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But likely to be really not useful in another 3 years or so.

7s has a pretty good cpu and ios hasn't had any big updates. The hardware should be fine just Apple wants people to give up their 7 and 7s to buy new phones. Look at Apple stock price comparing to the peak, Apple can only do something.
 
7s has a pretty good cpu and ios hasn't had any big updates. The hardware should be fine just Apple wants people to give up their 7 and 7s to buy new phones. Look at Apple stock price comparing to the peak, Apple can only do something.
8 years is a good life for a phone. The core operating system likely did not become a cpu hog overnight, but the hardware allows for features older phones can’t handle. Additionally devs, imo, don’t want to support new apps for older hardware. My iPhone 5s still has useful life. Most iPhones 5s and beyond should last 8 years.
 
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8 years is a good life for a phone. The core operating system likely did not become a cpu hog overnight, but the hardware allows for features older phones can’t handle. Additionally devs, imo, don’t want to support new apps for older hardware. My iPhone 5s still has useful life. Most iPhones 5s and beyond should last 8 years.

5 years for 7s not 8 years
 
Look at how many years 7s have then we all know, it was release in 2016 Sep and not getting to next IOS in this Sep, so only 5 years of support.

2016 to 2022 is six years of OS support, not five years. The 6S is receiving seven years. Since Apple doesn’t put OS support terms in writing, we don't really know how many years of OS support the 11 will get.
 
2016 to 2022 is six years of OS support, not five years. The 6S is receiving seven years. Since Apple doesn’t put OS support terms in writing, we don't really know how many years of OS support the 11 will get.

Ok I check and 6s plus was discontinued in Sep 2018

2018 Sep - 2019 Sep
2019...
2020...
2021...
2022...

5 years if someone bought in Sept 2018
 
Ok I check and 6s plus was discontinued in Sep 2018

2018 Sep - 2019 Sep
2019...
2020...
2021...
2022...

5 years if someone bought in Sept 2018

This was about support from launch.

The 7 launched in September 2016 and OS support will end by September 2022 which means it will have received six years of OS updates.

The 6S launched in September 2015 and OS support will end by September 2022 which means it will have received seven years of OS updates.
 
Apple can avoid this sort of backlash by definitively stating how many years of OS updates each device will get
And Apple will simply under declare said number.

Let's say I am Apple, and I can confidently guarantee that each iOS device will get 5 years software updates from the year it was released. But this also means that they won't be obligated to support said device for any longer than they could, because now they won't have to.

Would that make you feel any better?
 
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I don’t think there is one answer. The support seems to be at least 5 years after the 5s. The useful life, imo, is eight years.

I think there is and Apple knows it, they just won’t tell. They have everything more planned than you think, they just won’t reveal the plan. I’m sure they even have exact dates for all their software and hardware releases, although they never reveal them ahead of time.
 
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And Apple will simply under declare said number.

Let's say I am Apple, and I can confidently guarantee that each iOS device will get 5 years software updates from the year it was released. But this also means that they won't be obligated to support said device for any longer than they could, because now they won't have to.

Would that make you feel any better?

Yes. That's fine by me. I'll know exactly when support will end and plan accordingly.
 
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And Apple will simply under declare said number.

Let's say I am Apple, and I can confidently guarantee that each iOS device will get 5 years software updates from the year it was released. But this also means that they won't be obligated to support said device for any longer than they could, because now they won't have to.

Would that make you feel any better?
It’s still better than Apple saying nothing, as it is now.
 
Take apple watch 3 as an example. If Apple declared that it would lose support in 2022, would it buy it in 2021, 2022? I suspect almost no one. Apple does not inform and is sold until now and people are probably willing to buy and Apple earns and cleans warehouses. It is good for Apple not to inform customers! In my opinion, this is unfair.
 
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If you bought an iPhone 7 two years ago, you knew full well that you were buying an older design at a discounted price. I think too many of us are spoiled with Apple and their software updates that can go on for year after year after year for free with some of their equipment. It ain't always gonna be possible, people. Not if you want a world where you can buy a "new" iPhone for $400. And if you think that sucks, go Android. Ha! See what you get there.
 
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.
Exactly you are lucky to get TWO year on Androids if even one. When I had the GS8+ near launch, it was Oreo coming "soon" ad nauseum and security updates lacking. Think I went back to iPhone before Oreo was ever available for it. If Apple says iOS #.# is coming on a date, it's coming for every iPhone supported on that date barring the world ending
 
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Spoken like a true Apple executive! Why? If the phone still works, and is capable, why should anyone be forced to upgrade? Not everyone needs the greatest and latest.

If the iPhone 7 still allows these users to text, review their social media, etc, then that's great.
No one is forced to upgrade. You just don't get iOS 16
 
And the other thing is you're not "forced" to get a 14. Could probably get a refurb 12 for much cheaper and have years until that would lose support.
 
The bigger reason to upgrade from the iPhone 7 is 5G. A lot of people in my state with Verizon have complained about worsening coverage. Verizon is turning off 3G and will be finished turning it off at the end of 2022 in my state. My iPhone 7+ had dropped calls or I had to place calls five or six times to get through. I upgraded to the iPhone 13 mini and all of the service issues went away.

This is a carrier issue. T-Mobile upgraded their customers on older phones to 5g phones so that they could reclaim the 3g frequencies for 5g. Sure, you can just use 4G where available but your coverage may drop to unacceptable levels.
 
Take apple watch 3 as an example. If Apple declared that it would lose support in 2022, would it buy it in 2021, 2022? I suspect almost no one. Apple does not inform and is sold until now and people are probably willing to buy and Apple earns and cleans warehouses. It is good for Apple not to inform customers! In my opinion, this is unfair.
Note, whatever device you buy today will mostly still work the same tomorrow. No device is losing functionality; it is just not gaining "free" additional functionality. I have an iPad mini 2 that still work fine for the things that I want it to do (sync books, watch Netflix while riding the bike at the gym) And it runs iOS 12.5. Have an iPod touch 2 that I pull out occasionally. And it still runs just fine. For the reasons why Apple does not announce take a look at Osbourne computer and the "Osbourne effect".
 
Note, whatever device you buy today will mostly still work the same tomorrow. No device is losing functionality; it is just not gaining "free" additional functionality. I have an iPad mini 2 that still work fine for the things that I want it to do (sync books, watch Netflix while riding the bike at the gym) And it runs iOS 12.5. Have an iPod touch 2 that I pull out occasionally. And it still runs just fine. For the reasons why Apple does not announce take a look at Osbourne computer and the "Osbourne effect".

I bought 2014 and 2010 iMacs last year and early this year. The 2010 has support through High Sierra and the 2014 has support through Big Sur. I am perfectly happy with them.
 
I bought 2014 and 2010 iMacs last year and early this year. The 2010 has support through High Sierra and the 2014 has support through Big Sur. I am perfectly happy with them.
I believe it is "easier" to use a computer that is out of date (so many PCs out there are still on Windows XP/7) as most of them can be perfectly functional offline, and even if they're online, an up-to-date browser is simply what most people would need.

It's quite different for a smartphone, where it is connected to the internet constantly. Sure, you can go offline, but then you just have a dumbphone. Most of the smart in the smartphone requires internet to be functional. Add on to the fact that you're tied to Safari on iOS, thus when it's no longer updated to be secure, there are risks considering the amount of personal data people have on their phones nowadays.

Personal example: I have no problem using my 2012 mac mini with Catalina, the soon to be obsolete os. I just need to use the latest Brave/Firefox browser and I will mostly remain secure. But for my iPhone 7+, I'm less comfortable being left on iOS15. I would be looking to get a discounted 13 mini later this year to ensure I have an up to date phone.
 
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