Short answer: Apple has never published an end date for any iPhone iOS support, so anyone quoting you a specific year is guessing. What the historical pattern shows is roughly five to seven years of major iOS updates from launch, with security updates continuing beyond that. On that pattern, an iPhone 13 at Rs 30,390 or an iPhone 14 at Rs 34,990 bought today still has meaningful support life ahead of it. We would rather tell you the pattern and its uncertainty than invent a date.

Prices are live as of 6 September 2026 and move with stock — check the linked product page for the current figure before you decide.

What Apple actually commits to

Nothing specific, and that is the honest starting point. Apple does not publish a support end date at launch the way some Android manufacturers now do. What it does instead is drop support for older devices when a new iOS version arrives, announced on the day.

That means every figure you read online — including ours — is extrapolated from what Apple has done before, not from a promise. It is a good pattern with a long track record, and it is still a pattern rather than a guarantee.

What the pattern shows

Looking at Apple past behaviour, iPhones have typically received:

  • Around five to seven years of major iOS versions from their release date.
  • Security updates for some time after the last major version, delivered as patch releases to the older iOS version.
  • App compatibility for longer still, because most iOS apps support two or three versions back.

That last point matters more than people expect. A phone that stops receiving major iOS updates does not stop working. WhatsApp, UPI apps, banking apps and browsers continue to function for a considerable time afterwards. The practical end of a phone useful life is usually the battery, not the software.

Applying it to what we stock

Model Launched Price today Rough position
iPhone 12 / 12 Mini 2020 Rs 19,990-21,990 Oldest here; least runway remaining
iPhone 12 Pro / Pro Max 2020 Rs 34,490-38,390 Same generation as above
iPhone 13 series 2021 Rs 28,490-49,490 Comfortable middle
iPhone 14 series 2022 Rs 34,990-58,990 Strong runway
iPhone 15 series 2023 Rs 46,990-79,990 Longest runway we stock

The practical guidance: if you want the phone to feel current for the longest time, buy the newest generation your budget allows. If you want the best value per rupee, the iPhone 13 and 14 sit at the point where price has fallen further than capability has.

Does an older iPhone become unsafe?

Not immediately, and this is worth being precise about because it is used as a scare tactic.

When a phone stops getting major iOS versions, Apple has historically continued issuing security patches to the last supported version for a period. After that stops, the phone is not instantly compromised — but it does stop receiving fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities, which matters more if you do banking on it.

The sensible rule: for a primary phone that handles banking and payments, stay on a device still receiving security updates. For a secondary phone, a child first phone or a parent phone used for calls and WhatsApp, an older device is fine for longer.

The thing that actually ends a phone life

In our experience on the QC bench, it is almost never software. It is the battery, then the screen, then the charging port. A four-year-old iPhone with 78% battery health feels finished; the same phone with a new battery feels new.

This is why we measure and publish battery health as a number on every unit rather than describing it in adjectives, and why we suggest budgeting for a replacement on anything below 85% if you plan to keep it more than two years. A battery replacement is far cheaper than a phone replacement.

Who should NOT buy an older refurbished iPhone

  • Anyone who needs the longest possible support life. Buy the newest generation you can afford, or buy new.
  • Anyone whose phone is their only banking device and who cannot replace it for six years. Start newer.
  • Anyone who must have the newest iOS features on day one. Older devices often receive a new iOS version without all of its headline features.
  • Anyone buying an iPhone 12 without checking battery health. That generation is now the oldest we stock and battery is its most common weak point.

What we can ship today

Every unit below is in stock as this page was last checked, with a 6-month NewAsNew Assured Warranty, GST invoice, 7-day returns and no-cost EMI. If it is listed here, we can dispatch it.

Model Price MRP You save
Apple iPhone 12 Mini
Grade A Certified		 ₹19,990 ₹69,900 71%
Apple iPhone 14
Grade A Certified		 ₹34,990 ₹79,900 56%
Apple iPhone 15
Grade A Certified		 ₹47,490 ₹79,900 41%
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
Grade A Certified		 ₹79,990 ₹159,900 50%

Prices checked on 29 September 2026 — stock and prices move, so the linked product page is always the truth.

Browse all iPhones in stock · Ask us on WhatsApp which one fits you

Frequently asked questions

How many years of iOS updates does an iPhone get?

Historically around five to seven years of major iOS versions from launch, with security updates for a period beyond that. Apple does not publish a committed end date, so this is a pattern rather than a promise.

Will my iPhone stop working when updates end?

No. It keeps functioning, and most apps continue to support older iOS versions for a considerable time. What stops is new features and, eventually, security patches.

Is it safe to use an iPhone that no longer gets security updates?

For calls, messaging and general use, generally yes. For banking and payments, we would not recommend it. Choose a device still within its security update window for a primary phone.

Which refurbished iPhone has the longest support life?

The newest generation we stock — the iPhone 15 series, from Rs 46,990. For a balance of runway and price, the iPhone 14 at Rs 34,990 is the practical answer for most buyers.

Does buying refurbished affect iOS support?

Not at all. iOS support is tied to the model, not to who owned the phone before. A refurbished iPhone 14 receives exactly the same updates as a new one.

How do I check which iOS version my phone can run?

Settings, General, Software Update shows the latest version available for your device. If it says you are up to date but you know a newer iOS exists, your device has reached the end of major version support.

Related guides

Still deciding? Talk to a human

Send us the work you do and your budget on WhatsApp and we will tell you honestly whether we have something for you — or whether you should wait. Chat with NewAsNew on WhatsApp (+91 79822 35917).

Browse live stock: Grade A Certified laptops · Refurbished iPhones · Unboxed headphones · Unboxed earbuds.

Written by Atul Pandey, co-founder of NewAsNew (NextG Serve Private Limited, New Delhi). We came from four years of offline electronics retail in Prayagraj before building NewAsNew. Only 2 to 3 out of every 10 devices that reach our QC bench pass; the other 7 to 8 go back to the supplier. The exact figure moves month to month with the stock we are offered, so we publish the range rather than one flattering number. Read our story.