Report: No iOS 15 Update for Apple iPhone 6, Original iPhone SE

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(iPhone 6s)

Those who are content with an older iPhone, or can’t afford an upgrade at the moment, could soon be left in the dust, according to Israeli publication The Verifier (via Apple Insider).

It seems that Apple could soon be planning to end support for OS updates on devices like the original iPhone SE as well as the iPhone 6 series when iOS 15 debuts next year.

Currently, both devices support the most recent version of the operating system, which is iOS 14. The Verifier’s report doesn’t delve into what might have influenced this potential decision, but it isn’t the first time Apple has elected to omit older devices from OS updates.

In 2019, Apple offerred iPhone 5, 5s, iPhone 6, sixth-generation iPod touch, first-generation iPad Air, and third-generation iPad mini with iOS 12.4.3 patches instead of upgrades to iOS 13, AppleInsider notes.

Before that, Apple offered iOS 12 to phones only as old as the iPhone 5s, dating back to 2013. This isn’t a new practice by any means, but it does end up potentially opening up older devices to flaws and security breaches patched in future updates, in this case any upgrade to iOS 15 in the future. There’s also the possibility that some apps will simply stop working once the older iOS devices are unable to be updated to the newest version of the software.

Apple hasn’t made any official announcements; we likely won’t hear anything until WWDC 2021. If you’ve been eyeing a new iPhone, check out our comparison of the newest iPhone 12 lineup and the video below.

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Apple iPhone 12 Mini review: Pint-sized power

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If you’re looking to buy a new iPhone in 2020, you’ve frankly got a ton of options. From the super-affordable $399 iPhone SE to the $1,199 iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple now offers an iPhone in every pricing tier. But beyond pricing, it also offers iPhones in a variety of sizes. While you previously had to pick up an iPhone SE to get something on the smaller side, Apple’s new iPhone 12 Mini is a fantastic mixture of premium and pint-sized.

But what are you missing out on by picking up Apple’s iPhone 12 Mini, and is it actually comfortable to use? Find out in Android Authority‘s iPhone 12 Mini review.

About this iPhone 12 Mini review: We spent seven days with the iPhone 12 Mini. It was running iOS 14.1. Android Authority purchased the unit directly from Apple for the purpose of this review.

What is the iPhone 12 Mini?

iPhone 12 Mini back held up with hand 1

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

The iPhone 12 Mini is the smallest of the four iPhone 12 models that Apple released in the second half of 2020. It is effectively a miniature version of the standard iPhone 12. It even sports the exact same internals, not counting battery capacity, making it one of the fastest small phones you can get in 2020. With Apple’s class-leading A14 Bionic SoC and stellar camera system, it might be hard to find competition in this form factor.

The display of the iPhone 12 Mini is just 5.4-inches, which is quite a bit smaller than even Google’s tiniest offering for the year, the Pixel 4a. While small screens are often compensated by big bezels, the iPhone 12 Mini doesn’t have this problem. It sports the same minimal bezels as the bigger, more expensive iPhone 12 models. This means the phone still feels fairly immersive, even in a body this small. While it certainly won’t be as immersive as most phones with bigger displays, the small form factor is great for those who like their phone to take up as little space as possible.

Is it comfortable to use?

iPhone 12 Mini screen in hand 1

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

For me, the iPhone 12 Mini is incredibly comfortable to use. It’s refreshing to use a phone where I can reach the top of the screen with my thumb. That said, two-handed typing can feel a bit cramped compared to a larger display. I almost always opted…

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iPhone 12 Problems Confirmed, Powerful iPhone Leaks, Your New Magical MacBook

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Taking a look back at another week of news and headlines from Cupertino, this week’s Apple Loop includes iPhone 12 audio problems, a powerful iPhone 13 leak, reviews of the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops, the power of the M1 chip, macOS Big Sur bricking older Macs, the lower App Store commission rate, Apple settling iPhone throttling case, and the M1 takes on the first ARM chip…

Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the very many discussions that have happened around Apple over the last seven days (and you can read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes).

iPhone 12 Audio Issues Confirmed By Apple

From the iPhone 12 Mini to the iPhone 12 Pro Max, Apple’s latest iPhone family has been picking up critical acclaim. But faults and flaws have also been noticed, from issues with the MagSafe charger to increased repair costs. Now another has been confirmed by Apple. Forbes’ Gordon Kelly reports:

“Apple has released an official support document confirming that iPhone 12 models have “sound quality issues” when connecting to some Made for iPhone hearing devices.

“…While some may consider this a niche (if unpleasant) problem, the reality is one in eight people in the United States (13% / 30 million) aged 12 years or older has hearing loss in both ears, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).Understandably, users are frustrated with long threads on Reddit and Apple Support Communities.

Apple is expected to address the fault in a December iOS update. More here on Forbes.

iPhone 13’s Powerful Suprise

Apple is expected to use new battery technology in next year’s iPhone 13, according to noted industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. His latest report notes the potential use of ’soft board batteries’, which allows for more energy to be stored in the same space – a feature that could offer more battery life in the iPhone 13 family or…

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Apple Confirms Serious New Problems For iPhone 12 Users

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Apple’s new iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are selling like hot cakes. But Apple has now quietly confirmed, they are also selling with a serious hardware problem. 

MORE FROM FORBESApple Reveals New AirPods Design In New iOS 14.3 ReleaseBy Gordon Kelly

According to an internal apple document obtained by MacRumors, Apple has acknowledged that iPhone 12 models are suffering from significant display issues, including flickering, green and gray glowing and a variety of other lighting problems. 

Interestingly, despite users posting some extreme examples of their discolored iPhone 12 displays (see below), Apple’s internal document told Authorized Service Providers “to avoid servicing affected iPhones, at least for now.” While this may anger owners, I suspect the reason is Apple will first attempt to try and fix (or at least mitigate) some of these problems with iOS updates. 

Apple gives no timeline for this, however history does. Apple’s previous iPhone 11 range also suffered from green tint problems and, while the company did replace some units under warranty, it managed to address milder cases in iOS 13.6.1, which arrived about two months after the first reported problems. 

With leaks around Apple’s next-gen iPhone 13 already revealing its display will be one of the biggest upgrades, hopes will be high that this issue won’t occur for a third successive generation. That said, this won’t be much comfort to those stuck in limbo right now. 

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More On Forbes

Apple Insider Reveals Major iPhone 13 Display Upgrade

Apple Reveals New AirPods Design In New iOS 14.3 Release

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Apple to pay $113M settlement over its iPhone ‘batterygate’ slowdowns

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Apple landed in hot water over its handling of users’ batteries.


iFixit

Apple is paying $113 million to settle an investigation by 34 states and the District of Columbia over the company’s practice of slowing down the performance of older iPhones when their batteries degrade. The practice wasn’t announced by Apple but rather proved by internet sleuths. That led regulators and customers alike to criticize the company for not being forthcoming, particularly when asked about it in the past.

“Big Tech must stop manipulating consumers and tell them the whole truth about their practices and products,” Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who helped lead the investigation, said in a statement. “I’m committed to holding these goliath technology companies to account if they conceal the truth from their users.” Apple will pay Arizona in particular $5 million, with the rest split among other states. The Washington Post earlier reported the news.

In court filings, Apple said it had agreed to the settlement to resolve the investigation, but it added that “nothing contained herein may be taken as or construed to be an admission or concession of any violation of law, rule, or regulation, or of any other matter of fact or law, or of any liability or wrongdoing, all of which Apple expressly denies.” 

“No part of this judgment, including its statements and commitments, shall constitute evidence of any liability, fault, or wrongdoing by Apple,” the company said in the filings.

The news is the latest example of how big tech is coming under ever more scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers. Though the “batterygate” saga, as it’s known, happened before larger tech scandals like

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