iPhone 7 users are angry about not being able to upgrade to iOS 16

iOS 16 will bring major changes and customization to the lock screen, iMessage, and Wallet wallet… For a long time, iPhone users wanted Apple to give them greater personalization, and it was finally met with iOS 16. However, many users of older iPhones, including iPhone 7/7 Plus, are not allowed to "upgrade" to the new operating system.

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus launched in September 2016. iPhone 7 Plus is the first iPhone equipped with a dual-lens camera cluster. Both models remove the physical Home button, replacing it with taptic touch technology. The iPhone 7 also marks the end of the headphone jack.

With iOS 15, Apple supports older devices such as the second-generation iPhone SE, iPhone 7, 7 Plus. While everyone expected iOS 16 to 'abandon' the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus, and iPod touch, Apple's omission of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus was a surprise.

After the first day of WWDC 2022, iPhone 7 users shared their disappointment on social networks. 'Wow, surprise, they kicked 7/7+,' one person wrote on the MacRumors forums. Other customers complained on Twitter. Almost all share the same feeling of dissatisfaction because Apple did not give a reason for its decision.

'Apple not supporting iOS 16 on iPhone 7 is probably the weirdest thing I've ever known. Worst of all, iPads that are weaker than iPhone 7 still get the new iOS. What logic is this,' wrote Twitter user @Not_Prasar.

The most likely explanation is that the A10 Fusion chip in the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus is not powerful enough to run iOS 16 and all the new features. However, the 6th and 7th generation iPads that also use the A10 Fusion chip are upgraded to iPadOS 16. Moreover, the 5th generation iPads, equipped with the A9 chip which is more outdated than the A10 Fusion chip, is also supported by iPadOS 16. While iOS and iPadOS are different, they share many of the same features and underlying technologies.

In theory, Apple could still support iOS 16 on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus but disable some 'heavyweight' features. By doing so, iPhone 7 users will still benefit from iOS 16's security and performance improvements, as well as minor tweaks like the ability to edit iMessages, which don't require a huge CPU.

Keeping certain features for newer iPhones (in the case of iOS 16, iPhones with the A12 Bionic chip or higher) is not a recent occurrence. It's a familiar Apple practice. The company has yet to comment on this.

Lesley Montoya

Update 10 June 2022