Rumor Claims iOS 15 to Drop Support for iPhone 6s and Original iPhone SE

[JPSaltzman]

Fine with me, and I own 2 of the original SE models. Frankly, updating to iOS 13 just kept draining the battery daily (one of them with a new Apple battery, no less!). Every time I'd go into the Apple Store to complain about the battery life in iOS 13, every person I talked to told me "Wait for the next update! They'll have it fixed!" Well, they never did fix the battery issue, and I gave up on the weekly updates.

You know, I'm so tired of Apple's weekly fixes to fix some bug, I finally just stopped updating my iPhones. Yeah, yeah, security risk, but jeez, I only use it as a phone and occasionally a text message. And if they aren't on my contact list, they are blocked immediately.

 

[NewUsername]

I notice that they usually drop support for Macs in one year and for iPhones in the other year. This year, support for some Macs was dropped with Big Sur. In 2019, iOS 13 dropped support for 5s and 6. In 2018, Mojave dropped support for older Macs. In 2017, iOS 11 dropped support for iPhone 5 and 5C.

According to that logic, in 2021 macOS 12 would support all Macs that support Big Sur, but iOS could drop support for some iPhones.

Still, it would be a pity to drop support for the iPhone 6s and SE, because these devices are still very capable. I guess seven years of supporting the latest version of iOS might be too much to ask for an iPhone?

 

[rp2011]

For those whining about this, FYI your device will not self destruct. They will continue to run exactly as before. No one is taking away anyone’s iPhones.

 

[MarioPhone96]

It's not like your 6 year old phone will suddenly stop working, they are just going to drop OS update support.

The majority of apps will continue working for years even on older OS's.

How many update versions do Android phones get normally ... Two, three maybe ?

Usually two. If you’re lucky, three.

 

[chabig]

Stupid cowards. Drop support to fully functional working perfectly devices is nothing short than greedy pitiful treachery

What are you complaining about? Your current phone won’t stop working when iOS 15 comes out.

 

[NewUsername]

For those whining about this, FYI your device will not self destruct. They will continue to run exactly as before. No one is taking away anyone’s iPhones.

The main problem is the software support. For example, those with an iPhone 5s and 6 can’t run the coronavirus app in my country because it requires iOS 13. And especially those with an iPhone 5 or 5c can’t get the latest app version, which usually means they can’t use banking apps anymore.

While Apple’s support is quite generous, this does mean some people have to upgrade to a new iPhone even if they are still happy with the hardware of their old iPhone. Good for Apple’s business, not so great for the environment and for our wallets.

 

[aednichols]

The main problem is the software support. For example, those with an iPhone 5s and 6 can’t run the coronavirus app in my country because it requires iOS 13. And especially those with an iPhone 5 or 5c can’t get the latest app version, which usually means they can’t use banking apps anymore.

While Apple’s support is quite generous, this does mean some people have to upgrade to a new iPhone even if they are still happy with the hardware of their old iPhone. Good for Apple’s business, not so great for the environment and for our wallets.

I think security updates are a bigger issue than features. Apple heavily markets their security and privacy strength and should follow through on it.

 

[gaximus]

The only reason would be security updates.

Apple will still release security updates for iOS 14. The old phones just won’t be getting iOS 15. They’ve done this before, it’s just been a while since they’ve dropped a phone from getting updates.

 

[legis_arvum]

What are you complaining about? Your current phone won’t stop working when iOS 15 comes out.

I don't have 6s, yet I don't like the trend and the way its done

 

[aesc80]

What many people don’t realize that developers know is having to keep in mind older tech and having to design against that too. The wider spectrum you support on devices, the more you have to tinker with certain layouts, and more complexities in the code, build for more specific devices, test against them, etc. That means having to spend so much time and money on devices that are probably no bigger than 5-10% of your user base, at most. It’s a gigantic pain that most general users have no idea how much is put into them, but heaven forbid they remove support for them.

 

[ghostface147]

Makes sense.

 

[dannyyankou]

Stupid cowards. Drop support to fully functional working perfectly devices is nothing short than greedy pitiful treachery

Yeah I’ve been waiting for an update on my iMac G3 for over 15 years!

 

[klasma]

Apple will still release security updates for iOS 14. The old phones just won’t be getting iOS 15. They’ve done this before, it’s just been a while since they’ve dropped a phone from getting updates.

They still release security updates for older iOS versions from time to time. For example iOS 12.4.9 was released three weeks ago (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201222).

The real problem in practice is when apps stop working.

 

[triangletechie]

Doesn't Android only guarantee 3?

 

[TheSkywalker77]

Planned obsolescence my ass. Name me one Android phone you’ll get 5+ years of updates for...

I can’t wait to see the kind of support the newer phones will get (X and newer) with how good the chips have gotten.

 

[triangletechie]

Stupid cowards. Drop support to fully functional working perfectly devices is nothing short than greedy pitiful treachery

Tell us how long they should be expected to provide updates for all devices. Should it be forever?

 

[Sarbun96]

I'm just curious... when do the angry people on this comment section think it would be okay for Apple to end support? I mean, it'll have had five solid years of support and great performance to this day. Scrap notions of 'well it should be able to work with the next update, it's just Apple being monsters making it obsolete'... Apple does not need to keep spending money investing in old products when they have a continuous set of new ones to support where their attention should be. Five years is the best in the business, good luck finding that on the Android side of the pond.

I had an SE, amazing experience and I enjoyed the iPhone 5 2012 design for that little bit longer which was comforting... but eventually I embraced the future with the XR and would never look back. If you're on the original SE, wow you've got a lot to look forward to - mostly in the battery department

 

[Contact_Feanor]

Apple is the only company in the world to still support a 5-years old phone and push major updates that still bring new features. They will pull the plug after 6 whole years.

I still have one (to bring on vacations) and it still works fantastically well. Considering iOS 14 is its final version, it will ALWAYS work well.

I even have an iPhone 5 that works well, slightly slow sometimes, but it's definitely useable. Starting from iPhone 5S, planned obsolescence is no more.

maybe that "planned" obsolescence as you call it wasn't planned at all. SoC's age and those first couple of years the chips were really constrained as to what was possible and mobile OS's were changing at a breakneck speed. Now the OS is mature and the SoC's have a huge headroom when released. Remember that Apple didn't start to design its own chips until the A4 so had to make due with whatever was on the market back then.

 

[sniffies]

News: "iOS 87 to drop support for the original iPhone"

You know who: "Stupid cowards. Drop support to fully functional working perfectly devices is nothing short than greedy pitiful treachery."

 

[Sarbun96]

however, this is too clear an egregious example of poorly grounded planned obsolescence to be honest

That's a very 'egregious' use of the word egregious, my friend !

 

[Taz Mangus]

Stupid cowards. Drop support to fully functional working perfectly devices is nothing short than greedy pitiful treachery

If you really think what you wrote, no one is forcing you to buy Apple products. Put your money where your mouth is, unless you are only here to complain. You might also want go complain to Google and Samsung because they don’t support older hardware anywhere as long as Apple does.

 

[Sarbun96]

News: "iOS 87 to drop support for the original iPhone"

You know who: "Oh no, what am I gonna do??? My iPhone will stop working!! Apple is so horrible!!! I can't believe they're doing this to their customers!!"

I'm just waiting for one of them to say "NEXT TIME I'M BUYING SAMSUNG" so I can enlighten them about how the non-Apple companies handle this ... lol

 

[Taz Mangus]

I will be retiring my iPhone 6S plus in the next couple of months, replacing it with a Pacific Blue iPhone 12 Pro Max. Five years is a long time for a phone to get software support.

 

[bsamcash]

I want it to drop the 7 Plus so my work will be forced to upgrade my phone!

 

[Taz Mangus]

I'm just curious... when do the angry people on this comment section think it would be okay for Apple to end support? I mean, it'll have had five solid years of support and great performance to this day. Scrap notions of 'well it should be able to work with the next update, it's just Apple being monsters making it obsolete'... Apple does not need to keep spending money investing in old products when they have a continuous set of new ones to support where their attention should be. Five years is the best in the business, good luck finding that on the Android side of the pond.

I had an SE, amazing experience and I enjoyed the iPhone 5 2012 design for that little bit longer which was comforting... but eventually I embraced the future with the XR and would never look back. If you're on the original SE, wow you've got a lot to look forward to - mostly in the battery department

Those people would probably still find something to complain about.