How long will Apple support your iPhone? (iOS 27 update)
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Updated 24 October 2026.
Apple usually supports an iPhone with new iOS versions for six to seven years after launch, and sometimes longer. Right now, iOS 27 runs on the iPhone 11 and every newer model, plus the iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation).
If you are buying refurbished and want several years of updates, choose an iPhone 13 or newer. Below we explain why, model by model.
Which iPhones get iOS 27?
Apple released iOS 27 on 14 September 2026. It runs on the iPhone 11 and newer, and on the iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation).
It dropped no iPhones. Every model that ran iOS 26 also gets iOS 27, so the iPhone 11 is now on its eighth major iOS version.
The table shows the models you are most likely to see refurbished. The last column is the cheapest Fair-grade price we found when we checked on 24 October 2026.
| iPhone model | Released | Apple Intelligence | Refurbished from (Fair) |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max | 2019 | No | £100 (iPhone 11, 64GB) |
| iPhone SE (2nd generation) | 2020 | No | – |
| iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max | 2020 | No | £130 (iPhone 12, 64GB) |
| iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max | 2021 | No | £159 (iPhone 13, 128GB) |
| iPhone SE (3rd generation) | 2022 | No | – |
| iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max | 2022 | No | £197 (iPhone 14, 128GB) |
| iPhone 15, 15 Plus | 2023 | No | £300 (iPhone 15, 128GB) |
| iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max | 2023 | Yes | £360 (iPhone 15 Pro, 128GB) |
| iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max | 2024 | Yes | £420 (iPhone 16, 128GB) |
| iPhone 16e | 2025 | Yes | – |
| iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air | 2025 | Yes | – |
| iPhone 17e | 2026 | Yes | – |
A dash means we did not have a price for that model in this check. Prices change daily, so see our iPhone price pages for today’s figures.
How long Apple has supported iPhones in the past
Apple does not publish an end date for each model. The best guide is its track record. Here is when recent models stopped getting new iOS versions:
| iPhone | Launched with | Last major iOS | Major versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 6s (2015) | iOS 9 | iOS 15 | 7 |
| iPhone 7 (2016) | iOS 10 | iOS 15 | 6 |
| iPhone 8 and iPhone X (2017) | iOS 11 | iOS 16 | 6 |
| iPhone XS and XR (2018) | iOS 12 | iOS 18 | 7 |
| iPhone 11 (2019) | iOS 13 | Still supported (iOS 27) | 8 so far |
Note that Apple jumped from iOS 18 to iOS 26 in 2025, when it switched to naming versions after the year. No versions were skipped in practice.
So the pattern is six or seven major versions, roughly one a year. The iPhone 11 has already beaten that. We cannot say when it will be dropped, but on past form the oldest models on the list are the likeliest to go next.
Apple’s written promise
Under the UK’s product security rules, which took effect in April 2024, makers must state a minimum security update period. Apple’s UK statement for the iPhone 15 range gives a minimum of five years from the date the model was first supplied.
That is a floor, not a forecast. Apple’s history is longer. When a phone stops getting new iOS versions, Apple has often kept patching its last version for a while. It does not promise how long.
What “support” actually gives you
- New iOS versions: new features, once a year. Some features need newer hardware, so older phones do not get everything.
- Security fixes: the most important part. They patch flaws that could expose your data.
- App compatibility: app makers set a minimum iOS version. Once your phone is stuck on an old one, apps such as banking apps can stop installing or updating.
A phone that no longer gets updates still works. It just gets riskier to use for banking and email as time passes.
Which refurbished iPhone to buy for long support
For several years of updates: iPhone 13 or newer
The iPhone 13 launched with iOS 15 and is now on iOS 27, its sixth major version. Going by Apple’s record, it has a good chance of several more years. It costs £160 in Fair and £199 in Good today.
The iPhone 14 adds a year on top, at £190 in Fair today.
For Apple Intelligence: iPhone 15 Pro or any iPhone 16
Apple Intelligence needs an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, any iPhone 16 (including the 16e) or any iPhone 17 (including the Air and 17e). The standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus run iOS 27 but do not get it.
Today, the iPhone 15 Pro starts at £340 in Fair and the iPhone 16 at £410.
On a tight budget: iPhone 11 or 12, with eyes open
The iPhone 11 at £100 and iPhone 12 at £120 are fine for a year or two, or as a child’s first phone. Just accept that they are the likeliest to lose new iOS versions first.
Our best refurbished iPhones for 2026 guide compares each model in more depth. If you are unsure what Fair or Good means, see gradings and warranties explained.
What about iPads and Apple Watch?
The other 2026 updates did drop older devices, so check these before buying refurbished:
- iPadOS 27 dropped iPads with the A12 or A12X chip: iPad 8th generation, iPad Air 3rd generation, iPad mini 5th generation, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation.
- watchOS 27 dropped Apple Watch Series 6, 7 and 8, the first Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch SE (2nd generation).
Our refurbished iPad buying guide lists the models still worth buying.
Our verdict
Every iPhone from the iPhone 11 onwards gets iOS 27, so none of them is unsafe to buy today. For several years of updates, buy an iPhone 13 or newer. For Apple Intelligence, go for the iPhone 15 Pro or an iPhone 16.
Then compare retailers on the day, because the cheapest one changes often.
