How long do iPhones last? The honest lifespan guide for 2026

An iPhone lasts far longer than the two-year contract cycle suggests. The realistic answer is six to seven years of software support and two or three batteries — which means a three-year-old iPhone bought used still has more life left than most new Android phones get from launch. Here's how the clock actually runs, and which models to buy in 2026 if you want the most years per pound.

The software clock: six-plus years of iOS

Apple has supported each iPhone with major iOS versions for six to seven years from launch. iOS 26, released in September 2025, runs on the iPhone 11 (2019) and everything newer — the XS and XR, from 2018, were the ones to drop off. When a phone stops getting the big yearly update it doesn't stop working: Apple keeps shipping security patches for older versions for years afterwards, and banking apps generally keep supporting the previous two or three iOS versions.

The practical rule: a phone is 'current' for about six years, and usable for two or three more.

The battery clock: consumable by design

Batteries wear on a separate schedule. Pre-iPhone 15 batteries hold around 80% after 500 cycles — roughly two to three years of daily charging; the iPhone 15 and later double that to about 1,000 cycles. Below 80% the day gets short and peak performance can throttle. A replacement costs £50–60 and resets the clock completely, so over a six-year life you'd expect two batteries on an older model and one on a newer one. Our battery health guide covers what percentage is normal by age.

What actually retires an iPhone

Three things, in order. First, the battery — the most common reason people upgrade, and the cheapest to fix. Second, storage: a 64GB phone from 2019 fills up in 2026, and there's no fix short of a bigger phone. Third, iOS support ending, which takes an app or two with it each year. Notice what's not on the list: the processor. A five-year-old A13 still runs everything in the App Store. Cracked screens and worn ports are repairs, not retirements.

Which iPhones have the most life left in 2026

Ranked by years of support remaining per pound: the iPhone 13 (2021, from about £250) should see major updates into 2027–28 and has the same chip as the 13 Pro; the iPhone 14 (2022, from about £305) adds a year and better cameras; the iPhone 15 (2023, from about £400) is the first with USB-C and the longer-life battery chemistry, and is the sensible buy for anyone planning to keep a phone four years. The iPhone 16 costs about £110 more than the 15 for Apple Intelligence and a year of extra support — worth it only if you want those.

At the budget end the iPhone 11 (from about £160) and 12 (from about £200) are still on iOS 26, but you're buying the last two or three years of support. Fine for a first phone or a spare; don't expect 2030.

New vs used, in years per pound

A new iPhone 17 at £799 buys about seven years of support: £114 a year. A used iPhone 15 at £400 buys about five: £80 a year. A used iPhone 13 at £250 buys about three: £83 a year. The used 15 is the best value on the whole curve — new enough to last, old enough that someone else paid the launch premium. See what's in stock on the iPhone page.

Making any iPhone last longer

Keep it cool when charging, use the 80% limit if you don't need a full day, buy the storage you'll need in three years rather than today, and replace the battery at 80% instead of replacing the phone. A case and screen protector turn a drop into a £10 problem instead of a £100 one. Do those four things and a used iPhone bought in 2026 is realistically a 2030 phone.