Apple shames Android with a software update for a 13-year-old iPhone

Supporting a smartphone for more than a decade sounds almost impossible with how quickly new models come out these days, as in the case of Android models. But this week, Apple did just that by releasing a software update for iPhones that were first released more than 10 years ago.

Apple has quietly released iOS 12.5.8, a surprise update for legacy hardware that can’t run modern versions of iOS, as spotted by a Reddit user. This includes the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, the original iPad Air, the iPad mini 2 and 3, and even the sixth-generation iPod touch.

That’s exactly right—Apple recently made headlines by pushing a surprise update to phones that many had long since written off. In late January 2026, Apple released iOS 12.5.8, specifically targeting the iPhone 5s (launched in 2013) and the iPhone 6.

While most headlines focus on the 13-year-old iPhone 5s, the update actually hit a range of “vintage” hardware to prevent them from becoming expensive paperweights.

What the Update Actually Does

This isn’t a feature update—don’t expect to see the new “Liquid Glass” UI or Apple Intelligence on a 2013 device. Instead, it is a critical infrastructure patch:

• Certificate Renewal: The update extends the validity of digital certificates required to connect to Apple’s servers.

• The “Kill Switch” Avoided: Without this patch, these devices would have lost the ability to use iMessage, FaceTime, and—most critically—Device Activation after January 2027.

• Secondary Life: It ensures these phones can still function as backup devices, music players, or simple “first phones” for kids without losing their core communication features.

Shaming the Competition?

The “shame” part of the headline stems from the stark contrast in longevity. While Google and Samsung recently made waves by promising 7 years of updates for their newest flagships, Apple is out here supporting a device for 13 years.

For context, when the iPhone 5s was released, the top Android competitor was the Samsung Galaxy S4 (which hasn’t seen an official update since 2015).

The 2026 Legacy Support Rollout

Apple didn’t just stop at the iPhone 5s. They released a wave of “legacy” patches across various OS versions last week: