Need to have Sierra on MacBookPro to connect to new iPhone 7

El Capitan can run iTunes 12.8 currently which is the latest version of iTunes.

You can download it from iTunes - Download iTunes Now - Apple if its not showing up as an update in the Mac App Store for some reason.

Open the Mac App Store’s Update tab and update iTunes, or click here.

Tesserax: El Capitan can run the current versions of iTunes and Safari. Yosemite can also run the current iTunes version.

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Back up your data, check your applications for compatibility, and download El Capitan from the Mac App Store.

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As you know, your Mid 2009 MacBook Pro can only be upgraded to OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan. Unfortunately, you will not be able to upgrade it any higher or use the newer versions of iTunes, Safari, etc., and will have to consider getting newer hardware to do so.

Thanks for the correction Niel. I will update my notes.