iPhones lasts longer than you assume — here is learn how to know when to improve
There’s plenty of discuss concerning the size of software and security support for Android phones, with manufacturers like Samsung and Google upping this to seven years for his or her previous few generations of gadgets. But we not often hear concerning the longevity of iPhone and the size of assist Apple affords for these gadgets. It undoubtedly appears as if iPhones final a reasonably very long time. I do know people who find themselves nonetheless utilizing their iPhone XRs to at the present time, and that telephone launched eight years in the past in 2018 and was discontinued in 2021.
Apple affords software program assist for wherever from 5 to seven years, relying on the machine. This contains main iOS updates and safety patches. You can technically proceed to make use of an iPhone after that with an older OS, although you are lacking out on necessary safety patches. Longevity pertains to extra than simply software program and safety assist, although. Generally, you will get a great life out of an iPhone if you wish to dangle onto one for some time.
Software assist is lengthy
Keep going and going
As it stands in 2026, Apple nonetheless affords software program assist courting again to the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd gen), which have been launched in 2019 and 2020, respectively. While you miss out on options that require a extra highly effective chip and processor, like Apple Intelligence, the telephones will nonetheless operate correctly. iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max fashions, in the meantime, nonetheless get choose safety patches, the most recent delivered for these telephones in August 2026. But they’re on their final legs now that eight years have passed by since launch.
Even a lot older telephones which might be lengthy out of circulation aren’t forgotten, although. The iPhone X, 8, 8 Plus, 7, 6s, 6s Plus, and SE (1st gen) that may solely run iOS 15 or iO16 obtained safety fixes in May 2026. So, if grandma remains to be hanging onto hers, and it really works, that is a great decade that Apple has continued to assist it.
Battery will possible go first
Even with assist, it is time to improve
Just as a result of Apple continues to supply restricted assist for gadgets past the software program and safety improve cycle of about seven years, that does not imply you shouldn’t hassle upgrading. Chances are that by this time, the telephone’s battery could have degraded anyway. Lithium-ion batteries utilized in iPhones and most different telephones will degrade repeatedly over time. The rule of thumb is that when battery well being drops under 80%, it is time to improve. This normally occurs after wherever from 500 to 1,000 cost cycles. There are steps you can take to improve iPhone battery life, like disabling background app refreshes and altering lesser known settings like Connectivity Assist.
To verify battery well being, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. This will present most capability and cycle rely. For instance, my iPhone 17 Pro, which is simply over a yr outdated, is at 94% battery capability with a cycle rely of 331. So, it nonetheless has a few years left.
If you discover the telephone’s battery is draining rapidly, there may be the choice to think about a battery substitute in case you discover it more cost effective than upgrading to a brand new telephone. Apple affords battery replacements for any telephone that is not thought-about “classic,” which means it hasn’t been out of circulation for greater than 5 years. So, proper now, the iPhone 6 was designated as classic in 2022, which suggests you will have a tricky time discovering substitute elements for that mannequin. You in all probability should not put money into a brand new battery if the telephone is arising on the seven-year expiration interval for software program and safety updates, although. At this level, you are higher off saving for an improve.
When to exchange your iPhone
Even if it really works, contemplate longevity
By the time your iPhone’s software program assist lapses, you could already be experiencing points with it past the battery. Without software program assist, some apps could not run nicely anymore, or could now not be supported in any respect with out upgrading the OS. For instance, Netflix requires an iPhone with iOS18 or later to run. iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max can get this OS, however they’re the oldest gadgets that may settle for this OS. So, if you’d like Netflix on an iPhone 8, you will not get it.
Further, you would possibly discover that the telephone could begin to lag. It could not be capable to sustain together with your duties because the battery ages, the software program calls for extra to run apps that do nonetheless work, and storage fills up. You can free up storage space on your phone by eradicating apps you do not use and deleting outdated photographs, movies, and recordsdata. But there’s solely so lengthy the telephone will sustain earlier than it turns into extra irritating than helpful.
iPhone assist is top-notch
With many Android manufacturers getting all the eye, it is easy to overlook that Apple affords lengthy assist for iPhones, justifying the premium value for the gadgets. It’s not unusual to see individuals strolling round with “legacy” iPhones that they swear nonetheless work advantageous. In reality, up till just lately, my aged mom was nonetheless utilizing an iPhone XR.
“I solely modified it as a result of it was now not going to be up to date with new iOS,” she tells me. “It labored nice for my wants. I used to be in a position to do all the things I used it for, and it charged rapidly.” In reality, when my mother and father upgraded their Mac pc earlier this yr, she was in a position to get a small discount in value by buying and selling within the iPhone XR because it was nonetheless absolutely operational. That’s fairly spectacular for a telephone that’s eight years outdated, suggesting that iPhones is likely to be costly, however they’re additionally constructed to final.
