Following its new ‘iOS’ update, Apple stated that iOS 16 would not be available for iPhone models older than the iPhone 8. This means that we wouldn’t experience iOS 16 if you own an iPhone 7, iPhone 6s, or the original iPhone SE. Similarly, Apple has quietly deleted the Apple Watch Series 8 from the list of watch OS 9 compatible Apple Watch devices. Both the next iOS and watch OS versions and iPad OS 16 and mac OS 13 Ventura will be available for testing in public betas in July before being issued as free software updates for eligible hardware later this year. The iPhone 6s series debuted in 2015, while the iPhone SE and iPhone 7 models debuted in 2016.Hence, iPhone 8 and iPhone SE (2020) are the devices that can access this new ‘iOS’ update.
Despite their age, all of these models received iOS 15 last year. This contrasts with how several Android smartphone manufacturers treat their existing users, as they frequently discontinue software update support for their older models. Nonetheless, firms such as Google and Samsung have begun to change that by pledging to improve software upgrades until four years and security patches for five years for specific models.
Moreover, Similar to the iOS update, Apple has confirmed on its website that the Apple Watch Series 3 will not receive the watch OS 9 update. Hence, The particular model was launched in 2017 and received Watch OS 8 last year. Therefore, the Apple Watch Series 3 became ineligible for the update since the Apple Watch Series 4 was the oldest model in the Apple Watch family to receive watchOS 9.