The iPhone 8 was released in 2017 and became a bestseller. Isn’t there a lot of people who are still using it in 2023 at the time of writing this article?
In this article, we will consider how long the iPhone 8 can be used five years after its release from the perspective of iOS updates and repair support.
When will iPhone 8 iOS updates end?
Every year, the iOS update is done at the same time as the new iPhone is released.
The current iOS16 released in the fall of 2022 no longer supports the 2016 model iPhone7.
For this reason, if all goes well, iOS 17, which is expected to be released in the fall of 2023, will likely not support iPhone 8.
If you are not eligible for iOS updates, you may not be able to respond to system defects, vulnerabilities, and new features, and you may not be able to use the latest version of the app.
For this reason, from the perspective of iOS updates, the iPhone 8 is likely to be usable until around the fall of 2023.
When will iPhone 8 repair support end?
Apple products are classified as vintage products five years after the end of sales, and repair support is limited.
Since sales of the iPhone 8 ended in April 2020, it is likely that it will be treated as a vintage product in 2025.
For this reason, from the point of view of repair support, the iPhone 8 is likely to be usable until around 2025.
In addition, Apple products will be classified as obsolete products 7 years after sales end, and repair support will be completely terminated.
Definitions and treatment of vintage and obsolete products are as follows:
vintage products
Apple defines vintage products as “products that are more than 5 years old and less than 7 years old from the date Apple stopped supplying them to retailers”.
Repair support for vintage products is said to be “hardware repair service can be obtained from Apple’s service providers, including Apple Store retail stores, but repair availability is subject to availability of parts and replacement parts.” I’m here. In other words, whether or not it can be repaired depends on the availability of parts.
obsolete products
Apple defines an obsolete product as “a product for which seven years or more have passed since the date Apple stopped supplying it to retailers.”
Repair support for obsolete products states, “Apple has ended all hardware service for obsolete products. With the exception of Mac notebooks, extended time limits are granted for battery repairs only. Service providers also provide obsolete product support. Parts cannot be ordered.”
In other words, if it is designated as an obsolete product, it means that “it will not be possible to repair it at Apple Store retail stores or Apple service providers”.
When will security updates end?
As already introduced, iPhone 8 is likely to be out of support with iOS 17 announced in 2023.
However, Apple continues to deliver security updates when critical vulnerabilities are discovered in the system.
Looking at a recent example, the iOS 12.5.7 security update delivered on January 23, 2023 targeted the 2013 model iPhone 5s and the 2014 model iPhone 6/6s.
For this reason, the iPhone 8 is likely to be usable without problems for the next few years if we only consider security updates.
If you continue to use the iPhone 8, it is recommended to replace the battery
More than five years have passed since the iPhone 8 was released in 2017.
Depending on when you bought it, if you continue to use it in the future, you should consider replacing the battery.
The guideline for battery replacement is “when the maximum capacity is less than 80% of when it was new”.
How to check the maximum battery capacity
You can check the maximum battery capacity in the following way.
“Settings” -> “Battery” -> “Battery health and charging” -> “Maximum capacity”
In the case of the above image, the maximum capacity is 100% when new.
summary
I have introduced how long the iPhone 8 can be used.
The main points are summarized below.
- iOS updates likely to end in 2023
- It will be treated as a vintage product in 2025, and there is a high possibility that repairs will be restricted.
- Security updates are likely to continue for years to come
However, among these, when the iOS update ends, various disadvantages may occur, such as ‘cannot respond if a problem occurs’ or ‘cannot use the latest version of the application’.
It’s just my opinion, but I think it’s better to consider changing models when the iOS update is finished.
Source: Apple(1),(2)
Photo: Apple
(te7373)
Source: iPhone Mania
