Apple has just confirmed for the first time exactly how long it will support the iPhone, and it’s not as long as some of its rivals, such as Samsung and Google. But, before you jump ship, don’t panic: the five-year period specified is a minimum, not a maximum, of five years, for one model at least.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max: now we know how long it will be supported.
On April 29, 2024, a new Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure regulation came into effect in the U.K., Android Authority reports.
It says, “This regulation forces companies that manufacture, import, or distribute internet-capable products in the U.K. to comply with certain security requirements. The goal of this regulation is to improve the security of consumer products that can connect to the internet, most notably IoT devices. Companies impacted by the regulation must provide statements of compliance that outline, among other things, the support period for which security updates will be provided.”
Apple has just published the compliance statement for the A3106, which is the model number for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, specifically for “Other countries and regions.” There is a separate model number for U.S. and Puerto Rico, one for Canada, Guam, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and US Virgin Islands and one for China mainland, Hong Kong and Macao.
Apple’s regulatory compliance statement for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
For sure, the “defined support period” will be identical across all iPhone 15 Pro Max models. This is specified as “Minimum 5 Years from the first supply date,” which is named as September 22, 2023.
Minimum is the key word here. While the specifications only require security updates, Apple has historically done much more than this, supporting devices will access to full software releases.
The current operating software, iOS 17, works on all iPhones back to the iPhone Xs, Xs Max and iPhone Xr, which were released in fall 2018. So, they’re already being supported for more than the five-year minimum. And there are rumors that the same phones may be supported with the upcoming iOS 18 release.
Apple hasn’t specified a minimum period before, but in the past it offered much longer support than Android phone makers did. That changed recently and now Samsung and Google offer seven years of both security updates and Android OS updates.
One caveat here: this exceptional period is only for flagship devices in the Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel lines.
And let’s note that recently Apple has put out extra security updates for iOS 16, for phone not capable of handling iOS 17. Plus, of course, even when not supported by new software updates, the phones still work, just not with the latest features.
So, keep calm and carry on. Assuming the five-year minimum isn’t just for the iPhone 15 Pro Max (and I don’t believe it is), there’s nothing to worry about.