How Outdated is an iPhone Considered Today?

Every year, Apple unveils a new iPhone model with some upgrades, often maintaining the same design as the previous year. While the annual release is exciting, most users find it hard to justify upgrading every year. Instead, they hold onto their iPhones for a few years until they start feeling outdated.

But when does an iPhone truly become “old”? Is it when it can no longer support new features like Apple Intelligence, or when it becomes completely unusable?

Surprisingly, there is a clear answer to this question, hinted at by Apple itself. Let’s delve into it.

Determining When an iPhone is Old (According to Apple)

Apple doesn’t explicitly refer to its devices as “old” for marketing reasons. However, the company categorizes its older devices into two labels over time.

The first label is “Vintage,” assigned to devices that Apple has stopped selling for more than 5 years but less than 7 years. While these products are no longer manufactured or sold, Apple still provides hardware services for them, and service providers can order spare parts.

After 7 years, a device is labeled “Obsolete.” At this point, Apple discontinues hardware service, and repair partners can no longer order parts.

As of now, Apple’s vintage list includes models like iPhone 4, iPhone 5, iPhone 6s, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone X, and more. Anything not on the vintage list is considered obsolete, including early iPhone 6s models and older.

If your iPhone is 5 years old or more, Apple is likely to have moved on from supporting it, indicating it may be time to consider an upgrade.

What About Software Updates?

Similar to hardware, Apple provides software updates for iPhones for about 5 to 7 years. However, older iPhones may not support all new features, and newer updates could impact performance on these devices.

Despite potential compromises, you can still receive software updates on older iPhones and continue using them for years.

Five Years: The Turning Point

In today’s context, iPhones typically start showing signs of age after 5 years. Apple classifies them as vintage at this point, offering limited support for software updates. While you may receive one more major update, you may not access all the latest features.

However, an older iPhone still holds value even if considered outdated. As long as it functions well and meets your needs, you can continue using it for a while longer.

Unless your iPhone is severely damaged or has poor battery life, you can prolong its usage. If it’s 5-6 years old and still performing well, you’ve surpassed the usual upgrade cycle. Just keep in mind that after 7 years, parts may become scarce, signaling it’s time to start thinking about the next upgrade.