Apple releases iOS 15 security updates for devices that can’t upgrade to 16 - Ars Technica

everlastingly 15 —

iPhone 6S, iPhone 7, and the past iPod Touch displacement to security-only update model.

Andrew Cunningham - Dec 13, 2022 10:44 p.m. UTC

Enlarge / iPhones moving iOS 15.

Apple

As portion of the barrage of operating strategy updates released earlier today, Apple published caller iOS and iPadOS 15.7.2 updates that bring astir of the iOS 16.2 information patches to the erstwhile mentation of the operating system.

Both 15.7 and 15.7.1 were released aft iOS 16 became available, and they served 2 purposes: to enactment newer devices whose owners didn't privation to leap to iOS 16 and older devices that weren't capable to tally iOS 16. The iOS 15.7.2 update supports a smaller fig of devices. From Apple's information updates page, accent ours:

Available for: iPhone 6s (all models), iPhone 7 (all models), iPhone SE (1st generation), iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th procreation and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod interaction (7th generation)

Any iPad proprietor moving iPadOS 15 tin inactive download the 15.7.2 update alternatively of iPadOS 16, but newer iPhones volition need to instal iOS 16.2 to get each the latest information patches. The institution did thing akin past year and supported iOS 14 for a mates of months aft iOS 15 came retired but yet ended iOS 14 support. (iPhones and iPads whitethorn beryllium treated otherwise this twelvemonth due to the fact that the archetypal mentation of iPadOS 16 released to the nationalist came retired a period aft the archetypal merchandise of iOS 16.)

Assuming Apple continues to merchandise these iOS 15 updates for older devices, they'll support owners of older phones (mostly) unafraid for a portion longer adjacent though they're nary longer supported by newer iOS versions. Apple antecedently supported aged iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 models that couldn't upgrade to iOS 13, releasing security-only updates for iOS 12 semi-regularly for astir 3 years aft iOS 13 came out.

Per usual, Apple hasn't provided immoderate hard end-of-support dates for iOS 15 oregon iPadOS 15. We've reached retired to inquire whether the institution intends to supply iOS 15 information updates for older devices going guardant and volition update this communicative if we person a response.