When Does the iPhone 15 Stop Getting Updates? (2026 answer)
Short answer: not any time soon. On 19 October 2026 the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are all on Apple's list of iPhones that run iOS 27, the newest version, and the latest update is iOS 27.0.1 (28 September 2026). Apple doesn't announce end dates, but it has put one minimum in writing: its UK compliance statements for all four models promise security updates for at least five years from 22 September 2023, so until at least September 2028. Based on how Apple treated older iPhones, our estimate is that the iPhone 15 gets new major iOS versions until 2028 or 2029 (the 15 Pro possibly a year longer), with security fixes until roughly 2031 to 2032. That's our reading of Apple's history, not a promise from Apple.
The facts (checked 19 October 2026)
| iPhone 15, 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 12 September 2023 | 12 September 2023 |
| In stores | 22 September 2023 | 22 September 2023 |
| Shipped with | iOS 17 | iOS 17 |
| Chip | A16 Bionic (same as the iPhone 14 Pro) | A17 Pro |
| Major iOS versions so far | iOS 17, 18, 26 and 27 | iOS 17, 18, 26 and 27 |
| Current version | iOS 27 (14 Sep 2026), latest iOS 27.0.1 (28 Sep 2026) | Same |
| Apple's written minimum | Security updates for at least 5 years from 22 Sep 2023 (UK filing) | Same |
| Apple Intelligence / Siri AI | Not supported | Supported (15 Pro and 15 Pro Max) |
| Official end-of-support date | None published by Apple | None published by Apple |
Apple's How to download iOS 27 page lists the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max as compatible. Apple's security releases page says "The latest version of iOS and iPadOS is 27.0.1" and lists iOS 27 (14 September 2026) and iOS 27.0.1 (28 September 2026) for "iPhone 11 and later". If you'd rather stay on iOS 26 for now, iOS 26.7.1 came out the same day for the same phones. So right now the iPhone 15 gets exactly the same updates as the newest iPhones.
Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone Air or iPhone 16 or newer (Apple). So the regular iPhone 15 and 15 Plus get iOS 27 and its security fixes but not those AI features; the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max do get them.
What Apple has actually promised
Since the UK's product security law (PSTI) took effect on 29 April 2024, Apple has had to publish a minimum support period for phones it sells there. Its statements of compliance for the iPhone 15 (A3090), iPhone 15 Plus (A3094), iPhone 15 Pro (A3102) and iPhone 15 Pro Max (A3106) all say:
- First supply date: 22 September 2023
- Defined support period: "Minimum 5 Years from the first supply date"
That's a floor, not an end date. Apple has usually gone well past five years (see below), so don't read September 2028 as the day your iPhone 15 stops getting updates.
How long will it really get updates? (our estimate)
Apple doesn't publish a support period beyond that minimum, so the best guide is what it did before. These dates come from Apple's own pages.
- iPhone 8 and iPhone X (2017, both A11 chip): got new major versions up to iOS 16. iOS 17 (2023) dropped them, about 6 years after launch. Security-only updates kept coming: iOS 16.7.16 arrived on 11 May 2026.
- iPhone XS, XS Max and XR (2018, all A12): got new major versions up to iOS 18. iOS 26 (2025) dropped them, about 7 years after launch. iOS 18.7.10 still arrived on 17 August 2026.
- iPhone 11 (2019, A13): still on iOS 27, seven years in. See Is the iPhone 11 still supported?
Two things stand out. First, Apple tends to drop iPhones by chip: the iPhone 8 and X went together, and so did the XS and XR. Second, after dropping a phone it has kept shipping security-only fixes for two to three years or more.
What that means for the iPhone 15 (our estimate):
- iPhone 15 and 15 Plus (A16): they share their chip with the iPhone 14 Pro. If Apple drops by chip again, they could lose new major versions together with the 14 Pro, in September 2028 or September 2029.
- iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max (A17 Pro): they have a newer chip, so they may well get one more major version than the regular 15.
- Security fixes after that: going by the iPhone 8 and XS, roughly 2031 to 2032.
Treat this as an educated guess. Apple can change course at any time, and iOS 27 surprised everyone by not dropping a single iPhone.
What happens when updates stop?
- First, no new iOS features. The phone stays on its last major version and gets smaller security-only updates for a while.
- Then the fixes thin out. Apple doesn't announce when security-only updates for an old version end; they just stop appearing.
- Apps follow eventually. Banking, payment and messaging apps start requiring a newer iOS version at some point, not overnight. For an iPhone 15 that's years away.
What should iPhone 15 owners do?
- Install the latest update now: Settings → General → Software Update. You should see iOS 27.0.1 (or iOS 26.7.1 if you chose to stay on iOS 26).
- Keep using it. An iPhone 15 is fully supported in October 2026, including for banking, DigiD, WhatsApp and work email. If you have a 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max, you also get Apple Intelligence on iOS 27.
- Check the battery before you think about replacing the phone: Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging. A new battery is far cheaper than a new iPhone.
- Watch WWDC in June 2027, 2028 and 2029. That's when Apple reveals which iPhones the next iOS supports.
Should you buy a used iPhone 15 in 2026?
Yes — it's one of the safer used buys right now. A used iPhone 15 runs the current iOS, has USB-C, and Apple's written minimum runs to September 2028. Between the models, the 15 Pro adds Apple Intelligence and the newer A17 Pro chip, which may buy it an extra year of major updates (our estimate). An iPhone 14 is usually cheaper but its written minimum only runs to September 2027, and the regular 14 uses the older A15. An iPhone 16 has a newer chip and a longer runway if the price gap is small.
Not sure which to pick? Our ranking of which used or refurbished phone to buy in 2026 sorts popular models by years of updates left.
Other iPhones compared
| Phone | Status today | What Apple has said |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 series | Runs iOS 27 | Security updates for at least 5 years from 22 September 2023 (UK filing) |
| iPhone 14 | Runs iOS 27 | Security updates for at least 5 years from 16 September 2022 (UK filing) |
| iPhone 13 | Runs iOS 27 | No published support period |
| iPhone 12 | Runs iOS 27 | No published support period |
| iPhone 11 | Runs iOS 27 | No published support period; the oldest iPhone on the iOS 27 list |
Buying a used phone?
A cheap used phone can still be a bad deal if it's Activation-Locked, reported stolen, carrier-locked or close to its own end-of-support date. Our own guide, Safe to Buy Used? The Second-Hand Phone & Gadget Checklist, walks you through every check before you pay. It's a paid PDF we make ourselves; checking a model on our device list stays free.
Compare prices for refurbished iPhone 15 at bol.com, refurbished iPhone 15 Pro at bol.com or refurbished iPhone 16 at bol.com (search results; check the seller, condition and warranty before you buy).
Affiliate disclosure: bol.com links are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure.
Sources
- Apple, How to download iOS 27 (published 17 Sep 2026, checked 19 Oct 2026)
- Apple, Apple security releases (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- Apple, How to get the next generation of Apple Intelligence (checked 19 Oct 2026)
- Apple, UK PSTI statements of compliance for iPhone 15 (A3090), iPhone 15 Plus (A3094), iPhone 15 Pro (A3102) and iPhone 15 Pro Max (A3106) (all dated 29 Apr 2024)
- Apple Newsroom, Apple debuts iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus and Apple unveils iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (12 Sep 2023), iPhone 15 lineup and new Apple Watch lineup arrive worldwide (22 Sep 2023)
- Our own articles on the iPhone 14, iPhone 13 and iPhone 11, each with its own sources
Apple can change its plans at any time. Always check Software Update on your phone and Apple's security releases page for the latest.