Not being able to update to iOS 15 doesn't mean that security support stops.
Apple often continues updating the OS of older HW even when it is not the latest version.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iOS 15 Rumored to Drop Support for iPhone 6s and 2016 iPhone SE
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Not being able to update to iOS 15 doesn't mean that security support stops.
Apple often continues updating the OS of older HW even when it is not the latest version.
Just because Apple stops supporting it doesn't mean the hardware isn't still useful. Apple still needs to unbundle core apps like Safari from iOS updates so the devices can continue to be updated through app store vs relegated to collecting dust or filling up landfills.
I'd like to have two more years of security updates, because
Just got a new battery for my original iPhone SE 😎
Just got a new battery for my original iPhone SE 😎
same, im amazed on how it performs, its as fast as it was with ios 10.3 when I got it, the only problem is the ram as you mentioned
Usually takes developers a few more years to drop support, so those phones will still be good for another 2-3 years.
My SE is still running strong with a new battery. I use it to play Apple Music in the car. It will still be useful running iOS 14 for 2 - 3 more years.
I would not be surprised at all to see these three phones dropped.
however, I still don’t think this rumor is entirely accurate. First of all, this exact same website said that the A8 iPads would be killed off last year,and it didn’t happen.
https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/26/ios-14-devices-rumor/
and secondly, the iPad 5 was only discontinued in 2018. But they really stop supporting this quickly? And if so, that’s a quite steep drop list for iPads, seeing as it’s currently going all the way back to 2014.
TLDR: SE and 6S I see as extremely likely, but iPad 5? Not so much.
however, I still don’t think this rumor is entirely accurate. First of all, this exact same website said that the A8 iPads would be killed off last year,and it didn’t happen.
https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/26/ios-14-devices-rumor/
and secondly, the iPad 5 was only discontinued in 2018. But they really stop supporting this quickly? And if so, that’s a quite steep drop list for iPads, seeing as it’s currently going all the way back to 2014.
TLDR: SE and 6S I see as extremely likely, but iPad 5? Not so much.
The iPhone 5 from 2012 just got a security update last year. And it hasn’t gotten A traditional new feature release since 2017.
security updates will be supported on these phones for a long, long time.
I can’t wait to see what kind of bloated mess awaits us with iOS 15.
Not being able to update to the latest iOS version and no longer offering SW support is very different.
There are plenty of devices out there that still receive updates even when not being able to update to the latest and greatest OS version.
EDIT: based on your next post, you already knew this.
Also wrong. Apple has been issuing security updates for older iOS releases.
Go ahead and come up with a third baseless claim. If you throw out enough crap eventually something will stick.
Yes, I was wrong about the security support. That is why I deleted the comment. But please elaborate on the main point about the economics of planned economics. Thanks.
Yes you can still upgrade. Just remember that you can never downgrade ever again. Choose wisely.
Well good news.
most developers don’t require the latest version of iOS for their applications. They usually support the last two or three years of iOS versions.
and even after they stop updating their app for older versions, it takes at least another year to completely break compatibility, if that ever actually happens.
Plus, Apple usually provides at least three years of security updates. iOS 10 got a security update last year for the iPhone 5.
iOS 12 has gotten several security updates.
I still don’t think that the iPad five will be getting dropped anytime soon.
first of all, if iOS 14 is to be used as a future benchmark, iPads and iPhones are going to be treated differently with what gets the software updates and what doesn’t. For example, iPads with A8 chips got iOS 13 and 14, while iPhones with the A8 did not.
I just don’t see a scenario where Apple cuts off all A9 iPads this year.
and if they do, then the iPad support list shouldn’t change anytime soon, because they were just selling an iPad with an A10 back in september.
Both the iPad 6 and 7 have an A10, so I don’t see those being cut off for at least another three years.
So I presume your theory is that no new hardware should come out so it doesn't get "obsolete" after 6 years? Of course, obsolete is not the right term at all, because the phones still work perfectly well on the latest OS that they support. so someone wanting to keep an older phone, just has to replace the battery every so many years and misses out on a few new features that get added to newer OS's
Of course there is always Android which does not get updated much at all anyway, so yah, there is that
Yeah, the thing is if you have a new apple watch and an old phone, then you end up in a funny position. If your phone can't run the latest ios then your watch can't run the latest watch os, which means you don't get new watch faces, etc. - even, as I said, if your watch is new.
The rationale for dropping these is not like the rationale they had in the past, e.g. specific hardware dependencies. I would not support (not that anyone cares) dropping the 6S / 6S Plus / SE. Especially given they were still selling the old SE fairly recently.
I don't see any reason to get rid of a perfectly good, fast-running phone for... what?
I don't see any reason to get rid of a perfectly good, fast-running phone for... what?
iPad OS is semi-independent now, and there's still A8(X) based devices supported by iPad OS 14 - so while it's possible the A9X Pros (and A9 based iPad 5) will all get the chop, they might get an extra years' stay of execution while the iPad Air 2 and mini 4 go this year.
"Unless they do planned obsolescence". why do people even still make this crap up? How would you even do "planned obsolescence"? change the carrier signals so the phone wouldn't work? The fact is that your phone would work for years beyond the date when it cannot be updated to the newest OS. all of your apps and the loaded OS would still work - just look at android, it doesn't even get the updates across the market, and people still use their phones
Don’t forget about the iPod touch as well. It still has the 4” screen.
My theory is that software can be made to support backwards compatibility unless it's technologically not feasible, which may be the case -- I do not know. I guess the question becomes why would Apple not allow it to work on these devices iif it is feasible to do so?