THREE popular iPhone models could get the chop this year with the release of the latest version of Apple’s iOS mobile software.
The California tech titan is reportedly planning to make the trio of gadgets obsolete with the release of iOS 15 in Autumn.
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According to French tech site iPhoneSoft, handsets on the chopping block are the iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus and original iPhone SE.
Apple is not planning to release a version of iOS 15 compatible with these devices, meaning they will no longer receive vital security patches.
The mobiles will therefore be more susceptible to hackers, as well as various bugs and glitches.
They’ll also miss out on every new feature introduced by Apple in future.
iPhoneSoft has previously made accurate predictions about the mobiles Apple is lining up for retirement.
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Citing an anonymous source at Apple, the report said that engineers are keen to move on from the company’s A9 bionic microchip.
That’s the chip loaded into the iPhone 6S range and the 2016 SE. Apple’s most recent chip is the A14 featured across the iPhone 12 range.
Apple often culls at least one, older iPhone range when it releases a new software update.
The California company will release details on iOS 15 – including its release date – at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
Generally, Apple issues major iOS upgrades in September each year.
Why does Apple pull support for older iPhones?
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Tech giants regularly cut off older gadgets as it’s not practical to continually update all phones – but it leaves long-term users at risk.
The list of supported devices for 2021 includes the iPhone SE, 6S, 7, 8, X, XR, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12 Mini, 12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max.
Various “Plus” versions of each of these models will also still receive Apple updates at least until the release of iOS 15.
You can update to the latest iOS software if your mobile supports it.
To see the model and software version of your iPhone, go to Settings > General > About.
Why it’s dangerous to keep using your old iPhone
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Using an old iPhone puts you at risk of devastating hack attacks.
That’s according to top cyber experts, who urge anyone with older models to upgrade to new, safer devices.
Hacks could include spying on you or stealing your private information.
And some phones can be “old” in terms of no longer receiving software updates after just a year or two.
Hackers see these old devices as easy targets, and can assault your phone in many different ways.
“By using older models that no longer support upgrades to the most recent Operating System of Android or iPhone, users leave themselves open to being spied on or having their information stolen,” Ciaran Byrne, a cyber-expert at edgescan, told The Sun last year.
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best…
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
- Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
- Check if you’re due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you’re down to 80% capacity. If you’re below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
- Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
“Risks include malicious likes sent via SMS or WhatsApp, virus-ridden apps available on the AppStore and Play Store, and even attackers connecting to the device through Bluetooth, if in close proximity.
“Newer phones, and newer OS/Android versions, will have mitigation in place for any of these attacks, as the developers will have updated the code to prevent them from happening.”
You can be browsing the web and find yourself being hacked – and your old device won’t have the necessary protections to stop it.
“Users of such outdated devices are then at risk for attacks for example when just browsing the wrong website,” said Martin Jartelius, a cyber-expert at Outpost24.
“The lifespan of a device is no longer dictated by how long a phone will function technically, but for how long a company will provide updates and maintenance.”
It’s important to check online to see if your device is still receiving software updates.
If it isn’t, cyber-experts say the best course of action is to switch to a newer device that still receives security patches.
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And, here’s everything we know so far about Apple’s next mobile, which is rumoured to be called the iPhone 13.
Is you iPhone on Apple’s kill list? Let us know in the comments!
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
