Most iPhones last between 4 and 7 years, however this is not guaranteed. If your iPhone is more than a few years old, it's likely starting to become outdated and clunky, and it might be time to think about upgrading to a newer model for a better user experience.
For example, if you take good care of your iPhone & don't use it excessively, it will last longer than if you're constantly dropping it & exposing it to other wear & tear. Additionally, the newer model of iPhone you have will also play a role in how long it lasts. On average, iPhones last around two to three years.
Don't Stress Yourself to Buy a New iPhone
If your iPhone has an excellent camera, receives iOS updates, and has good battery life, upgrading might just be a waste of money. Also, look at the features and see if you're okay with the ones in your current model.
If you have an iPhone 7, it's time to upgrade. The iPhone 7 also won't support iOS 16 when it launches this fall, providing another incentive for acquiring a newer device. The iPhone 7 runs on an aging A10 Fusion processor, which doesn't even have a neural engine and is several years behind Apple's latest technology.
The iPhone 7 is a nearly 7-year-old phone, and it no longer gets regular iOS updates. The iPhone 7 does not have a high-resolution display, Face ID, a 5G modem, and other modern features.
On June 6, 2022, Apple announced on its website that iPhone 7 and 7 Plus will not receive support for iOS 16.
All phones that could run iOS 14 and iOS 13 are able to run iOS 15, so that means all phones from iPhone 6s forwards are supported. But actually, Apple does support iOS 12 as well, which brings software support to the iPhones 6 and 5s.
Unnecessary apps and accessories can put a strain on your device, so it's important to uninstall any apps and accessories that you don't need. This can help reduce the load on your device and help keep it running for 10 years or more. Using an iPhone for 10 years or more is possible, but it requires a bit of effort.
Release Date and Availability
The iPhone 15 models will likely be released in September 2023 if Apple follows its traditional September launch timeline.
If you're using an iPhone 11, we recommend upgrading to an iPhone 14 (or even an iPhone 13). In the last three or so years, Apple has made enough changes to features including battery life, performance, screen quality, cameras and durability to merit buying a new iPhone.
Timing is everything for iPhone savings
iPhone values depreciate by around 40% over one year, but that rate jumps to 75% over three years. Higher trade-in values after one year offset most of the savings you'd get if you waited three years to buy a new iPhone.
Although Samsung now offers four years of major Android updates for its flagships and mid-range phones, iPhones can easily last for five to six years. However, there's one important caveat to this. Smartphone batteries are made of lithium-ion which means they inevitably degrade over time.
For instance, if your battery won't last you through a full day of casual use, it may be time to swap out. Similarly, if you're unable to install the latest operating system on your phone, or if apps are constantly causing it to crash, it's worth the cost to get a new device.
iPhone vs Android: how long can you use your phone before it's unsupported and unsafe? When it comes to the lifespan of a phone, Apple has always been the clear winner. And by lifespan, I'm talking about software and security updates.
Reportedly, several old iphones could be killed off. However, Apple has not made any official announcement in regards to the discontinuation of the previous iPhone models. According to the reports, Apple may ditch the older iPhones, especially iPhone 11 after the iPhone 14 launch.
The iPhone 11 was released in September 2019 and has since been succeeded by the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14 lineups. Although newer series come with advanced features and design upgrades, the iPhone 11 is still a capable device for those who want to buy iPhone in 2023.
The overly powerful chipsets for each generation ensure that Apple can sustain fluid performance even on newer yet demanding software even after 4 years. This means that your 4-year-old iPhone 6 could be working as fast as it was in 2014, if the software and the battery allow.
But all these goodies will only be available to people with the iPhone 8 and later models. 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.
2. Will the iPhone 7 still work in 2023? Even though the iPhone 7 is no longer supported by Apple's iOS updates, that doesn't mean you still can't use it in 2023. The iPhone 7 will still work on different carrier networks in the US and you'll still have access to apps on the Apple Store.
With a starting price of around $100 — the iPhone 8 is very affordable. The iPhone 8 runs iOS 16 and still has a lot of the features of newer iPhones. The iPhone 8 is expected to get upgraded to iOS 17 in late 2023.
Yes, an iPhone 7 will still be able to function in 2023. It may not have access to the latest iOS updates, but it should still be able to perform basic functions such as making calls and receiving texts.