Apple has by no means actually given its customers a set time frame that its units are eligible for main OS updates. Based mostly on the corporate’s practices over time, it’s typically protected to imagine Apple’s prospects can anticipate a minimum of 5 years of help. If you happen to occur to personal a very outdated iPhone and are questioning if it may very well be compatible with iOS 19, then here’s a record of iPhones that might help it.
Continued help
That is in accordance with a report from French publication, iPhoneSoft.fr, which shared a list of iPhones which might be rumored to be appropriate with iOS 19. In line with this record, the iPhones that can help iOS 19 embody: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Professional, iPhone 16 Professional Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Professional, iPhone 15 Professional Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Professional, iPhone 14 Professional Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Professional, iPhone 13 Professional Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Professional, iPhone 12 Professional Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Professional, iPhone 11 Professional Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and iPhone SE (2nd era or later).
Clearly Apple’s releases prior to now couple of years have made the record, just like the latest iPhone 16 models. However what’s fascinating is how the record has just about remained unchanged. This consists of a lot older units just like the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR, all of which have been launched again in 2018.
The report additionally means that principally, any iPhone mannequin that helps iOS 18 can run iOS 19. If that’s true, it implies that units as outdated as seven years proceed to obtain help for a minimum of yet another main iOS replace.
To be honest, the expertise of a seven-year-old iPhone operating iOS 19 may not be the perfect. There will likely be options that can run higher on newer and extra highly effective {hardware}. It’s onerous to say for positive how a lot the expertise could fluctuate, however both manner, it nonetheless presents itself as an possibility for customers who’re nonetheless holding onto these units.
Android is catching up
Apple continues to supply software program help for years after releasing its iOS units, making this one of many advantages of the platform. That is in contrast to Android, the place again within the day, customers would possibly solely be capable to anticipate 2-3 years of help.
Nowadays, Android machine makers are catching up by way of software program help. Firms akin to Google and Samsung are actually providing support for up to seven years after their units have been launched. That is just about a 100-150% enhance in help in comparison with earlier than.
Which means Android is beginning to shut the hole versus iOS. Whereas prolonged help is helpful, well timed help stays a difficulty. Most OEMs normally take months after a serious Android OS replace earlier than releasing the replace for his or her units.
So even when your machine has a promised seven-year help, it may very well be months earlier than you get to expertise it. That is additionally one of many causes Google has modified its launch schedule. As an alternative of releasing the replace in the direction of Q3/This fall of the yr, Android 16 is now anticipated to be launched across the center of 2025. This may give OEMs extra time to get the replace prepared for his or her units.
