Can I still continue to use my iPhone 7 Plus without IOS 16?

[Anonymous]

Apple announced that iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus would not be getting IOS 16 or any further updates in the future. I am also not ready as of yet to upgrade my iPhone 7 Plus too, as I've grown attached to it and have only had it for 4 years. However, I also don't know if it's possible for my phone to run effectively and efficiently without it getting constant updates every 1-2 months. I want to hold onto it a bit longer but don't know if it's safe to do so without getting crashes and bugs here and there... Can I still continue using it if I absolutely don't want to upgrade?

[DannyUk2017]

You can still use it, but not longer than 1year more, maybe, as that is how they make the population to "buy" their products... They keep on "updating" the devices,"fill them up" with "security updates", or update to the apps, so the bigger and often the updates, the faster the memory gets sluggish, and device slows down, as its "updates" are harder to process, so then you'll be "forced" to buy another Device with bigger memory, and the same cycle happens all over again... so yeah, soon you won't be able to use... Whatsapp, Telegram, Tiktok, and other apps, as they would be "outdated" and "won't work" with the current iOS that you'r "old phone" runs with...

[Asker]

Thanks for you're answer, and yes, I was thinking similar. Maybe only 1-2 years more should do it. And yes, I didn't think of that. Apps would keep updating and wouldn't be able to run on an older model of a phone, later down the line. That's a thing to consider. Yeah, I feel forced to upgrade to a new phone right this minute, but don't want to as of yet. Eventually my phone wouldn't be able to keep up with the apps rolling out newer and newer updates. But for now, I'm good I think for another year or 2. I'll be out though before most of those apps stop functioning on my phone. Thanks for the advice once again!

[DannyUk2017]

My pleasure!

[MrOracle]

There are 3 things to consider.

1. You may have already, or may soon stop receiving security updates, which means that as new vulnerabilities are found and published, your phone won't be patched against them, so hackers will be able to exploit them.

2. Certain apps, especially banking apps and other high security apps, may stop working, because older versions of the app will be blocked, forcing you to upgrade - which you won't be able to do with an older OS version.

3. Your hardware is old, and doesn't support 5G, and likely still relies on 3G for phone calls. 3G is mostly shut down in the US already, and is being decommissioned in other countries soon, being replaced with 5G. You may find areas where phone calls won't work, and these areas are likely to grow over time.

Where you are in the world affects some of these things, and others aren't as tied to your location, but you should expect to start having issues over time.

[Asker]

I still get security updates actually. I just got one recently. They've not shut that down as of yet. at least that's something... But yeah, maybe hackers could get into an older phone, but I don't store bank information on my phone at all. Could hack into apps and accounts though. Yeah, it uses 3G at most, but is 5G necessary? I mean it gets the job done. I can still use it for at most 2 years more right? I'm in the UK, 3G for now, is still functional here. I'm not planning to keep this phone for 8-9 years, or the long haul. I only at most want to keep using it for 2 more years before switching it up...

[Shiface92]

No my iPhone 7 stopped working I had to upgrade…

[Asker]

How did the legacy of it come to an end?

[Shiface92]

The battery stopped charging

[Asker]

Ohh, you probably maxed out you're battery capacity I'm guessing. Not sure though as this is my first iPhone that I've had for 4 years. Not ready to give it up even now.

[Likes2drive]

You can but eventually certain things won’t work without the update, I remember not being able to sync it with my laptop without the software update, it might matter for awhile though

[humanearth]

It's called Planned Obsolete

4 Types Of Planned Obsolete
There are four main ways in which a company can achieve planned obsolescence:

contrived durability,
software updates,
perceived obsolescence,
and prevention of repair.
Companies can use all of the above or a combination of all four. The ultimate goal is to make you buy products again and again, and that is directly against what we value at Durability Matters.

So basically The Apple Company is fucking you over and forcing you to upgrade.

[Asker]

Yeah, pretty much. But regardless of no longer having major updates people tend to hold onto their phone for at most 2 years. So you get a good 5 years out of you're phone, which is the lifespan of a general phone. Not getting major updates doesn't mean you can't extend you're time with you're phone, for at least 2 more years after it stops getting software updates. 5 years is a decent amount of time. No one said you have to upgrade as soon as you're phone stops getting the updates right?

[humanearth]

See my house phone is from the 1970s and still works just like it did when it was new

[Asker]

Ohh damn...😂 I'm surprised it's still functional and hasn't turned into a souvenir yet

[LiamJHayden]

I'm still using my 1st Gen SE, which is essentially the same phone in a smaller shell. I will use it till it stops working and then I will find another "new old stock" model, probably an 11 or 12 or maybe even a 13 by then, for a pittance and it will last four or five years for $100 or $150. I will never get a new iPhone or Macbook Pro or new Apple anything. Once a new model comes out, all the fanboys run out to grab it and you can then get a perfectly good year old model for very little.

[Asker]

It's the same as the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus? 🤔 iPhones never stop working, everyone knows that. Unless you're coming from Android. You can continue using it for you're entire life and it would still keep running. It isn't an Android that just blacks out after 4 years. And yeah, I agree. A year old model is a better option to buy, not only is it cheaper but it will still keep getting updates for a long while. I'm surprised I didn't think of that...

[Moose304]

Your iPhone 7 will be OK. You should get several more years of service out of it. The largest problem you are going to have is battery health. My spare iPhone is an iPhone 7 and it is now under 80% battery health. As others have said at some point iOS 15 will become obsolete. But as for a phone and general phone tasks, it will work!

[Asker]

iPhone 7 Plus, yes. I'm not planning to use it for several more years though, at most will only keep it for 2-3 years. As apps will eventually become unfunctional as they are designed to work on IOS 16 and not 15. My battery health is 77%. I've had this phone for 4 years in total. I can always get battery replacement done, that shouldn't be an issue. That's all I need, to be able to use my apps and for it function like a regular phone

[genericname85]

sure you can. use these phones for as long as you like. at some point certain apps won't be compatible with your phone anymore. you can use it till that starts bothering you too much xD

[Asker]

And when will that be? In how many years time will it start becoming a problem?

[genericname85]

Impossible to predict. Because it's up to the app whether they wanna keep their app compatible to older iOS versions or not. But usually it starts with less relevant stuff like games first. Some core apps still work. On the first iphone.

[genericname85]

Up to the app creator*

[Asker]

Ohh I see... So once it stops being supportive of my basic apps that I need is when I'll be switching. I don't care about games much. But I'm pretty sure I'll be switching before any of that takes places. I'm good for at least 2 more years

[genericname85]

usually the batterie dies down to unusable levels before that happens with iphones.

[Asker]

But I'm pretty sure you can top up the and battery by having it replaced, it's actually cheaper to do the older you're iPhone is.

[Asker]

*top up the battery

[genericname85]

yeah sure you can do that.

[Danny_dan92]

Not sure. I’m aware that apple at some point stops providing software support to older devices I just don’t know how long it takes.

[Asker]

I'm still getting security updates. Just not major ones. I won't be upgrading for another 2 years, or unless it starts causing me problems.

[arisvonkallweit]

You don’t need IOS 16, its not beneficial to basic cell phone needs. You can still keep in contact with people through phone and text and still have certain social media apps. You don’t need to be new or trendy to fit society or others.

[Asker]

It's not about wanting to be "new" or "trendy", it's about if whether it will function well even if it isn't getting major updates anymore. I want to be able to continue using my apps and for it to be able to do basic phone things. As long as it's useable without trouble that's all that matters.

[Anonymous]

It's my problem you're a broke bum, and you can't afford the new iPhone. You need to get your money up and buy a better one.

[Asker]

Not broke, savings are at a high need right now. I'm sure everyone would tell you the same. Life isn't the same as it was 5 years ago. Better will be bought, I'll see to it, just not right now. And if you don't mind me asking do you use you're iPhone 7 as a main phone or back up phone? If you use it as a main phone, will you be upgrading? If not, how many more years will you hang onto it? 🙂

[ArtemisSilver]

You should retire it. You're probably not getting anymore security updates.

[Asker]

Actually, I was surprised to find out a few days ago that I'm still getting security updates 🙂

[Anonymous]

I have the iPhone7 too.

[Asker]

Is it you're main phone or do you just have it as you're spare phone?

[ZenJen444]

Ask applie

[Asker]

I'm sure you'd know what they'd answer with if they already charge us so much money for their phones than other companies do lol

[Nahid1707]

Is it still working as normal now?

[Asker]

Yes, yes it is.

[Nahid1707]

Good.

[Anonymous]

Switch to Samsung

[Asker]

Will consider it in the future 🙃

[Anonymous]

Get a android

[Asker]

Will consider it 🙃

[Opinion Owner]

Actually don’t get android. I just bought one and a lot of app don’t work or available. It’s a shit

[Asker]

There's some iOS apps that aren't available on Android and some Android ones not available for iOS. But If you say so...🤷🏻‍♀️