Apple has announced that it will provide a minimum of five years of security software updates for its iPhones, starting from the date a device is launched. This commitment comes as a result of new legal requirements set forth by the United Kingdom's Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) regulations.
The PSTI regulations, established earlier this year, mandate that companies selling internet-capable products in the U.K. must adhere to specific security standards. One key requirement is that companies must clearly define a support period during which security updates will be provided. According to the PSTI, a security update is a software update that enhances or protects the security of a product, addressing any security vulnerabilities discovered or reported to the manufacturer.
In compliance with these new rules, Apple has publicly filed its regulatory commitment for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The filing specifies that the device will receive security updates for a minimum of five years from its first supply date, which is recorded as September 22, 2023—the launch date of the iPhone 15 series.
Apple's declaration is noteworthy because the company has traditionally been less explicit about the duration of security support for its older devices. This new five-year minimum should reassure Apple users who prefer to keep their devices for extended periods. However, it is worth noting that competitors like Samsung and Google offer a longer support period of seven years for security and operating system updates, which is two years more than Apple's new minimum guarantee.
Despite this, Apple has a strong track record of supporting older devices well beyond the minimum required period. For instance, in March of this year, Apple issued a security update for the iPhone 6s, which was released in September 2015, effectively supporting the device for nine years. Similarly, in November 2020, Apple provided a major security patch for the iPhone 5S, a device launched in 2013, extending support for seven years post-launch.
While the newly defined five-year support period is now officially set, Apple's history suggests that iPhone users may continue to receive security updates for their older devices for several years beyond this minimum, ensuring long-term device security and reliability.
