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Apple iOS 27unveiled in Worldwide Developers Conference 2026will come to iPhone models As old as iPhone 11 series that launched in 2019. Although eight years of software support is unprecedented, it’s also likely more necessary than ever.
in spite of It is unlikely to support the iPhone 11 None of the latest Features related to Apple intelligencethe additional year of new software support comes amid two important moments in the technology industry.
The most obvious was overall Increased cost of electronicsThis is due to factors such as Constant lack of RAM And concerns about rising tariffs over the past few years. We’ve seen several phone companies raise phone prices by up to $200 between the 2025 and 2026 models — and in some cases, phone prices have dropped Until it increased After their initial release.
But the used market is perhaps less well-known, as older iPhone models are still easy to come by. the iPhone 11 with a capacity of 256 GB The Space costs $209 as of this writing on Amazon. In a recent CNET poll of 2,600 adultsmore than 48% said they had considered purchasing a refurbished device, citing cost-effectiveness and the high cost of new electronics as their primary motivators.
Both factors point to a trend in which people aim to keep their phones longer than ever before, and are willing to take advantage of devices that aren’t the latest and greatest but are quite capable of meeting their general needs. I contacted Apple to ask how many iPhone 11 users there are (an answer I don’t expect to get), but there is other evidence that people are using older iPhones and could use the additional software support.
Apple has reasons to take care of customers on older iPhones
Apple’s iPhone line typically tops lists of best-selling smartphones around the world, and as such, it’s not too surprising to hear that Apple is also one of the biggest sellers of refurbished phones. According to an October 2025 report released by the analytics company Counterpoint Researchthe iPhone 12, iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 All of this has led to growth in sales of refurbished cars in Africa, India and Southeast Asia.
In markets more similar to the US, the refurbished market achieved more consistent growth between 2024 and 2025, with the report noting longer replacement cycles and higher costs causing customers to delay upgrading.
With fewer people upgrading, Apple may be taking a closer look at ensuring customers still using older devices aren’t left on the hook with devices that are difficult to use. In January of this year, iPhone models running iOS 12 It later received a small update that helped ensure this iMessage and FaceTime will still work On older models like the iPhone 5S from 2013. Even when Apple turns off iOS updates for an iPhone, the company historically provides several additional years of security updates.
The only way to get a smaller iPhone 13 Mini is to buy a used one, and in some cases, that’s exactly what people are doing.
Support for older iPhone models can help prevent people from moving to Android
As phone prices rise, Apple’s continued support for older iPhone models may be a defensive strategy. While Samsung, Motorola and Google have a large number of new products Android phones Which sells to Less than $500The base price for Apple’s new phone is now $600 ( iPhone 17e released earlier this year).
Making the 2019 iPhone 11 look more refreshed with iOS 27 provides an extra reason for an iPhone user to stay in Apple’s ecosystem without having to think about switching to Android where they might get a phone with a bigger battery or a newer camera for less money than the new iPhone.
Providing reasons to stay on the iPhone is even more important since Apple is also driven (largely by… European Union) to support more open technologies that put iPhone and Android phones on a more level playing field. This includes RCS text messaging Which makes many iMessage-like features work across iPhone and Android eSIM features Which makes it easy to transfer your phone number from iPhone to Android.
Apple currently offering an industry-leading eight-year support for the iPhone 11 is a small feather in its cap that it can be promoted on Android-only until similar commitments are made by companies like Samsung, Google and Motorola.
