Apple extends the life of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 with an unexpected update / TechCrunch
Apple has surprised owners of older smartphones again by releasing updates for models that have long since disappeared from store shelves. The update concerns devices that are no longer formally supported by modern versions of iOS, but are still in active use in many countries around the world.
Why did Apple update old iPhones again?
Apple has released a new version of iOS 12.5.8 for the Apple iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 – smartphones that were introduced back in September 2013 and 2014, respectively. Thus, the company has actually extended software support for these models up to 13 and 12 years after their release on the market, writes MacRumors.
The update was released alongside iOS 26.2.1 and does not bring any new features in the usual sense. Its main purpose is to extend the validity of the system certificate, which is responsible for the operation of key services. These include iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation.
Without this update, some functions could stop working after the certificate expires in January 2027. Previously, such restrictions meant the actual loss of the ability to fully use the device, even if the smartphone itself remained technically functional. Now these services will continue to work for several more years.
Up until this point, Apple last updated the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 in January 2023, when it released critical security patches.
Formally, the company guarantees at least five years of protection from the moment of the smartphone's release, but in practice it often supports devices much longer. A prime example is the iPhone 6s, which appeared on the market 11 years ago. In September 2025, it received the iOS 15.8.5 update, and now – version 15.8.6 with a similar certificate extension. This once again confirms that Apple is betting not only on new sales, but also on a long-term ecosystem.
Even more updates
In addition, the company simultaneously released updates for more current versions of the system – iOS 15, iOS 16, and iOS 18. Unlike iOS 12, these updates also appear to contain bug fixes, although Apple did not provide a full list of updates, writes PhoneArena.
Thus, Apple pays attention to several generations of devices at once, supporting them at different levels and demonstrating an unusually long life cycle of its smartphones.