iPhones last a long time, but there is a point where you should consider upgrading.
Due to the strengthening of memory resources, Apple has increased the prices of its iPads and Mac computers. The iPhone will likely be next, so if you’ve been eyeing an upgrade for a while, now might be a good time. Whether you’re thinking about upgrading to a new device or planning to squeeze a few more years out of your current one, it can help to know how long you can expect your iPhone to last.
There is really a two-part answer here. The first is how long your iPhone will last before it needs to be replaced. Another is how long you can go before the iPhone’s newest, most enticing features become too hard to pass up. If you’re looking to hold on to your phone for as long as possible, you’ve made the right choice to go with an iPhone. Apple’s commitment to long-term software support has long been unmatched. New Pixel and Samsung smartphones have started offering OS updates of up to seven years, but it’s still a few years before we see if these promises really come true.
On the other hand, Apple, recently announced in its WWDC 2026 keynote that the new version of iOS will extend support all the way back to the iPhone 11 – a smartphone from 2019. With updates come new features, but most importantly, security patches protect you against newly discovered vulnerabilities. Based on Apple’s software support history, the new iPhone 16 or iPhone 17 model should be well supported until at least 2031.
Things that affect the life of the iPhone
Software support is only one factor that determines how long smartphones last. In fact, I know many people who haven’t updated their iPhones in years, and they rarely have complaints about reliability. Many third-party applications do not immediately drop support for outdated versions of applications. For example, for WhatsApp to work, you need an iPhone running iOS 15.1 or newer — that’s the same as the iPhone 6s from more than a decade ago.
The most likely roadblock you’ll hit early on is battery degradation. Apple says the batteries in the iPhone 15 series (and possibly new models) are designed to retain about 80 percent of their original capacity after 1,000 charge cycles. My experience is in line with this claim. My iPhone 15 Pro Max is currently sitting at 83 percent battery with 950 charge cycles.
If your device is a few years old, replacing its battery with a new one can improve performance significantly. However, at some point, every piece of hardware in your phone will have matured enough that a new battery alone won’t make up for the slow processor and limited RAM.
The “Batterygate” controversy resulted in multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuits, and Apple has since made performance management and battery health metrics more transparent. If your iPhone’s battery life drops below 80 percent, you’ll be prompted to replace it. Your iPhone will reset to default, but now you can turn off the settings.
Modern iPhones are built to last
Aside from Ingress Protection ratings and non-shaky displays, iPhones are more advanced when it comes to build quality. I have used my iPhone a lot without the case, and there is not a single scratch on its body. Apple ditched titanium to create invisible aluminum with the iPhone 17 Pro series, and while there have been a few reports of the orange color developing into a pink color over time, the phones themselves remain solid.
Public sentiment about the longevity of the iPhone is positive. Many users on Reddit say they’ve held onto the same iPhone for five years or more, with battery replacements the only significant expense required to keep it running. Yes, Apple will continue to lock several software features, such as a customized version of Siri AI, behind the new iPhone models, and yes, there will be hardware additions such as camera control, but none of this should be a sufficient reason to replace a well-functioning iPhone.
That said, something I don’t see discussed often is that it requires the latest version of iOS. Liquid Glass looks great, but it delivers its transparent effects in real time, which can be taxing on older hardware. In fact, I was surprised that my iPhone 15 Pro Max, which was marketed to handle AAA games, constantly drops frames and heats up with daily use on iOS 26. Apple indirectly acknowledged the performance complaints surrounding iOS 26 by using most of the iOS 27 reveals to talk about improved performance and stability. In my testing, my old iPhone runs very smoothly on iOS 27, despite it being an early beta build.
