free.

 

[Arctic Moose]

Not everyone needs the greatest and latest.

Exactly. These people also do not need iOS 16.