Is the Apple iPhone XS still supported?
End-of-support date: September 2027.
Time until support ends
Our estimateSeptember 2027
Source: Apple's documentation · verified 2026-06-12
What happens when support ends
- 🔓 Security risk grows monthly. New vulnerabilities are discovered constantly; on an unsupported phone they are never fixed. Banking, payments, email, and password apps become progressively riskier.
- 📱 Apps drop off. Developers raise their minimum OS requirements over time — first you lose updates to apps, then the apps themselves.
- 💸 Resale value falls fast.The market prices support: once a phone leaves a manufacturer's update list, its used value drops sharply and keeps falling.
More questions about the iPhone XS
How long will the iPhone XS get updates?
It supports iOS 18 and is still receiving security updates in 2026. With no formal Apple policy, history suggests patches should continue into roughly 2027.
What is the difference between the iPhone XS and XS Max?
They are nearly identical in chip, cameras and software. The XS has a smaller 5.8-inch screen and lighter body, while the XS Max has a 6.5-inch display and a larger battery.
Should I replace the battery on a used iPhone XS?
Often yes. The 2658 mAh battery is small by modern standards and most units are years old, so a battery replacement greatly improves daily usability.
Safer alternatives
All three carry a GREEN Safe-to-Buy badge today.
Data sources & last verified: this phone's support window comes from documented update history (estimate — see our methodology), last verified 2026-06-12. How we compute end dates.