Rumor Claims iOS 15 to Drop Support for iPhone 6s and Original iPhone SE

Apple will drop support for the iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus in next year's release of iOS 15, according to a rumor shared today by Israeli site The Verifier.

iPhone 6s main
If the rumor is accurate, that would mean iOS 15 will be compatible with the following Apple devices:

  • 2021 iPhone series
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone X
  • iPhone 8
  • iPhone 8 Plus
  • iPhone 7
  • iPhone 7 Plus
  • iPhone SE (2020)
  • iPod touch (7th generation)

The site said last year that iOS 14 would be the last version of iOS that the iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus would be compatible with, which wouldn't be a surprise as Apple often provides software updates for approximately four or five years after the release of a new device.

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus originally launched in September 2015, followed by the iPhone SE in March 2016.

The Verifier doesn't have the greatest track record when it comes to accurate leaks with both hits and misses, but it did accurately predict that iOS 14 would be compatible with all iPhones and iPod touch models able to run iOS 13.

There's no word on which iPads will be able to run iPadOS 15, but if iPadOS 15 is compatible with all iPads able to run iPadOS 14, it will work on the iPad Air 2, 3rd-gen iPad Air, iPad mini 4 and 5, 5th, 6th, and 7th-generation iPads, and all iPad Pro models.

Related Forum: iOS 15

Top Rated Comments

jonppa Avatar
40 months ago
Still using 6S and no need to retire it, works perfectly. iOS 14 will be newest OS for almost year now and after that nothing dramatic happens in 1-2 years.

My iPad is running iOS 12 because support ended and works just fine. I don't know why I would need to upgrade it..
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jprmercado Avatar
40 months ago
Me to my iPhone 6S: “Time to retire, my good friend.”
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PsykX Avatar
40 months ago
Apple is the only company in the world to still support a 5-years old phone and push major updates that still bring new features. They will pull the plug after 6 whole years.

I still have one (to bring on vacations) and it still works fantastically well. Considering iOS 14 is its final version, it will ALWAYS work well.

I even have an iPhone 5 that works well, slightly slow sometimes, but it's definitely useable. Starting from iPhone 5S, planned obsolescence is no more.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
deevey Avatar
40 months ago

Stupid cowards. Drop support to fully functional working perfectly devices is nothing short than greedy pitiful treachery
It's not like your 6 year old phone will suddenly stop working, they are just going to drop OS update support.

The majority of apps will continue working for years even on older OS's.

How many update versions do Android phones get normally ... Two, three maybe ?
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGuder Avatar
40 months ago

Me to my iPhone 6S: “Time to retire, my good friend.”
YES!!
My 6s will deserve a full retirement party with confetti cake and party hats. It has been a workhorse and has never let me down. The latest iPhones are not yet pushing me to let go of my 6s. I'm considering waiting for next fall and hopeful for touch ID implementation.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rgeneral Avatar
40 months ago

Stupid cowards. Drop support to fully functional working perfectly devices is nothing short than greedy pitiful treachery
you have to move on. Over 5 years of support for internet facing device is quite long already.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
iOS 16 4 Web Push

Apple Confirms Governments Using Push Notifications to Surveil Users

Wednesday December 6, 2023 5:06 am PST by
Unidentified governments are surveilling smartphone users by tracking push notifications that move through Google's and Apple's servers, a US senator warned on Wednesday (via Reuters). In a letter to the Department of Justice, Senator Ron Wyden said foreign officials were demanding the data from the tech giants to track smartphones. The traffic flowing from apps that send push notifications...
airpods pro 2 pink

Apple Releases New AirPods Pro 2 Firmware

Tuesday December 5, 2023 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware update for both the Lightning and USB-C versions of the AirPods Pro 2. The new firmware is version 6B34, up from the 6B32 firmware introduced in November. Apple does not provide details on what features might be included in the refreshed firmware beyond "bug fixes and other improvements," so it is unclear what's new in the update, but prior software releases ...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue

'All-Screen' iPhone Under-Display Camera Enters Development

Wednesday December 6, 2023 2:03 am PST by
Apple's Korean suppliers have begun developing smartphone under-display cameras (UDC), paving the way for the first iPhone with a true "all-screen" appearance. According to The Elec, LG Innotek has entered the preliminary development of the UDC, which sits under the display and does not result in a visible hole in the panel when the camera is not in use. A UDC differs from a typical front ...
magsafe blue 2

iOS 17.2 Brings Qi2 Support to iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 Models

Tuesday December 5, 2023 11:04 am PST by
The iOS 17.2 update that Apple is set to release to the public in the near future will bring support for the next-generation Qi2 wireless charging standard to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models. Qi2 was mentioned in the release notes for the RC version of the update that came out today. With the addition of support for the new standard, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models will work with Qi2...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 May Reuse Existing iPhone 14 Battery

Wednesday December 6, 2023 1:17 pm PST by
Recently, MacRumors has received details on the battery currently being tested on the upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE, and the information corroborates previous findings in relation to the device. The iPhone SE 4, known by its device identifier D59, is expected to use the exact same battery found in the base model iPhone 14. Partially assembled prototypes of the next iPhone SE have been ...
airpods pro bulbs

Black Friday Prices Return for AirPods Pro 2 With USB-C, iPad, and More

Tuesday December 5, 2023 7:30 am PST by
Today we're tracking a collection of deals that are matching - or nearly matching - the same all-time low discounts we saw during Black Friday. This includes the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, 9th generation iPad, and M1 MacBook Air. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the ...
instagram messenger

Instagram and Facebook Messenger Chats to Disconnect This Month

Tuesday December 5, 2023 1:57 am PST by
Meta has revealed plans to end Instagram users' ability to chat with Facebook accounts later this month, rolling back a feature that it introduced over three years ago. In September 2020, Meta (then Facebook) announced it was merging its Facebook Messenger service with Instagram direct messaging, allowing Instagram users to chat with Facebook users and vice versa using the same platform....