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a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
1,448
111
My blind guess would be about 3 years before it gets serviced with a new battery or thrown into a landfill.
I'm going on 6 years. (In September.) I have never gotten a battery replacement. As I been reading people are urging me to get a new phone when the iPhone 13. (I've been talking to someone privately and they are urging me to go and get a new one when it becomes available. They are a member here, too.)
 

Guacamole

macrumors 6502a
Jun 21, 2011
649
823
I've had the 6s plus since launch day , I replaced the battery last year. Still working fine although I can see the battery starting to suffer again . I'm hoping for an iPhone 13 this year with Touch ID
 

a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
1,448
111
I've had the 6s plus since launch day , I replaced the battery last year. Still working fine although I can see the battery starting to suffer again . I'm hoping for an iPhone 13 this year with Touch ID
You've had battery issues? I am just starting to have them. It drains way too fast.
 

Phil77354

macrumors 68000
Jun 22, 2014
1,918
2,006
Pacific Northwest, U.S.
It dies completely before it hits 2% battery life sometimes, but lately I have gotten all the way to 1%. I just checked my phone and the maximum battery capacity is 74%.
If your 5+ year old iPhone is still holding 74% capacity then it seems to me that you are doing very well, much better than average.

I would not have thought that it would be good to wait until the battery is fully (or nearly fully) exhausted before recharging it. Nevertheless, you've done so well with this phone and battery that it makes me wonder what is best.
 

Taz Mangus

macrumors 604
Mar 10, 2011
7,815
3,504
I am still using a iPhone 6S+ that I have had since 2015. Replaced the battery as part of the $29 Apple battery replacement program. Right now the battery Health is 92%. Planning on replacing the phone when the iPhone 13 (iPhone 12S) is released in September. Currently running iOS 14.3 on it and it still runs very well for a 5 year old phone. When I replace the phone it will be 6 years old. The 6S+ will still be in the family when I give to one of my kids.
 

a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
1,448
111
Update: According to macrumors.com, iOS 14.4 will be released later today.
 

stanza.richi

macrumors 65816
Dec 5, 2019
1,032
1,533
Italy
My previous 8 plus is still serving my mum without issues. And I had recently passed my XS to my girlfriend after a replacement before AC+ expiration.
Now holding a 12 mini 256 gb that I want to use for at least next 3-4 years.
 

a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
1,448
111
Right now, I am updating the OS. If the rumors are true, this will be the last update for my 6s and I will be getting a new phone because what I read has me worried about safety of an outdated iPhone because it won't be able to update the OS anymore.
 

Taz Mangus

macrumors 604
Mar 10, 2011
7,815
3,504
Right now, I am updating the OS. If the rumors are true, this will be the last update for my 6s and I will be getting a new phone because what I read has me worried about safety of an outdated iPhone because it won't be able to update the OS anymore.
Apple will still provide security updates for the 6S for several years after iOS 14. Apple recently did a security update fir iOS 12. What makes you think 14.4 will be the last iOS 14 update?

 
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a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
1,448
111
Apple will still provide security updates for the 6S for several years after iOS 14. Apple recently did a security update fir iOS 12. What makes you think 14.4 will be the last iOS 14 update?
Just "Google" it, and the link I am including is from this very site we all come to.
 

Taz Mangus

macrumors 604
Mar 10, 2011
7,815
3,504
Just "Google" it, and the link I am including is from this very site we all come to.
I understand that iPhone 6S may not get iOS 15. If there is a security issue Apple usually gives several years of security updates. iOS 12.5 which was released in 12/2020 covered devices no longer supported my iOS 13 and beyond. See the link I provided in my previous response.

Also, iOS 15 won’t even be introduced until around June and there will be at least one more iOS 14 point release after 14.4:
 
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a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
1,448
111
Have you been reading about the upcoming OS update? My iPhone is rumored to not handle it because it doesn’t have a certain chip.
 

Taz Mangus

macrumors 604
Mar 10, 2011
7,815
3,504
Have you been reading about the upcoming OS update? My iPhone is rumored to not handle it because it doesn’t have a certain chip.
Can post a link to what you are referring to. There are occasions where an update targets certain devices, such 14.2.1 which was specifically for iPhone 12 only.
 

saber32au

macrumors 6502
Apr 5, 2019
267
196
Have you been reading about the upcoming OS update? My iPhone is rumored to not handle it because it doesn’t have a certain chip.

Yes, many are aware of reports iOS 15 will drop support for certain devices.

I personally don’t see it as a big deal. Phones which can’t run the latest version of iOS will continue to work fine using their current version of iOS. If there is a major issue (ie security flaw), Apple generally updates older iOS versions.

The main thing you need to look out for is app support.
 

a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
1,448
111
I should look out for is mechanical support. If certain apps don't work, oh well. I have my iPod. It's important that I have a working iPhone that is up to date.
 

imagineadam

macrumors 68000
Jan 19, 2011
1,701
876
Exactly whay I'm doing, from a 7 bought day one to a 12 6.1" day one, I'm excited ! ?
I’m on my launch JB 128GB 7 pushing it to 5 years! Had the battery replaced once in sept 2018 and the phone is running great on 14.4! The jump to the 13 or 12S at the end of this year will be a super jump for me. Especially to 120hz! That’s the main thing I’ve been holding out for. That will make the phone actually feel faster! My wife has had the 8 plus and that phone felt the same speed wise. She now has the 11 pro. Same thing. Feels the same as mine still. I’ve used a 120hz iPad and it just feels faster and better. I gotta have it in my iPhone!
 

a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
1,448
111
I'm just now noticing a strange behavior of my 6s when I try to play a game that I got from the App Store. So, the upcoming iPhone is going to be a nice upgrade. I've been keeping up with new iPhone news and I have so many dates and or time tables. I don't know what to count on.

Are any of you aiming for an upgrade of your phone? I have read that something might be coming out in April.
 

Clix Pix

macrumors Core
It depends upon what model in which you are interested. Yes, there are a few rumors that there might be a new iPhone SE (3rd generation?) in April or sometime this spring.....

The major line of iPhones, though, which will be the iPhone 13 (or some other name if they choose to rename it) is not anticipated to come out until somewhere around September 2021.

The SE 3rd generation, like its predecessors, would be a small and presumably budget-priced phone without some of the predicted features and functions of the iPhone 13 or even those which already exist in the current iPhone 12 series. It also would be released with iOS 14.x, since iOS 15 will not be available until around September 2021, alongside the iPhone 13 series.
 

a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
1,448
111
I hope my iPhone can hold out until April. It sure did take a hit when I had to use it for everything all the time. Oh well, let's say it's true and it comes out the first week in April. I'm going to try to pre-order it.
 

a-m-k

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 3, 2009
1,448
111
I know. I was surprised to see something even mentioned for an April release.
 

akash.nu

macrumors G4
May 26, 2016
10,823
16,930
It dies completely before it hits 2% battery life sometimes, but lately I have gotten all the way to 1%. I just checked my phone and the maximum battery capacity is 74%.

You should get that battery changed. Anything below 80% capacity is unstable.
 

TechLord

macrumors 6502a
Apr 28, 2020
692
911
For me 1-2 years. But on average? Well according to polls, the most popular iPhone currently in use where I live is the iPhone 7, so 4-5 years it seems? In fact my girlfriend still uses a launch day iPhone 7 with battery health in the high 60s and a half broken lightning port; she will be replacing it with a 12 this month and will aim to keep it till 2025/2026.
 

asus389

macrumors 6502
Sep 11, 2019
334
227
USA
I have a 6s that still runs fine with iOS 14. Its not super fast, but it works well enough that you could use it as a daily driver. The battery has been replaced twice, however. It seems at about the 2 year mark the batteries get annoyingly low on charge at about ~80-85% "health". So I guess if you don't break it, a phone could last you 5 years?
 
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