APPLE recently made millions of iPhones obsolete, including the best-selling iPhone of all time. Show
Following the release of iOS 16 last month, any iPhone older than the iPhone 8 will no longer receive software updates. 1 The iPhone 6 is the best-selling iPhone of all timeCredit: GettyThat 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. 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.
Most read in TechEventually, 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:
Which iPhones were already obsolete?Apple has a public list of all the iPhone models that are obsolete worldwide. Here's the full list:
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.
Best Phone and Gadget tips and hacksLooking for tips and hacks for your phone? Want to find those secret features within social media apps? We have you covered... We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at home_iconCreated with Sketch. Home > Unlock iPhone > When Will iPhone 6/7/8 Be Obsolete? All About iPhone Obsolete Issues With a new iPhone model coming out once a year, many fans of Apple’s
products often wonder if the next new release will make their current phone obsolete. The reasoning behind this once a year release is done to keep all phones up to date, with the latest available features in smartphone technology. For instance, it is rumored that Apple’s 2020 iPhone (iPhone 12) will feature OLED displays, will come with 3D sensing, and may even support 5G connectivity. However, just because a new model is released, doesn’t necessarily render your iPhone model useless or
unusable. Let’s explore what it means to have an obsolete phone, how to tell if your iPhone is obsolete, and what to do if it does become obsolete.
Part 1: What Does “iPhone Obsolete” Mean?When an iPhone becomes obsolete, it means that the product has been discontinued for more than seven years and, all hardware service to these devices is also discontinued. This means that service providers cannot obtain parts for these devices and no technical support is provided either. A product that is considered “vintage”, is one that has not been manufactured in five years but less than seven years prior. It will receive hardware support if it was bought in the state of California within that time frame.
When dealing with Apple Retail Stores in Europe, Canada, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific regions, vintage and obsolete devices have no distinction between the labels. All are considered obsolete. If an individual’s iPhone breaks or malfunctions in some manner, they would have to either fix it using third-party software, or have an unauthorized smartphone repair service technician take a look at it. Also, iOS won't be updated on obsolete iPhone. For example, iOS 13.3 won't install on the old devices. Part 2: iPhone 6 Obsolete? How to Check if Your iPhone is ObsoleteThe easiest way to check to see if your iPhone is obsolete is by visiting Apple’s Vintage and Obsolete Products page. It is a support page that can be found here and outlines all products that are discontinued. This page is generally updated once a year when the new model of iPhone is announced, in around September or October. While the iPhone 6 is not currently listed, it was introduced back in 2014, meaning that it is going into its sixth year come September 2020. So, what does this mean for the iPhone 6 which was introduced back in 2014? It is likely that the iPhone 6 will be labeled as a vintage device, due it coming into its sixth year since being manufactured. All vintage devices are discontinued, meaning that they are no longer being sold or being manufactured. Once 2021 comes around, the iPhone 6 will have hit the seventh year and will have its label changed from vintage to obsolete. It is important to note that vintage and obsolete labels mean the same thing worldwide unless the phone was bought in California. Another big problem is that you can't update iOS anymore. For example, the newst iOS 13.3 won't install on iPhone 6/SE/5C. Part 3: What to Do Before Your iPhone Becomes Obsolete?If the next roll out of iPhone models is going to render your iPhone model obsolete, there are a few things you need to be aware of. First off, your phone is going to be more open to security vulnerabilities and second, the applications you have installed on it are likely to stop receiving updates as developers will abandon the older operating system. The longer you have the older phone in operation, the more insecure it is going to become as the system goes unpatched. However, there are a few things you can do to help squeeze out more life from the older version. Part 4: Obsolete iPhone Doesn’t Receive iOS Update - How to Update Using PC Software?One of the main issues that Apple users have with obsolete/vintage iPhones is that they cannot update the iOS version anymore. One way to get around this is by using third-party software like iMyFone LockWiper, which allows you to update the iOS. It can instantly remove various locks from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch without an Apple ID or passcode. You can use LockWiper’s “Unlock Screen Lock” mode to update your iOS version without any password.
8,000,000+ Downloads LockWiper: Your Best Choice to Update iOS on Obsolete iPhone
Try It FreeTry It Free Guide to Update iOS from Obsolete iPhone within 5 Minutes in 5 StepsVideo Tutorial about 3 Steps to Recover/Reset iPhone Passcode without Losing Data Step 1. Download the free trial version of iMyFone LockWiper for your Windows or Mac computer. Step 2. Launch the program and choose “Unlock Screen Lock”. Connect your iOS device to your computer, and hit the “Start” button to start the process.
Step 3. LockWiper will automatically detect your device model and provide you with a firmware version to download. Hit "Download" and verify the firmware package.
Step 4. Once verification is done, you can hit “Start to Extract”. Then you can start the unlock process for unlocking the screen passcode and update to the latest version possible for your device.
Step 5: Follow the onscreen instructions to remove the screen lock on your obsolete device. Then the iOS version will be updated.
Once the lock screen has been removed, you can set it up. And the iOS version will be updated to the latest version possible for your device. If you forget an Apple ID, have an older phone with a broken or locked screen, or have forgotten the passcode, you cannot get technical support from Apple. You can use the free trial version of LockWiper to solve any lock issue as well. If you want to know how to remove Apple ID from obsolete devices without data loss. Try It FreeTry It Free Part 5: How to Install Apps on an Obsolete iPhone?While older iPhone devices may not be able to support the latest version of the iOS operating system, it does not mean that they cannot support the last compatible version of the application that you want. To download previously installed applications, do the following. Step 1. Sign in with the Apple ID you used to buy the application on the App Store.
Step 5. You will be asked if you want to download an older version of this app because the current version is incompatible with your iPhone. Click the download button to get the app.
If you want an application that you’ve never bought or installed before and it isn’t compatible with your iPhone version because it needs the latest iOS operating system, you can still get the app. However, you need to buy it on a newer device and then download it onto the older device. Step 1. Either purchase or borrow a new Apple device. If an application has been deleted from the Apple servers, these methods will not work. Keep in mind that when downloading an older version of an application, newer features in the app may not work or may not be present at all. Part 6: Apple Doesn’t Repair Obsolete iPhones – How to Keep Your Device?When an Apple phone becomes obsolete, you can still keep and use it as long as you are disciplined in what you use it for. The newest applications aren’t going to be available and it may become a bit slower without the software upgrade, but it can still do the basic things. If you are planning on keeping your phone, do the following. When Will the iPhone 6S/7/8 Be Obsolete? ConclusionThis article introduces almost all things you need to know about - how to deal with iPhone obsolete state, how to update iOS and install apps on an obsolete iPhone. Being obsolete doesn't mean your device is useless. Instead, with good methods and amazing tool like iMyFone LockWiper, you can have great experience of osbosolete iPhone/iPad/iPod touch as if it's brand new! Try It FreeTry It Free (Click to rate this post) Generally rated 4.9 (256 participated)
Rated successfully! You have already rated this article, please do not repeat scoring! Will an iPhone 7 still work in 2022?How long will the iPhone 7 be supported? The iPhone 7 will be officially supported till September 12, 2022, which is when iOS 16 gets released. After the iOS 16 release takes place, Apple may stop signing iOS 15.6.
How long will iPhone 7 be available?
Which iPhones will not be supported in 2022?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.
What iOS will iPhone 7 stop at?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.
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