Macworld

If you are thinking of buying an older generation or used/refurbished iPhone, or wondering whether it’s worth upgrading your current iPhone to a new one, one important factor to consider is how long Apple will continue to support it.

The good news is that Apple provides software support for iPhones for many years. In most cases, iPhones receive security-related software updates for seven to eight years. Battery replacements and other repair services are often available for devices that are five to seven years old.

Read on to find out which iPhones are supported with the latest version of iOS, and which are eligible for servicing and repairs.

Which iPhones should you avoid?

We recommend avoiding the iPhone XS, iPhone XR, and any older models – if you have one of them it’s time to upgrade. These devices cannot run iOS 27, couldn’t run iOS 26, and are likely nearing the end of Apple’s security update support.

We also hesitate to recommend the iPhone 11. Although it remains the oldest iPhone compatible with iOS 27, it launched in 2019 and is now approaching seven years old. Apple’s iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max have already been added to Apple’s Vintage Products list, suggesting the standard iPhone 11 may not be far behind.

How long does Apple support iPhones with iOS updates?

In general, Apple provides many years of iPhone support. Major iOS updates typically continue for around five to seven years, while security-related updates can last even longer.

Apple does not officially guarantee a fixed support period, but its track record shows a strong commitment to long-term device viability. In some cases, security-related coverage has extended for as long as a decade or more.

It is important to distinguish between major iOS updates and security-only updates.

Major iOS Updates: These bring new features, interface changes, and app updates. You can typically expect an iPhone to support the latest version of iOS for around five to seven years. The iPhone 11, released in 2019, can run iOS 27, although not all new features will be available on older hardware.

Security Updates: Older iPhones do not immediately become unsupported when they stop receiving major iOS updates. Apple continues to issue critical security patches for older versions of iOS for several years, extending the safe lifespan of a device.

For example, the iPhone XR and iPhone XS, launched in 2018, cannot run iOS 27 and couldn’t run iOS 26 either, but Apple has continued to issue security updates for them through iOS 18. That support extends even further back: in May 2026, Apple issued security updates for devices limited to iOS 15 and iOS 16, including the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and the first-generation iPhone SE. That means some iPhones released in 2015 were still receiving security updates 11 years after launch.

It is unclear whether Apple will continue providing security updates for iOS 15 and iOS 16 following the launch of iOS 27. Both received updates during 2026, but support for these older versions is likely nearing its end.

Device specific security updates: Apple has changed how it distributes some security updates. iOS 18 security updates are now only available for iPhones that cannot run iOS 26. That means anyone using iOS 18 on an iPhone that is compatible with iOS 26 needs to update to iOS 26 to receive the latest security fixes. Previously, security updates for older iOS versions were generally available to any device running that software version. Similarly, Apple no longer issues iOS 17-specific updates because all iPhones capable of running iOS 17 can also run iOS 18. The last iOS 17 update was iOS 17.7.2 in November 2024.

Certificate coverage: In January 2026 Apple issued updates to iOS 12, 15, 16 and 18 to extend certificates required for services such as iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation to continue working beyond January 2027. Those updates included support for older devices such as 2013’s iPhone 5S and 2014’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. However, Apple withdrew these updates after network issues prevented some older iPhones from making emergency calls.

You should be very cautious about using an iPhone that no longer receives security fixes, as unpatched vulnerabilities can put your device and data at risk.

Which iPhones can run the latest iOS?

Britta O’Boyle

  • The 2019 iPhone 11 is the oldest iPhone able to run iOS 26 and iOS 27.

iOS 27 supports the same older iPhone models as iOS 26, with the iPhone 11 from 2019 remaining the oldest compatible iPhone. This includes the following devices:

  • iPhone Duo (2026)
  • iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max (2026)
  • iPhone 17 Series, including iPhone Air and 17e (2025/2026)
  • iPhone 16 Series, including iPhone 16e (2024/2025)
  • iPhone 15 Series (2023)
  • iPhone 14 Series (2022)
  • iPhone SE (3rd gen, 2022)
  • iPhone 13 Series (2021)
  • iPhone 12 Series (2020)
  • iPhone SE iPhone SE (2nd gen, 2020)
  • iPhone 11 Series (2019)
Which iPhones run each version of iOS?

The chart below shows each version of iOS and the iPhones it ran on. As you can see, in recent years support for new iOS versions has stretched back for around six years, while, if you include the versions that Apple supports with security updates, the cover goes back a further year.

iOS support chart by model

Use this chart to find out what version of iOS your iPhone can run.


Foundry

What is the oldest iPhone still supported by Apple?
  • iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR – still receiving iOS 18 security updates
  • iPhone X and iPhone 8 – last received iOS 16 security updates in May 2026
  • iPhone 7, iPhone SE (1st generation) and iPhone 6s – last received iOS 15 security updates in May 2026

The oldest iPhones to have received security updates in 2026 are the iPhone 6s, iPhone 7 and first-generation iPhone SE, which received iOS 15.8.8 in May 2026. The iPhone 8 and iPhone X also received iOS 16.7.16 that month.

However, Apple has not released another security update for either iOS 15 or iOS 16 since May. With iOS 27 now available, it seems increasingly unlikely that Apple will continue maintaining those older operating systems. It is therefore possible that the May 2026 updates were the final security releases for iOS 15 and iOS 16, although Apple has not formally confirmed that support has ended.

That means we can no longer say with certainty that the iPhone 6s, iPhone 7, first-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 8 and iPhone X are still supported. They received security updates relatively recently, but ongoing protection against newly discovered vulnerabilities is no longer assured.

The iPhone XS, XS Max and XR are on firmer ground. Apple released iOS 18.7.10 for these models in August 2026, indicating that iOS 18 remains an actively maintained security-update branch.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 11 is the oldest standard iPhone able to run Apple’s latest operating system, iOS 27, although the second-generation iPhone SE is also compatible.

Apple’s hardware classifications tell a slightly different story. The first-generation iPhone SE and iPhone X are classified as obsolete, while several other older models are classed as vintage. Apple’s vintage and obsolete classifications relate primarily to hardware service and parts availability and do not necessarily coincide with the end of software security updates.

Which iPhones are too old The iPhone 5S. Remember? It’s been a while.

IDG

We don’t recommend using the following iPhone models because they no longer receive critical security updates, or are likely to stop receiving such updates soon. Using one of these iPhones could therefore put your security at risk:

  • iPhone XR (2018)
  • iPhone XS/XS Max (2018)
  • iPhone X (2017)
  • iPhone 8/8 Plus (2017)
  • iPhone 7/7 Plus (2016)
  • iPhone SE (2016)
  • iPhone 6s/6s Plus (2014)
  • iPhone 6/6 Plus (2014)
  • iPhone 5s (2013)
  • iPhone 5c (2013)
  • iPhone 5 (2012)
  • iPhone 4s (2011)
  • iPhone 4 (2010)
  • iPhone 3GS (2009)
  • iPhone 3G (2008)
  • iPhone (2007)

For more information, see which version of iOS can my iPhone run and our list of every version of iOS.

When will Apple stop supporting each iPhone?

Truth is we don’t know for sure, but on the basis that Apple supports phones for five to seven years after they are removed from sale:

  • iPhone XS (2018-2019) – Approx 2026
  • iPhone XR (2018-2021) – Approx 2026
  • iPhone 11 (2019-2022) – Approx 2027-2029
  • iPhone SE2 (2020-2022) – Approx 2027-2029
  • iPhone 12 (2020-2023) – Approx 2028-2030
  • iPhone 13 (2021) – Approx 2032
  • iPhone SE3 (2022) – Approx 2033
  • iPhone 14 (2022) – Approx 2034
  • iPhone 15 (2023) – Approx 2035
  • iPhone 16 (2024) – Approx 2036
  • iPhone 17 (2025) – Approx 2037
  • iPhone 18 (2025) – Approx 2038

Apple Intelligence: With the arrival of Apple Intelligence AI features and their more demanding hardware requirements, older iPhones are likely to become obsolete faster.

When does Apple stop repairing old iPhones?

Foundry

When it comes to repairs, Apple supports iPhones (and all devices it makes) for seven years from the last time it sold that particular model. So as long as your iPhone was still being sold by Apple up to seven years ago, the company or a third-party service provider will still service it.

Apple distinguishes between iPhones (and other devices) that are obsolete and vintage.

  • Vintage Apple Products: These are products that Apple stopped selling between five and seven years ago. They are considered old, but there may be limited access to repairs depending on whether Apple has the parts available.
  • Obsolete Apple Products: These are products that Apple stopped selling between more than seven years ago. They are considered end-of-life and will no longer be repaired by Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Obsolete iPhones

The following iPhones are now considered Obsolete, which means sales were discontinued more than seven years ago and Apple has now discontinued all hardware servicing.

  • iPhone
  • iPhone 3G
  • iPhone 3GS
  • iPhone 4 (all models now obsolete from 2026)
  • iPhone 4s
  • iPhone 5 (discontinued September 2013, obsolete in 2026)
  • iPhone 5c (discontinued September 2013, obsolete in 2021)
  • iPhone 5S (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021, obsolete in 2024)
  • iPhone 6 (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021, obsolete in 2025)
  • iPhone 6 Plus (discontinued in 2016, vintage in 2021, obsolete in 2024)
  • iPhone 6s (32GB) (discontinued in 2018, obsolete in 2024)
  • iPhone 6s Plus (32GB) (discontinued in 2018, obsolete in 2024)
  • iPhone 8 and 8 Plus (PRODUCT) Red (discontinued in 2018, obsolete in 2026)
  • iPhone SE, 2016 (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2023, obsolete 2025)
  • iPhone X (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2024, obsolete 2026)

Vintage iPhones

And the iPhones below are listed as Vintage, which means they have not been sold for more than five years (but less than seven years). Apple will still service these products as long as it has the required parts. So you could say that the oldest iPhone still supported by Apple is now the ten-year-old iPhone 6s, but we don’t expect that Apple will have the required parts.

  • iPhone 6s (16GB, 64GB, 128GB) (discontinued in India in 2019, vintage in 2022)
  • iPhone 6s Plus (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2022)
  • iPhone 7 (discontinued in 2019, vintage in May 2025)
  • iPhone 7 Plus (discontinued in 2019, vintage in May 2025)
  • iPhone 7 (PRODUCT) Red (discontinued in 2017, March 2022)
  • iPhone 8 (discontinued in 2020, vintage in 2024)
  • iPhone 8 Plus (discontinued in 2020, vintage in 2024)
  • iPhone XS (discontinued in 2018, vintage in 2024
  • iPhone XS Max (discontinued in 2019, vintage in June 2025)
  • iPhone 11 Pro & Pro Max (discontinued in 2020, vintage in September 2025)

All iPhones that followed those handsets, so iPhone 12 onwards, should be fully supported by Apple – for now.

Why are some iPhones listed as vintage but some newer ones are already Obsolete?

This is because Apple’s vintage/obsolete status is based on the date Apple stopped distributing a particular model or configuration for sale.

In the case of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus you may have noted that the 32GB models is already obsolete, while other 6s capacities remain vintage. This seems like an anomaly, however, Apple continued to sell the iPhone 6s in India after it was discontinued elsewhere. Those Indian sales continued until 2019, which may account for the extended support. PRODUCT Red iPhones also seem to reach obsolete status earlier, perhaps because of the availability of parts.

You may also be interested to learn how long Apple supports Macs and how long Apple supports iPads. We also have guides for getting a broken iPhone fixed and how much Apple product repairs cost.

Is your iPhone slipping into obscurity? Find a great deal on a new iPhone here or check the best prices below and take a look at our round-up to choose the Best iPhone for you.