Apple confirms how long will it support iPhones, and its a little less than Google, Samsung

iPhone update: Apple has a good track record of providing software support to its iPhones. The company so far has been providing around six years of iOS updates to its iPhones. However, it has never put a number to time duration for which it will provide software upgrades to any iPhone model. For instance, iOS 15, which arrived in 2021, is the last software update that it provided to the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6s that were released in 2015. Similarly, iOS 16, which arrived in 2022, is the last software update that it provided to the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus that were released in 2017. But now, it has been forced to define the minimum time period for which it will provide iOS updates to its iPhones. Also Read: Google One Cloud Gets Diwali Discounts: Plans Start At Just Rs 11 For Three Months

For the unversed, the UK’s Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) regulation came into effect earlier this year. This regulation makes it necessary for companies that manufacture, import, or distribute internet-capable products in the UK to provide statements of compliance that define support period for which security updates will be provided, among other things. Also Read: Diwali Sale Feast! Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Price Cut Under Rs 1 Lakh, Here's How

Apple, in response to this regulation, has shared the UK PSTI Connectable Devices Statement of Compliance for the iPhone 15, which was launched in 2023. The document shared by the company states that Apple will provide a minimum of five years of iOS updates to the devices from the ‘first supply date’. ‘First supply date’ is the launch date of the iPhone, that is, September 22, 2023. This means that iPhone 15 will get iOS updates until 2028. Here’s the document: Also Read: High-Risk Alert Issued For Google Chrome Users: Update Your Browser Now

Image: Apple

What does this mean for iPhone users globally?

Apple providing five years of software updates to iPhone 15 does not necessarily mean that it will offer similar software update time for its newer iPhone models. Similarly, defining the minimum software update timeline doesn’t stop the company from providing long support duration to the iPhones. But that, among other things, will depend on nature of upgrades (especially since iPhones are likely to get AI-powered features this year) and the hardware that will get those upgrades.

Separately, the defining the minimum software update timeline to five years means that Apple is no longer the market leader in terms of providing software support to its devices. Both Google and Samsung are offering seven years of OS updates to their devices.