Google and Samsung have set the bar high for Android phones, announcing up to seven generations of Android upgrades for the Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 series. Apple typically doesn’t reveal how many software updates an iPhone gets, but it is known for delivering lengthy software support for its phones. Thanks to a new rule in the UK, Apple has finally specified a minimum support period for its iPhone 15 family, and it’s shorter than what Google and Samsung currently offer.
Minimum length of software support for iPhone 15 Pro Max
If spotted by Mishaal Rahman at Android Authority, Apple has uploaded a new document to her website recently, in accordance with the UK’s Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI). In the document, Apple reveals that it will provide security updates for the latest iPhone 15 Pro Max for at least five years. The “defined support period” is “a minimum of five years from the initial delivery date.” The “initial delivery date” is listed as September 22, 2023. This period is two years shorter than that of its main competitors.
A ‘security update’ is certain by the PSTI as a “software update that protects or improves the security of a product, including a software update that addresses security vulnerabilities discovered or reported to the manufacturer.” Based on this, we can expect Apple to support some devices for longer.
Previously, the Cupertino giant provided updates for more than five years for some models. The iPhone XS, unveiled in September 2018, is still compatible with iOS 17. That guaranteed software support period could change with the launch of the iPhone 16 series this fall.
Samsung and Google, on the other hand, guarantee at least seven years of Android system and security updates for their latest Galaxy S24 series and Pixel 8 series.
