Apple iPhone 7
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 ~10-year update track record — on that basis the iPhone 7 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.
17% cheaper than the under-$300 median ($6.74/mo, dying phones excluded)
Our verdict
The iPhone that killed the headphone jack, now a cheap device still getting security patches.
Pros
- Apple continued iOS 15 security updates (15.8.x) into 2026
- Water-resistant (IP67) compact body with Touch ID
- Plenty fast for messaging, calls and light apps
Cons
- Capped at iOS 15 with no new features or modern apps
- No headphone jack and no wireless charging
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 A10 Fusion |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage | 32GB / 128GB / 256GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 12MP |
| front | 7MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 1,960 mAh |
| Charging | Lightning wired (up to ~15W) |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 138.3 × 67.1 × 7.1 mm |
| Weight | 138 g |
| Materials | Aluminum unibody, glass front |
| Water resistance | IP67 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | iOS 10 at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Lightning |
| Update policy | ~6 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 7 get updates?
Its top major version is iOS 15, yet Apple kept releasing iOS 15 security updates (15.8.x) into 2026. These security-only patches may continue into roughly 2027, but feature updates ended years ago.
Does the iPhone 7 have a headphone jack?
No. The iPhone 7 was the first iPhone to remove the 3.5mm jack, requiring Lightning headphones, an adapter or wireless audio.
Can the iPhone 7 run modern apps in 2026?
Many newer apps now require iOS 16 or later, so some will not install or update on the iPhone 7. It is best for basic use rather than the latest software.
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.