Rumor Claims iOS 15 to Drop Support for iPhone 6s and Original iPhone SE - MacRumors
Skip to Content

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

Popular Stories

Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching in September With These 10 New Features

Monday April 20, 2026 7:13 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple CEO Tim Cook Stepping Down, John Ternus Taking Over

Monday April 20, 2026 1:33 pm PDT by
Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple's chief executive officer, and hardware engineering chief John Ternus is set to take over, Apple announced today. Cook will continue on as Apple CEO through the summer, with Ternus set to join Apple's Board of Directors and take over as CEO on September 1, 2026. Cook is going to transition to executive chairman, and he will "assist with certain...
iphone 17 ceramic shield

Leaker: Apple Downgrading iPhone 18 to Cut Costs

Monday April 20, 2026 9:12 am PDT by
Apple is downgrading the planned specifications of the standard iPhone 18 to cut costs, a leaker claims. In a new post on Weibo, the user known as "Fixed Focus Digital" said that the iPhone 18 features "certain manufacturing downgrades" that bring it more into line with the low-cost iPhone 18e model. The decision is said to be "a cost-cutting measure." Apple has apparently chosen to...

Top Rated Comments

71 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
71 months ago
Me to my iPhone 6S: “Time to retire, my good friend.”
Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PsykX Avatar
71 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)
71 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)
71 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)
71 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)