APPLE recently made millions of iPhones obsolete, including the best-selling iPhone of all time.
Following the release of iOS 16 last month, any iPhone older than the iPhone 8 will no longer receive software updates.
That includes the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, as well as the iPhone 6 – the most popular iPhone in history.
The iPhone 7 series and some older models will only support up to iOS 15, and can no longer receive updates.
If you own any of these devices you should seriously consider upgrading.
That’s because you won’t receive vital software upgrades that protect your device from cyber attacks.
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Each year, Apple adds a handful of older iPhones to its list of “vintage” devices that no longer receive regular support.
Apple’s Support page states: “Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago.”
The tech giant added: “Products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 7 years ago.”
It says that it “discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products” so you would never be able to get them fixed with official Apple parts.
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Eventually, Apple stops releasing software updates for older models, exposing them to bugs and hackers.
Which iPhones have become obsolete?
The following iPhones are now considered vintage:
- iPhone 4 (8GB)
- iPhone 4S
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5C
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
Which iPhones were already obsolete?
Apple has a public list of all the iPhone models that are obsolete worldwide.
Here’s the full list:
- iPhone
- iPhone 3G (China mainland) 8GB
- iPhone 3G 8GB, 16GB
- iPhone 3GS (China mainland) 16GB, 32GB
- iPhone 3GS (8GB)
- iPhone 3GS 16GB, 32GB
- iPhone 4 CDMA
- iPhone 4 CDMA (8GB)
- iPhone 4 16GB, 32GB
- iPhone 4 GSM (8GB), Black
- iPhone 4S (8GB)
Apple says it designs its devices to be long-lasting and you’re not expected to replace them every year.
However, once an iPhone stops supporting updates, it can become problematic to use.
If you’re not regularly getting certain security updates, you could leave your personal data vulnerable.
Apple does provide some support for certain obsolete products.
Will all iPhones become obsolete?
Top analyst and long-time industry insider Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple expects to replace the iPhone in just 10 years – by 2032.
In its place would be an AR device – that’s augmented reality.
AR is when computer-generated images are overlaid on the world around you.
Right now, you can see AR in apps like Pokemon Go.
But tech companies – including Facebook, Microsoft and Google – are scrambling to develop AR devices that can be worn.
Some of these already exist, as is the case with Microsoft HoloLens.
Apple is thought to be working on its own version.
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