These “legacy” IPhones Have Received a New Update.
Many of us prefer to upgrade our smartphones every two to three years, while others buy the latest model every year. But just because regularly upgrading your smartphone has become the norm doesn’t mean everyone does it. Smartphones can last a long time , especially if they’re taken care of and the battery is replaced periodically .
But no technology lasts forever. Eventually, something breaks—even if it’s just the manufacturer. Even Apple, which typically offers its iPhones updates for several years after their initial release, stops supporting new features after a while. That’s why your iPhone XS can’t run iOS 26 : Apple drew the line there this year. But iPhones like the XS can still receive updates, even if it’s not the latest and greatest version of iOS. Instead, Apple typically releases security and stability patches for older iPhones so that users who still rely on them can do so safely and securely. It may be financially beneficial for Apple to convince you to buy a new iPhone, but not at the cost of exposing a large number of users to the risk of cyberattacks.
Apple’s latest update fixes bugs in very old iPhone models.
On Monday, Apple released new updates for a wide range of devices. This includes, of course, the newest devices, which can now install iOS 26.2.1. But many older devices also received new updates, some of which are particularly surprising given their age.
Apple has released iOS 18.7.4 for iPhones that either can’t or won’t update to iOS 26. The first category essentially includes the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR. Then there’s iOS 16.7.13 for the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X, and iOS 15.8.6 for the iPhone 6S, iPhone 7, and iPhone SE (first generation). These are fairly old iPhone models, but that’s not what caught my attention today. Unexpectedly, Apple has released an update for iPhones running iOS 12 , including the iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. These iPhones can now run iOS 12.5.8. For comparison, Apple released iOS 12 back in 2018 , so it’s quite surprising to see a new version in 2026.
These iPhones are even older. The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were released back in 2014, and the iPhone 5S a year earlier. So Apple released an update for 12-year-old iPhones. If you’re still using one of these devices, the new update should come as a surprise. It’s not just the age of the devices themselves: Apple considers all three iPhones ” legacy ,” as the company stopped selling them more than seven years ago. The company won’t service older devices and is largely excluding them from future software updates. That’s why this is so interesting.
What’s new in iOS 12.5.8?
iOS 12.5.8 isn’t a feature update, of course, but it’s not a security update either. Instead, Apple extended the validity period of the certificate required for features like iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation beyond January of next year. These iPhones may not have received new features for years, but they’ll still be able to use FaceTime a year from now—and that’s great.
It’s unclear how many people will be using these iPhones in 2026. But if you are using them and are happy with them, Apple has given you another reason to keep your phone for another year.