iOS 15 is the final version of iOS that supports the iPhone 6S & 6S Plus, first-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 7 & 7 Plus and iPod Touch, as its successor, iOS 16, drops support for those models, including the seventh-generation iPod Touch.
2 and iPadOS 15.7. 2 are only for iOS 15-compatible devices that are not compatible with iOS 16. This means iPhone 7, iPad mini 4 and older devices only.
iOS 15, which arrived in September 2021, supports all iPhones from iPhone 6s onwards, just as with iOS 14 and iOS 13.
Ensure that you have iPhone 6s or a newer model to update your iPhone to iOS version 15. iPhone models that are older, iPhone 6 and below, will not update to iOS 15.
Even though the iOS 15 is not compatible with Phone 6 (6s, 6+), you can install and use it. Make sure you back up your iPhone data before updating the iOS. Once you are done with the backup process the aforementioned steps will be sufficient to make your job done.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Automatic Updates, then turn on Download iOS Updates. Turn on Install iOS Updates. Your device automatically updates to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.
Upgrading to iOS 15.1 beta on iPhone 6s/6s Plus could slow down your iPhone 6s or 6s Plus. In some cases, the upgrade may lead to several bugs, difficulty with using some apps, poor battery life, and lots more. Whatever the problem may be, it may be vital for you to downgrade iOS 15 beta on iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus.
iOS 16: Why you should wait
No iOS release is bug-free, and it's always possible that you're going to run into problems you didn't have before. That said, between the new features and security updates present in iOS 16.1 and beyond, we really think most users will be much better off if they grabbed the latest version.
The main reason to update to iOS 16 for most users will be to gain a host of new features, such as Lock Screen customization and widgets, iCloud Shared Photo Library, Passkeys, Shared Tab Groups, and enhancements to Live Text, Visual Look Up, and Dictation, as well as significant updates for Messages, Mail, Home, ...
Basically, if you have an iPhone 8 (2017) or newer (including the second- and third-gen iPhone SE), you can download and run iOS 16.
On average, Apple supports each iPhone model for around six or more years. Earlier models, such as the 5/5C, only support up to iOS 10, while iPhone 6/6 Plus goes up to iOS 12. The iPhone 6S/6S Plus and later versions go up to the most recent version of iOS 15.
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus supported iOS 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 before being dropped by iOS 13, and they are the third to support five versions of iOS after the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5.
With all the upgraded smartphone tech, you might prefer to buy a more recent iPhone model, but the iPhone 8 is still a perfectly good smartphone in 2023.
Will the iPhone 7 still work in 2023? Even though the iPhone 7 is no longer supported by Apple's iOS updates, that doesn't mean you still can't use it in 2023. The iPhone 7 will still work on different carrier networks in the US and you'll still have access to apps on the Apple Store.
Release history
The first developer beta of iOS 16 was released on June 6, 2022. iOS 16 was officially released on September 12, 2022.
An unusual battery drain issue is one of the worst things to occur with your iPhone after iOS 16 install. This issue can persist even with the latest software update. It's been hardly a month since iOS 16 has been released officially, yet there are reports of many battery drain issues from the general public.
Your apps don't support iOS 16.
You may need to charge your phone more often because of new software. Even if you wait for future iOS 16 updates, you may still encounter some battery drain for the first few days, but that generally disappears once your iPhone gets settled with the software update.
iOS 15 was officially succeeded by iOS 16 on September 12, 2022. iOS 15 is the final version of iOS that supports the iPhone 6S & 6S Plus, first-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 7 & 7 Plus and iPod Touch, as its successor, iOS 16, drops support for those models, including the seventh-generation iPod Touch.
iOS 16 makes a number of welcome tweaks to existing features that streamline things while making apps like Maps, Messages and Mail more powerful. These aren't big changes, but they add up to a better iPhone experience.
It's held battery life like a champ, usually lasting for days at a time before needing a charge. Now, after upgrading to iOS 16.3, my battery is visibly draining throughout the day. I now need to charge at least once if not twice a day, even with most applications closed.
Restart Your Phone
If you start noticing UI lag or another performance issue after install the latest version of iOS 15, try restarting it. Power it down, leave it off for a minute, and the turn it back on. This has resolved many issues for us in the past.