Will Apple continue supporting older iPhones?

Apple stopped supporting the 6s models with main iOS upgrades with iOS 16 in 2022. The last major version they can run is iOS 15.

The most current security update for it was iOS 15.8.4 released in March 2025. It's hard to say whether any further security updates will be released for it since Apple does not disclose this ahead of time, but as its 10 year old hardware that Apple discontinued 7 years ago, it does not look promising. Consider yourself lucky if it gets another security update, but I would not expect it to happen at this point.

Whether Apple does or does not continue supporting it with security updates , is unrelated to what your mobile provider will do however. If they are shutting down their older 4G, LTE and lower networks, then the iPhone 6s simply will have nothing to connect to. It will become a Wi-Fi only device. So you will have to upgrade to a newer iPhone at that point either way regardless of security update availability.

You'll also have to deal with less and less apps available for it, as developers start requiring higher versions of iOS for their Apps your device can no longer run it will be unable to update existing apps or download new ones.

At this point, considering upgrading to a newer iPhone model (does not need to be the most current iPhone, just a newer one is enough), is not unreasonable and highly recommended.

Look at iPhones 12 or 13, or the third generation SE (if you want to keep a similar form factor) and not spend too much on a new iPhone.

EposEllie wrote:

Hi All , I have an iPhone 6s which works well and I am happy with , I don't need all the latest bells and whistles. However my mobile provider tells me it is among the phones they will be shortly shutting down these older phones after the change to 5G . I am in the UK . I can hardly believe this and can't seem to get precise details . Anyone here who can explain to me ? I can receive 4G but I am also concerned about whether Apple will still be supporting older phones security wise .Thanks in advance .

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Concern about my old iphone

I'm not sure why you think this has anything to do with Apple. If your carrier suggests they will no longer support your phone, it has everything to do with your carrier. It would be honestly surprising your carrier wouldn't support a phone which is capable of 4G, but then again, that's up to your carrier and Apple isn't involved with what a carrier chooses to support or not. Was the phone originally meant for a different country than the UK? If it was and the bands it supports will no longer be supported by your carrier, that could be why they won't be supporting it further.

The fact is you have an iPhone released in 2015, 10 years ago. In iPhone years, it is an antique, but yes, still functional. Apple will not offer any significant updates to your iPhone and it is forever frozen at iOS 15.8.4.