Bad news if you're still using an iPhone 5 or iPhone 5c: your phone is almost at the end of its life. Following the announcement of iOS 11 - the latest version of the iPhone and iPad operating system - Apple confirmed that the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c won’t be getting the update when it launches sometime around September.
In addition to missing out on new features, the move also means neither the iPhone 5 or iPhone 5c will get security and stability updates.
Apple isn't just discontinuing support for the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c because they're old, but because it's abandoning 32-bit compatibility entirely. The iPhone 5 and the iPhone 5c were the last two iPhones made with 32-bit processors; newer iPhones use a 64-bit chip instead.
The upshot is that a 64-bit processor can process information much faster, allowing it to make use of up to four billion times more physical memory than a 32-bit counterpart.
In the same vein, iOS 11 won't run 32-bit applications. Apple's been requiring developers to build 64-bit apps since 2015, so this shouldn't affect too many users. However, if you're using an older app that hasn't been updated in a couple of years, there's a chance it won't work when you upgrade to iOS 11.
The iPhone 5 and 5c will be five and four years old when Apple drops support, and will have seen four and three major operating system updates respectively. For comparison, Android flagship smartphones are lucky to see two.
If you've got an iPhone 5s, you're still okay for now - your phone will get upgrade to iOS 11.
If you've got an iPhone 5 or iPhone 5c, you might want to start thinking about upgrading. Your phone won't stop working after iOS 11 comes out, but the reality is the longer you are without update support the greater the chance that an unresolved security flaw will turn up in your device.
If you like the small 4-inch form factor, the iPhone SE could be right up your alley. And if you'd prefer something else, you can start comparing phone plans and devices here.
Alex Choros
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