Short answer: Apple typically gives each iPhone six to eight years of major iOS updates, then a further period of security patches. The iPhone 11, released in 2019, is still supported by iOS 27 — seven years on. That is the longest software life in the smartphone industry, and it is the single biggest reason a renewed iPhone outlasts a new budget Android.
The actual track record
Apple does not publish a support commitment, so the honest way to answer this is by looking at what has happened.
| Generation | Released | Still getting major updates? | Years so far |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 | 2019 | Yes (iOS 27) | 7 |
| iPhone SE (2nd gen) | 2020 | Yes (iOS 27) | 6 |
| iPhone 12 | 2020 | Yes (iOS 27) | 6 |
| iPhone 13 | 2021 | Yes (iOS 27) | 5 |
| iPhone 14 | 2022 | Yes (iOS 27) | 4 |
| iPhone XR / XS | 2018 | No — stopped at iOS 18 | 7 |
| iPhone X | 2017 | No — stopped at iOS 16 | 6 |
The pattern is consistent: six to eight years of major versions, with Apple typically dropping the oldest one or two generations each year. The iPhone XR and XS reached seven years before being cut at iOS 26.
Major updates versus security patches
These are different things and the distinction matters when you are deciding what to buy.
A major iOS update brings new features, redesigns and app compatibility. Losing these is what eventually makes a phone feel dated.
Security patches continue for a period after major updates stop. Apple has historically issued critical security fixes for older iOS versions well beyond their feature life. So a phone dropped from the major-update list is not immediately unsafe — it is frozen, not abandoned.
The practical consequence arrives through apps, not the OS. Developers eventually raise their minimum iOS requirement, and one day an app you rely on stops updating. That usually happens two to three years after the final major iOS version.
How to calculate remaining life before you buy
Use a simple rule: assume roughly seven years of major updates from the release year, then subtract the phone's current age.
| If you buy renewed today | Released | Rough major-update life remaining |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 | 2019 | Around 1 year |
| iPhone 12 | 2020 | Around 1–2 years |
| iPhone 13 | 2021 | Around 2–3 years |
| iPhone 14 | 2022 | Around 3–4 years |
| iPhone 15 | 2023 | Around 4–5 years |
Then add two to three years of usable life after the final major update, when the phone still works and most apps still run.
These are estimates based on Apple's history, not commitments. Apple could extend or shorten support in any given year.
How this compares with Android
Android has closed the gap significantly at the top of the market. Google and Samsung now offer seven years of OS and security updates on their flagship lines, which matches Apple.
The gap remains wide lower down. Budget and mid-range Android devices commonly get two to three major OS updates and four to five years of security patches. So an eight-year-old iPhone and an eight-year-old budget Android are in very different states.
More on this: Android's seven-year update promise.
What this means for buying renewed
Software life is the most important variable in a renewed purchase and the one buyers most often ignore in favour of camera specs.
A renewed iPhone 13 bought today has roughly two to three major updates ahead of it, plus several usable years after that. A new budget Android at a similar price may have one or two OS updates left in total. Over a four-year horizon, that difference decides which phone you are still happily using.
The buying rule follows directly: go as recent as your budget allows. Between an older Pro model and a newer standard model at the same price, the newer generation usually wins on longevity even though the older one wins on specification — unless you replace phones every two years, in which case take the better hardware.
Related: iOS 27 supported iPhones · Will an iPhone 11 still work in 2028? · Browse Premium Renewed iPhones
Frequently asked questions
How many years of iOS updates does an iPhone get?
Historically six to eight years of major iOS versions, followed by a further period of security patches. The iPhone 11 from 2019 is supported by iOS 27, seven years after release.
How long will the iPhone 13 be supported?
Based on Apple's pattern of roughly seven years of major updates, an iPhone 13 released in 2021 should receive major iOS versions until approximately 2028, plus security patches and usable app support beyond that.
Does Apple guarantee how long it supports iPhones?
No. Apple does not publish a formal support commitment for iPhone software updates, so all estimates are based on its historical pattern rather than a promise.
What happens when an iPhone stops getting iOS updates?
It keeps working. Security patches usually continue for a period. Over the following two to three years some apps raise their minimum iOS requirement and stop updating on that device.
Do iPhones get longer updates than Android phones?
At the top of the market they are now comparable, with Google and Samsung flagships offering seven years. Budget and mid-range Android devices typically receive far fewer, often two to three major OS updates.
Should I buy the newest iPhone I can afford?
If you keep phones three years or longer, yes — software runway matters more than specification over that horizon. If you upgrade every two years, an older Pro model at the same price offers better hardware.
