Tech giant Apple, which introduced the iPhone of 2022 in September, will soon be marking the
Until iOS 16 was released in September 2022, a used iPhone 6S was still able to run the most recent Apple mobile operating system: iOS 15. It is the oldest iPhone to receive the iOS 15 update (the iPhone 6 is stuck on the last version of iOS 12).
Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 series models will get updated till iOS 16 (will be released in September of 2022). And after that iOS 17 will come in 2023, so Apple will drop both iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus users for iOS 17.
Does 2022 mean the end for iPhone 7? iPhone 7 sets may no longer receive the version upgrades like iOS 16, but they may still receive a few security updates in the year 2022. The new security updates, if released, will be based on iOS 15 only, of course.
Depending on your needs, a used iPhone 8 is absolutely worth buying in 2022. In fact, the iPhone 8 is regularly among the best-selling iPhones on Swappa. The iPhone 8 has a smaller form factor compared to many other currently available iPhones, and prices on gently used models start around $115.
Apple sold tens of millions of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models after their launch in 2015. The iPhone 6 is reportedly “safe until 2023,” but the iPhone 6 Plus isn't so lucky. This popular iPhone model won't stop working overnight — but that's not the real danger.
It's bad news if your iPhone is older than the iPhone 8—Apple has ended support for the iPhone 7 and older, so you won't be able to upgrade your iPhone software to iOS 16. But even if you have a newer iPhone, you still may not get the full iOS 16 experience.
Video: Watch Everything Announced at Apple's WWDC 2022 Event
This means any phones introduced in 2016 or earlier, including the iPhone 6S, iPhone SE and iPhone 7, won't be getting Apple software updates anymore. It's not an unexpected move, given that the company regularly retires software support on older devices.
It launched on March 24, 2017, but it was later discontinued after the announcement of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X in September 2017 as well as the 256 GB Variant. On September 12, 2017, Apple announced the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus as direct successors to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, alongside the iPhone X.
Both iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were introduced in September 2014 with iOS 8. The devices were discontinued in 2019 with the release of iOS 13, which requires an iPhone 6s or later.
If saving a bit of money is your goal — but you also don't want the really outdated iPhone SE — then the iPhone 12 is a good choice. Even at two years old, the iPhone 12 still holds up very well today, with its Apple A14 Bionic still holding up very well in late 2022.
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are far ahead in features and hardware than the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. The smartphones get a better display with 3D touch and True Tone, which the 6 and 6 Plus lacks. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus's A11 Bionic processor also brings in better performance and efficiency in battery life.
Although these theories have become incredibly common, there's no truth behind the rumors. Apple is not killing its older models, but the company did release an update that is urgent for users with older models. The update, iOS 12.5.
If you have an iPhone 7, it's time to upgrade. It is 6 years old, and it shows in everything from the processor to the camera and storage space. The iPhone 7 doesn't support iOS 16, providing even more incentive for acquiring a newer device.
iPhone 7 is not getting any further major iOS updates. Ios 15 is the last version it will run. The issues with no more major updates to iOS may not be as important as which apps are supported.
A lot of older cellphones, including the IPhone 5, IPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S4, as well as many of the flip phones, will become obsolete in 2022 as mobile providers make the switch to 5G networks.
This period can increase to a total of seven years based on specific parts and availability. So from the above hypothesis, Apple will likely stop fully supporting iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus around 2025. However, it's also possible that the company might decide to add a year or two of coverage.
As the battery gets older it may start to require charging more frequently, hold charge less well, or even start to shut down your phone unexpectedly. Once your iPhone's battery passes the 500 complete charges point it's probably time for it to be replaced.
The bottom line: The iPhone 13 is a huge jump from the iPhone 8. Everything about this phone will feel fast and new: the much larger and bolder screen, Face ID, the speedier processor, its longer battery life and of course the substantially upgraded cameras.
With an iPhone, you receive the latest software updates up to 6 years after the release of the device. That makes the iPhone durable and ensures that your older device lasts a long time.
Spec-wise, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are antiquated. For example, it only has 1 GB of LPDDR3 RAM compared to the 6 GB of LPDDR4X found in the iPhone 13 Pro. It also lacks 5G, has a slower dual-core CPU, and will underperform when it comes to running modern apps.