Apple has never really given its users a fixed period of time that its devices are eligible for major OS updates. Based on the company’s practices over the years, it’s generally safe to assume Apple’s customers can expect at least 5 years of support. If you happen to own a particularly old iPhone and are wondering if it could be compatible with iOS 19, then here is a list of iPhones that could support it.
Continued support
This is according to a report from French publication, iPhoneSoft.fr, which shared a list of iPhones that are rumored to be compatible with iOS 19. According to this list, the iPhones that will support iOS 19 include: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and iPhone SE (2nd generation or later).
Obviously Apple’s releases in the past couple of years have made the list, like the latest iPhone 16 models. But what’s interesting is how the list has pretty much remained unchanged. This includes much older devices like the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR, all of which were released back in 2018.
The report also suggests that basically, any iPhone model that supports iOS 18 can run iOS 19. If that is true, it means that devices as old as seven years continue to receive support for at least one more major iOS update.
To be fair, the experience of a seven-year-old iPhone running iOS 19 might not be the best. There will be features that will run better on newer and more powerful hardware. It’s hard to say for sure how much the experience may vary, but either way, it still presents itself as an option for users who are still holding onto these devices.
Android is catching up
Apple continues to offer software support for years after releasing its iOS devices, making this one of the benefits of the platform. This is unlike Android, where back in the day, users might only be able to expect 2-3 years of support.
These days, Android device makers are catching up in terms of software support. Companies such as Google and Samsung are now offering support for up to seven years after their devices have been released. This is pretty much a 100-150% increase in support compared to before.
This means that Android is starting to close the gap versus iOS. While extended support is beneficial, timely support remains an issue. Most OEMs usually take months after a major Android OS update before releasing the update for their devices.
So even if your device has a promised seven-year support, it could be months before you get to experience it. This is also one of the reasons Google has changed its release schedule. Instead of releasing the update towards Q3/Q4 of the year, Android 16 is now expected to be released around the middle of 2025. This will give OEMs more time to get the update ready for their devices.
