Apple iPhone 5
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until September 2017 · Buy-by September 2015
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~5-year update track record — on that basis the iPhone 5 should be supported until around September 2017. Buying it today still gets you about -8.7 years of safe use, and Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years (verified June 2026).
Source: source · last verified 2026-06-18 · how we compute this
Our verdict
The first 4-inch, Lightning-port iPhone got roughly five years of iOS updates, a benchmark for how long phones lasted in its era.
Pros
- Received iOS updates for about five years, up to iOS 10.3.4
- Introduced the still-relevant Lightning connector
- Light 112g aluminum body that still feels iconic
Cons
- Long obsolete with no modern app or security support
- Tiny 1440mAh battery and a 4-inch screen by today's standards
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 4.0-inch IPS LCD, 640x1136 (~326 ppi) |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Apple A6 |
| RAM | 1GB |
| Storage | 16GB / 32GB / 64GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 8MP |
| front | 1MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 1,440 mAh |
| Charging | 5W wired |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm |
| Weight | 112 g |
| Materials | Glass front, aluminum back and frame |
| Water resistance | None |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | iOS 6 (last supported iOS 10.3.4) |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, Lightning/USB 2.0 |
| Update policy | ~5 years of updates (our estimate from Apple's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
Is the iPhone 5 still getting updates in 2026?
No. The iPhone 5's last update was iOS 10.3.4 in 2019, and it has had no security or app support for years.
How long did the iPhone 5 get updates?
It launched on iOS 6 in 2012 and was supported through iOS 10, roughly five years of major iOS updates.
Is the iPhone 5 worth buying in 2026?
Only as a collector's item or display piece. It can no longer run modern apps or receive security patches, so it is not viable as a daily phone.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-18.