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

[IIGS User]

So don't "upgrade" to iOS 13.

Well, yes and no.

I think security is the primary concern, IMHO. I can understand a company not wanting to offer their latest user experience in perpetuity to end users who bring nothing in return. Five years is an eternity in the tech world, particularly in phones. Being sure the device supported will offer the user an adequate user experience is also a balancing act. Do you hobble the latest release in so much as the features offered to the users with the newest devices who are your primary revenue stream, are not getting the best experience possible?

It may have reached the point where Apple needs to bifurcate the upgrade path for older vs. newer devices. Support the security upgrade side as long as possible, as security of mobile devices is really the next big cyber security threat worldwide, IMHO. This has always been a big selling point for Apple. At the same time, offer the latest user experience to customers with the most up to date devices.

Sorry, but if you're running around with a 5 year old phone & tablet, while I have an iPad pro that's 6 moths old, and an iPhone Xr, you're not paying your freight. It's like expecting to live in a SoHo flat that takes up a whole floor of a building while paying the rent on an apartment in the Philadelphia Badlands.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

I would be fine with this, it would be nice to get a jailbreak for all versions of iOS 12 and then never worry about updating beyond it!

 

[azentropy]

I really wish Apple would at least continue to do security updates for previous iOS versions (like they do Mac OS versions).
Then this wouldn't be as big an issue. My Dad uses my old iPhone 6, and my mom uses an old iPhone 6 Plus and for what they use it for it is still great. My work phone is still an iPhone 6 as well as again for what I use it for it is great and even though work as offered many times to upgrade me, I have refused (mainly because I'd lose the headphone jack which works perfectly with the headset I use).

 

[YaBe]

I think the model of yearly major update does not have any reason to be.

Update apps, update core part of the Os trough minor updates, and release majot version when really needed.

Apple like Android (even though they still manage to make a yearly release...and who knows WHY) should break the os in pieces and update each part when needed.

Do we really need a .update to have an app updated? Or to get......new emoji?

 

[gnomeisland]

As a stalwart owner of an iPhone 6+, I'll be shocked if it is still supported. Dropping the SE seems punitive—especially if they keep the iPod—but I could see everything with less than 2GB of RAM being dropped. Yes, the iPhone 6 was very popular, and after the battery snafu they risk a backlash if people feel it is rushed into obsolesce, but it is an old/slow phone and Apple needs those holdouts to upgrade.

I *hope* they will give them something legit to upgrade to or they risk a lot of churn.

 

[Psychicbob]

Well, yes and no.

I think security is the primary concern, IMHO. I can understand a company not wanting to offer their latest user experience in perpetuity to end users who bring nothing in return. Five years is an eternity in the tech world, particularly in phones. Being sure the device supported will offer the user an adequate user experience is also a balancing act. Do you hobble the latest release in so much as the features offered to the users with the newest devices who are your primary revenue stream, are not getting the best experience possible?

It may have reached the point where Apple needs to bifurcate the upgrade path for older vs. newer devices. Support the security upgrade side as long as possible, as security of mobile devices is really the next big cyber security threat worldwide, IMHO. This has always been a big selling point for Apple. At the same time, offer the latest user experience to customers with the most up to date devices.

Sorry, but if you're running around with a 5 year old phone & tablet, while I have an iPad pro that's 6 moths old, and an iPhone Xr, you're not paying your freight. It's like expecting to live in a SoHo flat that takes up a whole floor of a building while paying the rent on an apartment in the Philadelphia Badlands.

If you’ve paid the mortgage off, you can live where you damn well like!

 

[first-to-tea]

I would’ve thought Apple would want to keep support on devices as long as it could. Keep iPad mini 2 support. Keep iPhone 5s, keep iPhone SE support. People will leave the Apple ecosystem if they don’t support it and look to switch device brands. Now is not the time to end support for Apple customers

 

[Glockworkorange]

It's fine. The processor architecture for those phones is greater than five years (except the SE).

 

[gnomeisland]

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.

While I'd like to see a simpler lineup, the maturation of the market is prob why they keep so many options. People who are buying are taking their time and more carefully balancing value/price/features. Smartphones were so amazing and each generation was such a great value it was easier to have one-size-fits-all.

Some pruning would be good (perhaps only the iPhone 8 and XR for the lower and mid tiers in most markets) but I think Apple is being smart from a business sense.

 

[code-m]

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.

iOS experience is RAM dependant, the 1GB in the 6/plus is not enough and I fear it may be hobbling development to a degree. This phone has had a long run of 5 years, the battery on those things barely lasts half a work day with normal usage, I know this when trying to use two family members phones one a 6 the other a plus. If your purchased it the year of release or months later, you got your money’s worth, trade up for an XR to keep cost down. The UI experience was painfully testing compared to my XS. Once these family members upgraded to the XR, they mentioned it should have happened sooner and don’t regret the update.

The SE is still being sold unlocked and brand new in 2019 at Costco, I love the size, it just needs some updating and 2GB RAM will be supported as base iOS experience since the 2017 iPhone 8 and 2018 iPad had it.

If this was an android phone, one would be lucky to get two years of OS updates, sure the phone may function but your experience is in a time capsule.

I suspect that 2GB RAM requirement in iOS will not be enough in 2022. This is evident as even the 2019 iPad Mini has 3GB RAM.

 

[macduke]

I could see them dropping the 5s but I really doubt they would drop the 6 or 6s. I have 2 daughters who are going to be upset if they drop support for the SE. They love the size of their SEs and have held onto them rather than upgrading to newer, larger phones.

My wife is the same. I wish they wouldn’t treat SE users like they’re poor or something. We would pay for a premium SE.

Hopefully at least that 5.4” iPhone XR rumor thing pans out. Better than nothing. I think 5-5.2” would be better and probably more like an SE if you stretched it taller.

 

[hermes16]

I haven't heard anything that would justify not supporting those phones. what dark mode need a stronger processor or more memory, are the new emoji's that advanced?

 

[recoil80]

I think the model of yearly major update does not have any reason to be.

Update apps, update core part of the Os trough minor updates, and release majot version when really needed.

Apple like Android (even though they still manage to make a yearly release...and who knows WHY) should break the os in pieces and update each part when needed.

Do we really need a .update to have an app updated? Or to get......new emoji?

That have been true for the Mac for years. iOS is getting mature but every year we get a tons of new APIs so it kind of make sense to have the yearly release, not counting the fact there is usually something new to support for new devices, because they have new sensors etc.
macOS could have a major release every 3-4 years, this time there is Marzipan so major release, but many times the only updates they showcase on stage are about apps, maybe a few more APIs but the major release is just marketing, they want to show you there is something new.

 

[aakshey]

Most probable

Drop all 1GB RAM devices

Second Most Probable

Drop all pre A9 with A8X perhaps being an exception possibly.

Third Most Probable

Drop all pre A8

Fourth Most Probable (Almost Impossible)

All Pre A10, and maybe iPad Pro turns out to be an exception.

 

[ghanwani]

From boring rumors to bad rumors. Hoping this one is fake.

 

[thebeans]

iOS 13 will not be compatible with the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, or iPhone SE, and support for the original iPad Air and iPad mini 2 will also be dropped, according to a questionable rumor tipped to us by French blog iPhoneSoft.fr.

This is at least the second time we've heard this rumor this year, but it remains questionable for a few reasons. For one, the iPhone SE uses the same A9 chip as the iPhone 6s and the fifth-generation iPad, so it would seem inconsistent if the iPhone SE was dropped but the latter two devices remained supported.

It could be theorized that Apple wants to drop support for iOS devices with 4-inch displays, including the iPhone 5s and iPhone SE, but there is again some inconsistency there, as the sixth-generation iPod touch will allegedly run iOS 13.

This rumor would be significant if accurate, however, as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in particular were tremendously popular devices that are likely still in the hands of many millions of customers. Meanwhile, the fan-favorite iPhone SE was only released just over three years ago, in March 2016.

iOS 13 is expected to be unveiled at Apple's annual WWDC keynote on June 3, so we'll find out for sure in less than a month.

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

Yeah.....I don’t think so.

 

[Khedron]

When has Apple ever dropped OS support for a device that it was selling as new just a year ago? Never.

I heard you shouldn't buy an Android because you only get 1-2 years of support and Apple guarantees at least five years?

 

[44267547]

If this report is true. Then this also would include the iPod touch sixth generation with the A8 processor/one GB of RAM. Because it almost has the exact same specifications as the iPhone 6. But I certainly don’t believe this report regarding the SE, as that easily _could_ see another two years of updates.

 

[rembert]

[...]

I wish they wouldn’t treat SE users like they’re poor or something. We would pay for a premium SE.

[...]

I would as well. I won't buy a larger phone. If people would give me an XS for free, I'd swap it for an SE immediately - I don't care about the difference in price. I've seen people around me doing exactly this.

If the SE won't be supported anymore by Apple then my next phone will be a similarly sized non-Apple phone. No doubt about that. For larger screens I use my iPad, my MBP and my iMac. I can learn to live without continuity, without Apple Pay and without all those other iOS features I grew accustomed to. If I might return to Apple later on? I'm not sure. Buying a non-Apple smartphone might very well become my first step to get entirely out of the Apple eco-system. It's not like there's no alternative.

What is needed to get Apple to understand an appearantly huge amount of people just explicitly don't want to have a bigger phone. To be honest, I'd even like my iPhone to be a tad smaller.

 

[sickoagb]

When has Apple ever dropped OS support for a device that it was selling as new just a year ago? Never.

Original iPad didn’t get iOS 6 (2012) despite being on sale until 2011.

 

[PastaPrimav]

I can see the 6 and 6 Plus being dropped as they have 1GB of RAM and is almost 5 years old, but having the SE being dropped would suck.

They're the same phone.

But more important than that is that the SE is still occasionally available. It would be unusual for Apple to sell anything, or even recently stop selling something, that gets no more updates.
[doublepost=1557498865][/doublepost]

So don't "upgrade" to iOS 13.

You're so smart.

 

[norbinhouston]

I could see them dropping the 5s but I really doubt they would drop the 6 or 6s. I have 2 daughters who are going to be upset if they drop support for the SE. They love the size of their SEs and have held onto them rather than upgrading to newer, larger phones.

Guys, just because apple isn't going to give older phones the latest OS upgrades doesn't mean they'll stop working. And they'll still get security upgrades. iOS 12 is still pretty darn good feature wise so those phones will be good for a while even without iOS 13.

 

[qgadrian]

Ok, then they should give us another iPhone SE2, TE or whatever.

And keep the god damn small size.

 

[Lancetx]

I'm not putting much stock in this rumor. I'd be shocked if everything with an A8 (regardless of RAM) or later isn't supported. The only devices I can see being dropped are those that have the A7.

 

[baryon]

Bought my iPhone SE less than two years ago, it would be really odd to have it already not be compatible with the next iOS.