iPhone 5s Gets New Software Update 13 Years After Launch

[PixelPanics]

pLanNeD oBsOLeNcE!11

 

[Porco]

I remember thinking the 5 looked worse than the 4 at the time, but it’s so much nicer than anything they make now. I still think the 4/4S is the most beautiful iPhone design purely aesthetically, but the 5/S/SE is the peak in terms of overall design IMHO.

 

[ChrisMac47]

This is impressive. Well done Apple.

 

[-BigMac-]

As much as people like to complain, there is no other phone manufacturer that comes close in software update longevity.

Also in blocking users from reverting to previous iOS versions.

Literally stopped signing iOS18 to prevent users from downgrading - to a subjectively better product.

Apple knows half its users would revert to iOS18 if they gave them the option. That's why they had to hard shut the doors.

That's some good software update longevity - literally stopped signing last years software.

 

[SmugMaverick]

Calm down folks its only a certificate extension so apples own apps still work on it 😂

Hardly giving it Apple Intelligence.

Most phones don't need this because they didn't try to lock people into an ecosystem.

 

[Lioness~]

My iPhone mini 13 feels a lot younger when considering how long it probably will get at leat security updates.
Well done Apple 👍

 

[dumiku]

I have a broken iPhone 5s that need screen & battery replacement, looks like I am going to revive it.

 

[dannys1]

I think if those core features don't work anymore, people look for a new phone and in many parts of the world that's not going to be an iPhone. Apple just wants to keep paying customers, even if what they extend was free in the first place.
Im pretty certain Apple knows best who uses their devices and how to make money of them. And a phone that doesn't support core iPhone features won't be a used iPhone for long.

But "planned obsolescence" was ALWAYS about forcing people to upgrade to a new product - now you're seeing there's a risk they won't choose an Apple product so that doesn't work.

 

[uacd]

with the worst battery life, thank God iPhone has better battery life now

I dunno, I had good battery life on my 5. For the time it was more than ok for Instagram, Vine, Facebook and capturing photos. Basically more or less same use scenarios as I do today minus the Facebook and ofc Vine since it doesn’t exist anymore.

Larger batteries are adopted because of more resource-intensive applications and more hungry processors. But if Apple actually wanted to cram all the power in smaller form factor there would likely have been no issues doing that. They should focus more on software optimizations. Ever since iOS 7 I have all background app activity disabled anyway because phone overheats if many apps stay in background

 

[uacd]

I like that the phone released in 2013 can still be used as a phone in 2026. However maybe for the price they are asking today, timeframe must be extended to 20-30 years of support. In 3rd world countries people literally have a choice: buy old car or buy a new iPhone. Most buy old cars, content makers tho go for the iPhones

 

[jonnysods]

iPhone 5 was the perfect weight what a great phone.

 

[UliBaer]

Apple only does this, because they self inflicted this problem with their expiring certificates to imprison their customers.
You don't really believe, they did anything more than just this bare minimum, to avoid a s4itstorm next year?

 

[Parowdy]

But "planned obsolescence" was ALWAYS about forcing people to upgrade to a new product - now you're seeing there's a risk they won't choose an Apple product so that doesn't work.

Honestly, whoever still uses an iPhone 5s or 6 is probably very unlikely to buy a new iPhone from Apple, even refurbished or a carrier deal.
I’m certain someone crunched the numbers and found out it makes financially more sense to keep supporting these devices instead of sunsetting them.
I can see people in Eastern Europe and Asia to hand down these devices to younger folk, maybe Apple wants to hook those people into their services before completely abandoning those devices. We can only speculate, but I’m sure there’s a financial incentive.

 

[urnotl33t]

My XR lasted for two days straight, and that was with heavy usage. I haven't had battery life that good since, on any iPhone.

Yeah I think the XR was a nice “sleeper hit” product, too. It was one of those “right down the middle” products that did an excellent job. My parents were toiling over which then new product to get and I told them to get the XR and don’t look back. They were highly pleased.

 

[urnotl33t]

Apple only does this, because they self inflicted this problem with their expiring certificates to imprison their customers.
You don't really believe, they did anything more than just this bare minimum, to avoid a s4itstorm next year?

Ah yes, the iPhone 4 and iOS 6 FaceTime mistake. Good to know someone learned a lesson.

 

[Galas]

I like that the phone released in 2013 can still be used as a phone in 2026. However maybe for the price they are asking today, timeframe must be extended to 20-30 years of support. In 3rd world countries people literally have a choice: buy old car or buy a new iPhone. Most buy old cars, content makers tho go for the iPhones

I Live in a 3rd world country and there is no way you can get a car that is not a literal piece of junk for the price of a New iphone.

 

[macos9rules]

Well I don't think Android devices require device activation before you can use them? Androids also update phone, messages, etc. apps within the Play Store experience. So the equivalent of this iOS update wouldn't be necessary for older Android devices to keep them functional.

I wasn’t specifically referring to Android phones or phones in general but to electronic devices overall. For instance, I have several Roland synths that have become unusable with recent OS because Roland stopped providing updated drivers for newer OS versions.

 

[rwh63]

Love this. I just bought the iphone 17 pro.. but I live for this commitment to tech! And the iPhone 5s was a great looking phone. Kudos to those using it still!

and the OGSE.

 

[I7guy]

while it’s really nice and i applaud apple providing webkit security updates on older devices today, it would be far nicer if they actually allowed upgraded webkit on these devices. many old devices are perfectly useable for web browsing or youtube but are relegated to the trash heap because of an outdated browser. safari/webkit should be a separate app and not tied to ios versions like on other platforms like the mac, pc or linux. this would help reduce e-waste significantly.

While I agree in theory in practical terms many older devices don’t have the headroom for modern websites. I see it on my iPad 7th gen. But I think for obsolete devices Apple should loosen the grip just a wee bit.

 

[Ja50n]

Galaxy S5 only received 3 years of OS/security updates (the version it shipped with plus 2 additional years).

The iPhone 5S received 6 years of OS updates and an extra 4 years of security updates after that.

This update is trivial, but the 4 years of security updates it got aren’t. And yes, this chart needs updating.

View attachment 2599387

I agree, but would this be a news article if iMessage was in the App Store and the 5S received an update there? Not to mention the implications that Apple waited until now to decide whether to continue allowing 5S owners to use iMessage. Surely they’ve known of the certificate’s expiration date for 5+ years now?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Bravo Apple! 👏

Great support!

 

[bluecoast]

Loved my 5s at the time.

I bought a 1st gen SE in 2021 as a back up iPhone and was shocked as to how small the screen now felt even compared to a 6.1 screen, how plasticky the home button felt and pressing the side buttons felt a way less premium experience than modern iPhones.

It's a testament as to how much Apple has improved the iPhone in 10 years.

It looks great though, one of my favourite iPhone designs ever.

 

[uacd]

I Live in a 3rd world country and there is no way you can get a car that is not a literal piece of junk for the price of a New iphone.

But it would still move!😃 Indeed, a piece of junk. But most people still choose those (and then however invest even more “iPhone money” to keep those rust buckets moving)

 

[Andy_2341]

Updated an OG iPad Air today to 12.5.8 and noticed the cool animation of the gears on the setting logo within the software update menu moving as it downloads the update and prepares to install. What happened to this animation? Have I just been missing it on new iOS versions?

 

[bzgnyc2]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, first I've heard anything about this. Are you telling me iMessage on any iOS 15 version prior to 15.8.6 is going to stop working in January 2027? Is this quiet little update for older devices Apple's way of informing those of us with newer devices that can't install it?

To some extent. It may be possible to install the new certificate on older iOS manually. I haven't tested yet...if I am still running iOS 18.7.3 circa Thanksgiving 2026, I'll probably give it a try just to see if there are alternative ways to avoid this issue than "upgrading".