Questionable Rumor Says iOS 13 Will Drop Support for iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and iPhone SE

[JDnLex]

As an SE user, I agree that it’s a bit disappointing to hear that a relatively modern (chipset-wise) device may not be receive the IOS 13, however the SE will continue working just fine on 12.x long after 13 is released. I don’t see this as a big deal. IOS 12 does run very smoothly on the SE, but the current IOS experience on the cramped, tiny screen is less than ideal. I would love to see Apple modernize the UI, and that may very well mean dropping 4 inch support if they want to do it right.

It will be quite some time before the apps we use now are no longer compatible with 12.x. No where in the purchasing agreement for my SE did I see a promise that new features would be forthcoming.

The SE will continue to do what it does now for quite some time, and if 12.x is the end, it will continue to do it well.

 

[Michvuee]

How else will they make people upgrade? They can even make some apps and even the newer yet to be released AirPods to have a minimum requirement of iOS 13 to run. Just make the trade-ins for those devices a good value and people will probably upgrade. I know I won’t be upgrading until an iPhone supports 5G for future-proofing.

 

[iReality85]

I wonder when they stopped selling the 6. We can say it’s 5 years old since the day it was new, but with apple selling brand new old models alongside brand new new model iPads and iPhones for years, I’ll bet the bulk of users got a lot less than 5 years out of their purchase.

Apple could stand to consolidate its iPhone line up. Just eliminate all lower end models except for the XR.

As for smartphone longevity, it's not worth it to upgrade regularly anymore. The smartphone market has matured, the novelty has worn off, and it's just an average everyday device people use now. I won't be upgrading my phone until 2020, when I suspect real and worthwhile changes will be introduced to iPhone. 2019 is going to be a snoozer. So, that'll be 4 years with my iPhone 7 Plus, which will be the first time I've ever used a smartphone for that long.

 

[Bin Cook]

As an SE user, I agree that it’s a bit disappointing to hear that a relatively modern (chipset-wise) device may not be receive the IOS 13, however the SE will continue working just fine on 12.x long after 13 is released. I don’t see this as a big deal. IOS 12 does run very smoothly on the SE, but the current IOS experience on the cramped, tiny screen is less than ideal. I would love to see Apple modernize the UI, and that may very well mean dropping 4 inch support if they want to do it right.

It will be quite some time before the apps we use now are no longer compatible with 12.x. No where in the purchasing agreement for my SE did I see a promise that new features would be forthcoming.

The SE will continue to do what it does now for quite some time, and if 12.x is the end, it will continue to do it well.

You won't be getting security patches, either. It's not just features that is the problem.

 

[LizKat]

For some you can, it's called Ecosystem

I admit I'm well walled in by that (and that it's voluntary,,,, so far). I'd be annoyed if the SE is dropped now though, can't quite get my head around Apple selling so many recently and then saying oh hey enjoy iOS 12 it's your "new" iPhone's last supported release. Doesn't make for good customer relations.

 

[Phogro]

How else will they make people upgrade? They can even make some apps and even the newer yet to be released AirPods to have a minimum requirement of iOS 13 to run.

This argument is so absurd. Why would any company force their customer to look for a new product. Every time you do this you risk a happy customer jumping to your competition. Yes, you can build some safeguards with services and accessory products that help keep your customer attached to you, but generally speaking every time someone upgrades to a new device you risk losing their business entirely.

 

[sunapple]

Bet it's just going to be 5S (no idea / don't care enough about iPad).

Still better than Android, heard the new Pixel 3a launches with a promise of 3 years of updates which I think is not actually that much (no clue about the details).

The first owner might not even use a phone for more than two years, but second-hand owners usually keep using them as long as they can. Updates are not just about new features, but also security and just the ability to run apps and retain existing features.

Apple's proved that they care about older devices with the last update, it has to be about technical limitations and ensuring a good enough user experience. I'm expecting some to tell me the latest update made their iPhone slower, or that Apple is greedy, but they showed how performance was improved with iOS 12 and that's what I'm on about.

 

[zorinlynx]

They were still selling the SE until this past year. To drop software update support a year later would invite lawsuits - the least they would need to do is to continue to provide security updates to iOS 12, but that's not Apple's MO for iOS - they say if you want latest security patches, upgrade to the latest OS (vs MacOS where you can still get security patches on previous major versions).

Apple has in the past issued security and certificate updates for a previously discontinued version of iOS.

A while back there was a certificate that expired which was used for FaceTime; Apple issued an update for the previous iOS version so that FaceTime wouldn't break on those devices.

 

[YaBe]

I admit I'm well walled in by that (and that it's voluntary,,,, so far). I'd be annoyed if the SE is dropped now though, can't quite get my head around Apple selling so many recently and then saying oh hey enjoy iOS 12 it's your "new" iPhone's last supported release. Doesn't make for good customer relations.

I moved on for that reason, Apple lately cares more about locking you in instead of giving you product you want, so, it took some time to adjust, i had to re-buy software, but at the end a new device + all the new sw was cheaeper and brocke some chains.

I still think they have a lead in tablets, IF the do not stand still that is, soI enjoy my iPad Pro (2017) and will see in a couple of years IF it is time to move away from that too or if they release something I want.

 

[Chazzle]

True, but those were "refurbished." I don't know about Apple's track record in terms of OS support for refurbished devices. They do sell some 2014 and 2015 era Macs as refurbished, so who knows.

But the SE was on the main apple.com/iphone website just last year. It would be way too Android-like to ditch OS support so quick.

They weren’t refurbished. They were brand new.

 

[kostthem]

Prediction:
Apple dropping support for 5s & 6. 6s & SE will be supported by iOS 13.

 

[FoxBJK]

I think it should be left up to the phone owner to decide if they want to upgrade and take a supposed speed hit.

It should be, but Apple stops signing old OS's pretty quickly so you won't be able to downgrade if you eventually decide it wasn't worth it.

 

[iGeek2014]

I would be very surprised if Apple shutter iOS 13 for the SE as it runs iOS 12 just fine and it shares most of the same internals as the 6S so why support one over the other?

 

[curtvaughan]

People do need to upgrade.

People can't keep expecting free software upgrades forever. And Apple cannot possibly keep supporting old legacy devices that lack the capabilities to deliver a buttery smooth and delightful iOS experience.

Just stop delivering iOS "upgrades" to the older model phones and deliver only security updates if needed. Let the owners of the phones decide if the phones need replacing. I have a 6S+ that works just fine for my needs on iOS 12. I don't want or need a new iOS version for it. When the phone finally dies I'll replace it with something. Whether that will be another iPhone depends on whether high pricing, features (or lack thereof, as per 3.5mm jacks) such as face id, and security issues justify that decision.

 

[acocke]

As I would hate for the SE to be discontinued, but I would not be surprised to see Apple not optimizing iOS 13 for a 4 inch screen anymore. I use the SE as my daily phone, and I see some areas in iOS 12 that aren't optimized for a 4 inch screen, and there are even apps that I use that aren't optimized for a 4 inch screen anymore. I don't even see them continuing support for the 6th iPod Touch on iOS 13, but only time will tell next month. Apple does what Apple does, and people will keep buying the phones!

 

[doctor-don]

So don't "upgrade" to iOS 13.

 

[Biu_miu]

i dont buy it. too many 6's and 6s's in the field, along with the SE. i could almost believe the 5S tho.

Same.
Plus, I imagine, people with 5s would rather see their phone laid to rest with iOS 12, an update, that gave it speedy last years of use, rather than iOS 13, where is no guarantee, that It will not screw up phones performance.

 

[plantemichel]

People do need to upgrade.

People can't keep expecting free software upgrades forever. And Apple cannot possibly keep supporting old legacy devices that lack the capabilities to deliver a buttery smooth and delightful iOS experience.

I agree with you at one point but at what price??? Apple do think we are millionaires or worst billionaires.The prices hikes has to STOP.

 

[laz232]

People do need to upgrade.

People can't keep expecting free software upgrades forever. And Apple cannot possibly keep supporting old legacy devices that lack the capabilities to deliver a buttery smooth and delightful iOS experience.

I've had no use for the past 3 years of iOS features - I use my SE a lot for calling, web, Wikipedia and podcasts. No emojis, AR, continuity or anything like that, so yeah- lack of security updates would be a huge issue.

 

[curtvaughan]

This assumes the average user is informed and will carefully weigh such a decision, and we know that’s not the case. People expect Apple to release OS updates that run smoothly on their device.

So, the "average" user doesn't carefully weigh the decision to fork over $1000+ for a new phone, just because the older model can't get the latest iOS update? If iOS 12 runs just fine on my older phone, and I don't need features which support face id, etc., why would I care about "updating" the system? The only updates I need are security patches when needed. If Apple won't provide security updates, or if my hardware becomes irreparable and/or I can't replace a failing battery, then it's time to look at replacing it. My decision regarding what brand or model to replace it with will be carefully weighed, but perhaps I'm not average.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

As an SE user, I agree that it’s a bit disappointing to hear that a relatively modern (chipset-wise) device may not be receive the IOS 13, however the SE will continue working just fine on 12.x long after 13 is released. I don’t see this as a big deal...

It will be quite some time before the apps we use now are no longer compatible with 12.x. No where in the purchasing agreement for my SE did I see a promise that new features would be forthcoming.

The SE will continue to do what it does now for quite some time, and if 12.x is the end, it will continue to do it well.

Also a SE household, here.

First, I couldn't care less about new apps/services (from Apple or otherwise) which are incompatible from day one with 12.x. So be it.

GOTCHA ::= If the Apple intrinsic apps will now depend on newer backend protocol extensions that are only available under iOS 13.x (e.g. Mail, Notes, iMessage, Photos, KeyChain, ...), then that will make the SE close to useless.

And that is the gotcha.

 

[JessWinter]

Good. Apple needs to focus more on the current devices.

 

[doctor-don]

My iPhone 6S has a home button that no longer functions. But no way am I about to spend almost $1,000 to replace it.

 

[Wags]

More likely that iOS 13 will be feature crippled on older devices, not brick them.

Kinda like macOS on older devices. At certain point, need to just keep wants stable and not upgrade.

 

[kaycrystal626]

Sad, my iPhone Xs performance has been slower with each new update!