Can I upgrade to iOS 16 or Higher

Candidly Tom this is what I expected for an answer. I was looking for a way to comment on the fact that Apple is still killing off the iPhones (and other devices we so lovingly repair in the IFIXIT / Right to Repair Movement by having it's app writers craft software that effectively orphans otherwise perfectly functional pieces of our private property. It does seem to me that this is a significant issue. I am sitting on a dead iPhone 4 and iPad that Apple has made essentially useless for internet use.

There is apparant collusion between the app writers in my immediate case the NYTimes to whom I pay a subscription fee for services that have just been make unworkable on a perfectly functional iPhone.

Make no mistake that this is a way for Apple to force me and other hardware owners to buy a new iPhone 15 for $1K and boost their lagging sales. It seems to me that this sort of thing is a real issue that Right to Repair orgs should consider addressing.

@richardleverett The iPhone 6s was released nearly 9 years ago. It is still currently getting security updates too. Software evolves and there is a point where a device just can’t feasibly run the latest version. In my experience the iPhone 6s was a laggy mess on iOS 15 anyway so 16 would be a nightmare. Also, nobody is forcing you to get the 15. The SE is $429 direct from Apple (and a whole lot cheaper with carrier deals), has the performance of the iPhone 13, and the form factor of the 8, which has the form factor of the 7 which has the form factor of the 6. Not to mention the deals that you could get on a used device.

Agree with Duck. Eventually they will stop supporting a device. Not only mobiles, but every device from soundbar, to game consoles. It’s not just Apple, Samung is doing the same. It’s just what it is I’m afraid. At some point the parts will not be for sale as well… To answer your question, no, this is currently not possible, just like Tom said.

Duck and koppie007:

Everything you say about the iPhone 6S on 15 is true however I still frankly resent having my investment this hardware trashed by new hardware and software. Regular upgrades were justified when each new generation of hardware provided substantial innovations and speed enhancements. This level of quantum improvement is for most users of and iPhone no longer the case. The phones are good enough and outside of security and bug fixes major improvements are not being delivered.

I am not likely to buy a SE or other halfway measure because the whole point of buying the top of the line fully loaded iPhone direct from Apple sans carrier contract is to pay for it upfront and have the phone last a decade like the fully loaded iPhone 6s did. With a IFIXIT battery transport my iPhone 6s is going strong but is being killed off. I at least got to skip all the iPhones between the 6S and 15, 15 Pro (or maybe 16 Pro) and have not contracts with carriers.

Wish we had better news for you... But unfortunately the app developers for NYtimes decided to stop supporting iOS 15 for their app. This is because, so that they can focus on new functions which were launched for iOS 16 and 17. And don't need to put effort in the old version (security and bug fixes) for updating and writing it (app). So actually to make the (new) app better. Also Apple decides that the iPhone 6S is too old for updating to iOS 16 or 17 (which is because Duck said, software and hardware are evolving over time). I'm afraid that when app developers are going to stop writing apps for iOS 15, it's time to move on to a new device. Also, when Apple stops writing security updates, it's time to move on as well.