Which iPhones are still supported?

Are you planning to buy an iPhone? Great choice! However, there are a few things to keep in mind. There are many different models and price ranges to choose from. You may also have preferences for certain specifications. It’s a big search, but one important thing is often overlooked. People often forget to check how long a particular iPhone model will be supported.

iPhone software update

By support, we mean the support of Apple’s latest iOS software. Recently, Apple made the latest update for iPhones available: iOS 15 has been installable since September 20, 2021.

With each update, a few older models are typically no longer supported. This means that from that moment, those specific iPhone(s) can no longer run the latest software. Last year, we predicted that this would be the case for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, but that turned out not to be true. iOS 15 is available for the same models as iOS 14.

How long is an iPhone typically supported?

As a general rule, Apple provides full iOS support for about five years. With the release of iOS 15, it became clear that, in some cases, this period is even longer. When a new operating system for the iPhone is released in September 2022, it is likely that it will no longer be available for the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. These phones are already very affordable compared to newer models, and they will likely drop further in price if that happens. The iPhone SE (2016) and iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will also lose value since they are among the models with the shortest support span. This is something to keep in mind when considering a refurbished iPhone.

Which iPhones have iOS 15?

The following list of models is supported by the latest iOS 15 software:

• iPhone 6S / 6S Plus (release date: September 25, 2015) 
• iPhone SE 2016 (release date: April 21, 2016) 
• iPhone 7 / 7 Plus (release date: September 16, 2016) 
• iPhone 8 / 8 Plus (release date: September 22, 2017) 
• iPhone X (release date: October 27, 2017) 
• iPhone XR (release date: October 26, 2018) 
• iPhone XS / XS Max (release date: September 21, 2018) 
• iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max (release date: September 20, 2019) 
• iPhone SE 2020 (release date: April 24, 2020) 
• iPhone 12 / 12 mini / 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max (release date: October 16, 2020) 
• iPhone 13 / 13 mini / 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max (release date: September 24, 2021)

Older iPhone models that are not supported with iOS 15

The models below are no longer supported with iOS 15 or iOS 14, but some models still run on an older iOS 13 version. You can still use these smartphones, and Apple continues to release security updates regularly. However, over time, more functions will stop working, and not all apps will be supported anymore.

• iPhone (1) 
• iPhone 3G 
• iPhone 3GS 
• iPhone 4 
• iPhone 4S 
• iPhone 5 
• iPhone 5C 
• iPhone 5S 
• iPhone 6 
• iPhone 6 Plus

WhatsApp no longer works on iPhone 4S and older models

Are you an avid WhatsApp user, but still have an iPhone 4S or even an older model? Then you’ve probably noticed that the WhatsApp app no longer works. As of November 1, 2021, WhatsApp no longer works on the iPhone 4S. To use WhatsApp, iOS 10 is required at a minimum. Currently, the iPhone 5 is the oldest model that still supports WhatsApp. The iPhone 5 was released in 2012, meaning it has been able to use WhatsApp for around 9 years! Will it reach 10? One thing is certain: a refurbished iPhone can last a long time!