iPhones will receive iOS updates for seven years
Apple’s iPhones are known for being supported for a long time – often up to five years. However, through the European Union, Germany wants to enforce a longer term. They advocate mandatory security updates of seven years.
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Mandatory iOS Updates
The European Commission is working on a bill requiring mobile device manufacturers to release software updates for at least five years. Also, spare parts have to be delivered for another five years; for tablets, it is six years.
However, Germany wants the EU to go further by demanding iOS updates for seven years. The government is discussing this with the European Commission. In addition, the country wants to oblige manufacturers to publish the prices of spare parts. These prices must be ‘reasonable’ and not subsequently increased.
DigitalEurope – a technical interest group with members such as Apple, Samsung and Google – thinks the European Commission’s proposals go too far. They advocate a three-year limit for security updates on mobile devices. Most manufacturers already adhere to this standard.
Spare parts
The interest group also believes the obligation to replace parts goes too far. Manufacturers should only supply displays and batteries; other parts such as cameras, microphones and speakers would rarely fail. These spare parts must also be supplied with the EU bill for another five years.
The European Commission plans to implement the proposals by 2023. However, phone manufacturers are still trying to lower this limit, while Germany is pushing for stricter environmental requirements.
Already long iOS support
Should the bill of the European Union or Germany pass, then Apple doesn’t have to change much. The iPhone 6s (Plus) that Apple launched six years ago (in 2015) is still provided with the latest iOS updates. The device will soon also support iOS 15, with which the iPhone 6s will eventually enjoy iOS updates for at least seven years. All iPhones from 2016 and newer are also still supported.
Soon Apple will release iOS 15. Are you curious what features the company is introducing? In this video you will hear all about it:
