Why Using a Vintage iPhone as Your Daily Driver Is a Bad Idea
Using an older iPhone might sound appealing, especially if you love the design of classic Apple products. But in practice, it’s rarely a good idea. Older devices typically receive less software support, particularly several years after their release. While some older iPhones still get security updates and limited new features for a while, you may eventually be locked out of important software updates. However, that’s not the worst part. Even if these phones can still function well for basic tasks or be repurposed for other uses, using a vintage iPhone as your main device can make it extremely difficult to find replacement parts if something breaks. In short, you should probably avoid these phones.
Currently, Apple lists 12 devices on its vintage iPhone list, starting with the iPhone 6s (released in 2015) and going up to the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max (released in 2019). Here is the complete list:
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iPhone 6s (16GB, 64GB, 128GB)
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iPhone 6s Plus
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iPhone 7
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iPhone 7 Plus
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iPhone 7 (PRODUCT)RED
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iPhone 8 (64GB, 128GB, 256GB)
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iPhone 8 Plus (64GB, 128GB, 256GB)
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iPhone X
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iPhone XS
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iPhone XS Max
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iPhone 11 Pro
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iPhone 11 Pro Max
What Does “Vintage” Mean to Apple?
Apple considers a product “vintage” once it has been more than five years but less than seven years since the company stopped distributing it for sale. So if your device hasn’t been on the market for six years, you are officially using a vintage iPhone.
Do not confuse this with “obsolete” devices, which are those Apple stopped selling more than seven years ago. Apple provides no hardware support whatsoever for obsolete devices. For vintage devices, you might still find parts, but availability depends entirely on what repair centers have in stock.
The situation becomes more complicated due to French law, which requires Apple to provide up to seven years of hardware support for iPhones sold in France, if the distribution end date falls after December 31, 2020. This essentially means that consumers outside France are not guaranteed seven years of hardware support—it all depends on what parts service providers can access.
Why You Should Avoid Vintage iPhones
Vintage tech can be great for nostalgia or even for making extra money by selling it. But using a vintage device as your everyday phone is not recommended. The lack of reliable hardware support means that any drops, dings, or other damage could be difficult or impossible to repair, especially if you live in an area where service providers don’t have easy access to the necessary parts.
Moreover, while not every vintage iPhone on the list is affected, some may no longer receive the latest security or software updates. That can leave you vulnerable to new exploits and security threats. Although Apple occasionally patches major flaws in older software, it’s not a guarantee.
The Bottom Line
It’s wise to upgrade your device every few years, once your current phone becomes vintage or obsolete. You don’t always need the latest and greatest model, like the iPhone 17 Pro. But as the online security landscape constantly evolves, using a device with up-to-date hardware and software is a major advantage for protecting your digital privacy. It also helps you avoid unexpected hardware issues that cannot be easily fixed.
