- Apple has released a new update for the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6
- Dubbed iOS 12.5.8, this will keep core apps running longer
- In the case of the iPhone 5S, it is an update of a phone that is more than 12 years old
Apple has always been good about keeping its phones up to date, and in recent years many Android brands have done so too, but the latest software update Apple just released may surprise even 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 arrived recently, we’re talking about iOS 12.5.8.
This new version of a very old version of iOS is now available for the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6, which came out in September 2013 and September 2014, respectively, making the iPhone 5S more than 12 years old. That makes this a record-breaking update that goes well beyond the 6 years of support you typically get with iPhones and 4 to 7 years with the latest Androids.
No new features
Of course, you won’t get any Apple Intelligence features here, nor any of the new goodies available in recent versions of iOS; After all, this is still a version of iOS 12. 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 will still be able to use those core software features on the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6.
We wouldn’t necessarily recommend using these phones if you have a choice: 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 phone or want to keep an old one as a spare, and just to help reduce e-waste.
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