At What Point Does an iPhone Stop Being Useful?

Every year, old iPhones are tossed in drawers, forgotten, or even thrown away under the false belief that they are too old or too broken to matter. But here is the truth: Most of those devices still work, still hold value, and still have years of life left in them.

Whether it is a six-year-old phone or one with a cracked screen, the idea that your iPhone is “done” is just that: a myth. And we can prove it with data from the devices we’ve repaired and from the research we’ve conducted ourselves.

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That old iPhone in your drawer might still be able to run the latest iOS

We looked at every iPhone model ever and analyzed how long each one received iOS updates. Our data shows a clear pattern: Apple supports iPhones for much longer than most people think.

If you bought an iPhone anytime from 2018 onward, chances are it still receives the latest software updates. At the time of writing, iOS 18 is rolling out, and even the iPhone XS, launched in 2018, is still supported.

So for how many years do iPhones receive iOS updates?

On average, iPhones receive 6.8 years of iOS support before Apple retires them from the update cycle.

Looking at the data, the iPhone 6S and first-gen SE each supported 7 iOS versions over nearly 8 years. However, the iPhone 5S received updates for 9.3 years, despite only getting 6 major versions.

Does the chip inside matter?

Yes. Our analysis shows that iPhones with Apple-designed chips tend to last longer. Starting with the A7 chip in 2013, iPhones began receiving updates for more than 9 years. Today, iPhones powered by the A12 Bionic and newer are still going strong.

Even phones that no longer receive updates continue to function smoothly for everyday tasks like calls, messages, maps, and music.

Most “broken” iPhones just need care

At Swappie, we do all our repairs in-house. That means we do not just sell refurbished iPhones but we also see exactly what tends to go wrong with them. And more importantly, we know what it takes to fix them. Using our internal repair data, we found that the most common problems are surprisingly simple.

Data: What breaks most often?

According to Swappie’s internal repair records, about half of all iPhone repairs are battery-related. The next most common issue is a broken screen.

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Got an old or broken iPhone?

We buy iPhones in all conditions, even those with cracked screens or battery issues. Instantly check how much your iPhone is worth now. It only takes a few seconds.

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This matches the external data we pulled from search trends. According to marketing data tool, ahrefs, 33 percent of all iPhone-related Google searches are about screen problems or repairs.

In other words, what most people think of as a “broken” phone is often just a fixable issue. Especially if it is repaired by experts.

At Swappie, our in-house technicians repair thousands of iPhones each month—bringing them back to life and keeping them out of landfills. As more people and governments push for right-to-repair policies, making these repairs has never been more relevant.

Your Old iPhone still has value

We know this better than anyone. We are the ones who take these devices in, repair them, and give them a second life. Whether it is sitting in your drawer or has a cracked screen, your iPhone still has value. And at Swappie, we are here to unlock it.

We give used iPhones a second life and put money in your pocket in the process. So before you give up on your old device, see what it is worth. Check your phone’s value in seconds at https://swappie.com/ie/sell/iphone/