Home / Technology / Apple Revives Ancient iPhones with Crucial Updates
Apple Revives Ancient iPhones with Crucial Updates
27 Jan
Summary
- Apple released security updates for old iOS versions like 12, 15, and 16.
- Updates ensure iMessage, FaceTime, and account sign-in work past 2027.
- Older devices still find uses as specialized appliances and messaging tools.
Apple has issued surprising security updates for devices running older iOS versions, including iOS 12, iOS 15, and iOS 16. These updates are crucial for ensuring that services like iMessage, FaceTime, and Apple account sign-in continue to function beyond January 2027, when the original security certificates were set to expire. Devices as old as the 2013 iPhone 5S and 2014 iPhone 6 are eligible for iOS 12.5.8.
While these updates do not introduce new features or patch security flaws beyond certificate validity, they provide a lifeline for these aging devices. iOS 15.8.6 is available for models like the iPhone 6S and 7, while iOS 16.7.13 supports devices such as the iPhone 8 and X. Although many third-party apps and modern internet browsing are challenging on these devices due to limited RAM and outdated Safari versions, they often find a second life.
Many of these older iPhones and iPads are repurposed as single-use appliances, such as white noise machines or simple messaging devices. Apple's commitment to keeping these devices minimally functional, even over a decade after their release, highlights a dedication to extended usability, much to the appreciation of users who extend their devices' lifespans.
