Apple iPhone 6s
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until June 2027 · Buy-by June 2025
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~11-year update track record — on that basis the iPhone 6s should be supported until around June 2027. Buying it today still gets you about 1.0 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: Apple's documentation · last verified 2026-06-12 · how we compute this
TrueCost
Street price ÷ months of safe use remaining — the number that makes cheap short-lived phones expensive, and well-supported ones cheap.
36% cheaper than the under-$300 median ($6.74/mo, dying phones excluded)
Our verdict
One of Apple's longest-lived phones, still receiving iOS 15 security updates over a decade later.
Pros
- Apple continued iOS 15 security updates (15.8.x) into 2026
- Compact, tough aluminum body with Touch ID
- Good 12MP camera for casual photos
Cons
- Small 1715 mAh battery that is almost always worn out
- Capped at iOS 15 with no water resistance
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 4.7-inch LCD (Retina HD IPS), 1334x750, 60Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Apple A9 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB / 32GB / 64GB / 128GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 12MP |
| front | 5MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 1,715 mAh |
| Charging | Lightning wired (up to ~12W) |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 138.3 × 67.1 × 7.1 mm |
| Weight | 143 g |
| Materials | Series 7000 aluminum unibody, glass front |
| Water resistance | None |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | iOS 9 at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Lightning |
| Update policy | ~7 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
How long will the iPhone 6s get updates?
Its highest major version is iOS 15, yet Apple kept shipping iOS 15 security updates (15.8.x) into 2026. Security-only patches may continue into roughly 2027, making it one of the longest-patched iPhones ever, even though feature updates ended years ago.
Is the iPhone 6s too old to use in 2026?
For basic tasks it can still work and still gets security patches, but its age, small battery and iOS 15 ceiling mean it cannot run many current apps. It is best as a backup.
Does the iPhone 6s support wireless charging?
No. It charges only over its Lightning port; wireless charging did not arrive on iPhones until the 2017 iPhone 8 and X.
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 2026-06-12.