System updates are necessary to keep your phone running. They close security gaps, increase your battery life or clean up storage. Certain apps also need a certain software generation to run smoothly. That is why you should update to the latest software regularly. Before a major software update make sure you have a backup of your data. Nothing should go wrong of course, but better safe than sorry. If you don’t know how to make a backup read our blog post about it.

Software support period

An advantage of Apple over Android is that generally speaking Apply supports operating systems longer than Android. For example, the five-year-old iPhone 6s still runs with the new iOS version. But the question is of course for how long?

Android usually stops supporting devices after about 3 years. Only security updates are still supplied after that. Compared to Apple this is short. There, usually 5 to 6 years after a phone was released the company stops supporting updates.

Typically, Apple's latest iPhone receives the latest iOS update for around 4 to 5 years. The new version appears at the same time as the presentation of the latest iPhone series in September. During last year's update for iOS 13, the iPhone 5 and iPhone 6 were removed from the update list after 6 years. The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, however, have still received the update to iOS 13.

These two devices will most likely be the next on the “end of support” list as they were the direct successors of the phones that are already on that list. But don’t give up yet. Apparently all phones that run on iOS 13 will also get iOS 14. However, it will be the case that some functions will no longer be compatible with these older Apple devices.

Timeframe for my phone

If you have an iPhone 7 or iPhone 8 and are wondering how long there will be updates for your cell phone, you can sit back and relax. Support should only be threatened with the update to iOS 15 or iOS 16.

Since Apple usually supplies updates for about 5 years you can see in this list when the 5 years passed and you should be prepared for a support stop. But please note that this list is based on assumptions and not official data. This means it is possible that a phone gets software updates for much longer than indicated here.

2021: iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 7/ 7 Plus
2022: iPhone 8/ 8 Plus, iPhone X
2023: iPhone XR, iPhone XS/ XS Max
2024: iPhone 11/ 11 Pro/ 11 Pro Max

What now?

If you have an older iPhone and you assume that the iOS support will stop soon it might be time to look for a new phone. Before the support will definitely stop you are informed about it by the news or on social media. So you might want to monitor those channels closely. Even though the support stops you can still use your phone. So you will have enough time to look for a new phone.

We designed our website MyIdealPhone to help you with that process. You can easily compare phones with our tool and make the right decision.

If you do not switch phones you might have trouble with some apps like messenger services. So we advise you to look for new phones. Also, considering that phones for which the software support stops are already quite old, you might be better off with a new phone in general. Better batteries that are energy efficient or quick charging options might lower your energy bills.