- Apple has rolled out a new update for the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6
- Dubbed iOS 12.5.8, this will keep core apps running for longer
- In the case of the iPhone 5S, this is an update for a phone that is over 12 years old
Apple has always been good at keeping its phones updated, and in recent years many Android brands have done so as well, but the latest software update Apple just rolled out may come as a surprise even to those familiar with the company’s devices.
No, we’re not talking about iOS 26.2.1 or the beta version of iOS 26.3, both of which also landed recently – we’re talking about iOS 12.5.8.
This new version of a very old iOS release is now available for the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6, which were released in September 2013 and September 2014 respectively – making the iPhone 5S over 12 years old. That makes this a record-breaking update, well beyond the 6 years of support you usually get with iPhones and 4-7 years with the latest Androids.
No new features
Of course, you won’t get any Apple Intelligence features here, or any of the new goodies available in recent versions of iOS – this is still a version of iOS 12, after all. But what this record-breaking update does is extend the certificate required for FaceTime, iMessage and device activation to work beyond January 2027.
So yes, even this time next year, you’ll still be able to use these core software features on the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6.
We wouldn’t necessarily recommend using these phones still if you have another option – most third-party apps probably won’t work on them, and despite this surprise update, they’re unlikely to be as secure as Apple’s regularly updated phones. But it’s nice that it’s still an option for those who can’t afford a new handset or want to keep an old one as a spare, and just to help reduce e-waste.
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