Alongside the launch of the new iPhone 15 series last week, Apple also revealed the rollout plans for iOS 17. With Apple’s iOS 17 update landing tomorrow, one wonders if all iPhones will be eligible for the free software update. Well, there are certain iPhones that will not be able to receive the iOS 17 update. Here are all of the iPhone models that will not receive iOS 17 when it’s released.
Along with the iPhone X, the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus are ineligible for the iOS 17 update, along with the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 7 series, which also missed out on the iOS 16 update in 2022.
Although these iPhones miss out on the latest OS release, Apple will continue to push critical security patches if and when required. However, the aforementioned iPhones just won’t gain any new capabilities and will continue to function in their current state.
When it comes to providing software support, Apple is at the forefront and is miles ahead when compared to its Android peers. The company offers as many as five major iOS updates, keeping these iPhones secure and up-to-date for almost half a decade.
For example, the iPhone X and the iPhone 8 series launched in 2017 shipped with iOS 11 and got updated until iOS 16, whereas the Galaxy S8, launched in the same time frame, stopped receiving major OS updates in 2021.
There are over 24 different iPhone models that are compatible with the iOS 17 update, starting with the iPhone Xs/Xr. Similarly, the newly announced iPhone 15 series will ship with the iOS 17 update out-of-the-box, enabling users to enjoy the latest software experience from Apple.
Although the core iOS 17 update remains the same across the lineup, some of the newer features are limited to select models due to hardware constraints. This includes features like always-on Standby mode, which is only available on iPhones with ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate).