Apple is sounding the alarm bells for owners of older iPhone models. The tech giant has updated its list of obsolete and vintage iPhones, devices that will soon stop receiving critical software updates from the company.

When it comes to consumer technology, obsolescence is an inevitability. But for iPhone users, it carries serious security implications that can put their personal data and online activities at risk.

Apple’s decision to deem an iPhone “obsolete” means that the company will no longer provide software updates, including crucial security patches, for that particular model. In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, an unpatched iPhone becomes a sitting duck for malicious actors looking to exploit vulnerabilities.

“Obsolete devices including iPhones will all at some point see their free updates come to a halt, putting them at risk to any vulnerabilities that are found after that date,” warns Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET.

The consequences of using an obsolete iPhone are twofold. First, there’s the immediate risk of attackers gaining access to your device through unpatched security holes. In a worst-case scenario, they could potentially take complete control of your iPhone, compromising your personal data, financial information, and online accounts.

But even in the best-case scenario, where your device remains untouched by malicious actors, an obsolete iPhone is still a ticking time bomb. Without regular software updates, it will gradually become sluggish, buggy, and incompatible with the latest apps and services, rendering it increasingly unusable over time.

In its latest update, Apple has added several iPhone models to its obsolete and vintage lists. The former includes devices that are no longer eligible for repair or service, while the latter covers models that can still receive limited support, albeit with dwindling availability of replacement parts.

Among the newly obsolete iPhones are some once-popular models, including the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5C, and iPhone 6 Plus. These devices have now joined the ranks of earlier iPhones, such as the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, which have long been deemed obsolete by Apple.

Here are the iPhones no longer supported (obsolete):

• iPhone
• iPhone 3G (China mainland) 8GB
• iPhone 3G 8GB, 16GB
• iPhone 3GS (China mainland) 16GB, 32GB
• iPhone 3GS (8GB)
• iPhone 3GS 16GB, 32GB
• iPhone 4 CDMA
• iPhone 4 CDMA (8GB)
• iPhone 4 16GB, 32GB
• iPhone 4 GSM (8GB), Black
• iPhone 4S
• iPhone 4S (8GB)
• iPhone 5C
• iPhone 5S
• iPhone 6 Plus

On the vintage list, notable additions include the iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, and the original iPhone SE. While these models may still receive occasional security updates for critical vulnerabilities, their days are numbered, and Apple’s support for them will soon come to an end.

Here are the vintage iPhones worldwide (partially supported):

• iPhone 4 (8GB)
• iPhone 5
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6s (32GB)
• iPhone 6s Plus (32GB)
• iPhone SE
• iPhone 8 Red
• iPhone 8 Plus Red

For users still clinging to these aging iPhone models, the message from Apple and cybersecurity experts is clear: it’s time to upgrade or face the consequences.

“If people are using iPhones that are out of patch warranty—although it’s frustrating—they should consider replacing them with a newer, more secure device,” advises Moore.

While older iPhones may not be specifically targeted by attackers due to their dwindling user base, the risk remains significant. “Older iPhones still remain in circulation and once a vulnerability is located, it can rapidly be exploited by attackers and directed at anyone with devices left unpatched,” warns Moore.

Update June 2, 2024: Added iPhone 5s to obsolete list.