Will iPhone 7 Still Work in 2026? The Ultimate Guide

Hi there! As an long-time iPhone user myself, you‘re probably wondering if your iPhone 7 will still be usable this year or if it‘s time to upgrade. The short answer is yes, the iPhone 7 will still power on and function in 2024 for basic needs. However, with the iPhone 7 now over 6 years old, its age is really starting to show in certain areas.

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll examine all the key factors to consider if sticking with the iPhone 7 is still a good idea in 2024 or if you‘ll be better off upgrading. I‘ll also provide helpful tips to improve your iPhone 7 experience and discuss the best ways to get an iPhone 7 for free or on the cheap this year. Let‘s dive in!

A Quick Refresher on the iPhone 7

Remember when the iPhone 7 first launched? It was September 2016 which feels like an eternity ago in technology years. Here‘s a quick recap of the iPhone 7‘s key specs and features when it was released:

• Apple‘s A10 Fusion chip (2.34 GHz quad-core)
• 4.7 inch Retina HD display (1334 x 750 resolution)
• 12MP rear camera with optical image stabilization
• 7MP front facing camera
• IP67 water / dust resistance
• iOS 10 (upgradable to iOS 15.7)
• 32, 128, or 256GB storage options
• Removed the 3.5mm headphone jack

At launch, the iPhone 7 started at $649 while the iPhone 7 Plus cost $769. Not cheap, but lower than today‘s iPhone 14 models which now start at $799 and $899.

iOS Support: How Long Will the iPhone 7 Get Software Updates?

iPhones typically get around 5 years of software support before Apple ends updates. The iPhone 7 originally shipped with iOS 10 and is now upgradable to iOS 15.7, the latest version as of January 2023. This gives iPhone 7 users access to great features like:

• FaceTime over cellular
• Live Text and Visual Look Up
• Walking Steadiness mobility metrics
• Wallet and Apple Pay Later
• Personalized spatial audio
• New smart features in Messages, Mail, and Safari

However, when iOS 16 arrives later in 2024, the iPhone 7 will not be compatible due to its A10 chip being too outdated. My guess is the iPhone 7 will continue receiving small iOS 15 updates with bug fixes and security patches until around September 2023. After that, 6 years after its initial release, Apple will likely stop software support.

So in summary, you can continue using iOS 15 on the iPhone 7 throughout 2023 but won‘t get any major new features anymore once iOS 16 is out.

Cellular Network Support: Will the iPhone 7 Work on 4G and 5G in 2024?

The iPhone 7 has the hardware to connect to 4G LTE networks. This means it will work fine on 4G LTE on major U.S. carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile in 2024 and beyond.

However, the iPhone 7 does not have a 5G modem. It cannot connect to 5G networks at all. While 5G coverage is still spotty in many areas, carriers continue expanding and improving their 5G networks. Over the next 1-2 years, not having 5G may start to be a noticeable downside for iPhone 7 users.

According to Opensignal‘s latest research, 5G connections in the U.S. are 2-10x faster than 4G LTE in both download speeds and upload speeds. As 5G becomes more widespread, iPhone 7 users will be stuck on the increasingly outdated 4G LTE technology.

App Support: Will Apps Still Work on the iPhone 7 in 2024?

The iPhone 7 and iOS 15 will be able to run most apps and games available on the App Store in 2024 without major issues. Developers generally make apps compatible with the latest iOS and 2-3 versions back.

However, as apps become more advanced and take advantage of new hardware features only available on newer iPhones, you may start running into some compatibility problems or degraded performance on the aging iPhone 7.

For example, newer 3D games optimized for the A15 Bionic chip and Metal 3 graphics may crash or have display glitches on the iPhone 7‘s dated A10 chip. Using AR apps could also result in a subpar, laggy experience. And multitasking between several demanding apps is noticeably slower than on modern iPhones.

While you‘ll be able to install and use most apps for now, expect a growing number of annoyances like longer load times and the inability to use certain features.

By 2024 and beyond, the app situation on the iPhone 7 will likely be quite frustrating as apps drop iOS 15 and earlier support. But in 2024 at least, app compatibility shouldn‘t be a major concern yet for iPhone 7 holdouts.

The Pros of Using an iPhone 7 in 2024

Here are some of the benefits that come with continuing to use an iPhone 7 this year:

• Lower cost – No need to spend $700+ on a new phone
• Light and compact 4.7-inch size
• headphone jack for wired audio
• Familiar interface if upgrading from older iPhone
• A10 Fusion chip still decent for calls, messaging, web, social apps
• Will work fine as a secondary device or for kids

The iPhone 7 remains a reliable, affordable option in 2024 for users who aren‘t super demanding and mainly use their phone for simple tasks like talking, texting, 2D gaming, and web browsing. It‘s totally fine for light home and office use.

The Cons of Using an iPhone 7 in 2024

However, there are some clear downsides with continuing to use a 6+ year old iPhone 7 in today‘s world:

• No 5G support – Stuck on increasingly outdated 4G LTE
• Won‘t get iOS 16 or any future major iOS versions
• Aging A10 processor struggles with newer 3D games
• Only IP67 water resistance
• Mediocre battery life compared to newer phones
• Subpar cameras and video recording capabilities
• Slow fingerprint sensor compared to Face ID
• No wireless charging

As you can see, the iPhone 7‘s dated hardware and lack of 5G make it tough to recommend for people who rely heavily on their smartphone‘s performance, cameras, and connection speeds.

Comparing iPhone 7 Benchmarks Against Newer Models

To demonstrate just how dated the iPhone 7‘s internals are in 2024, here‘s a benchmarks comparison against newer iPhones according to AnTuTu:

And Geekbench 5 scores:

As you can see, the iPhone 7‘s A10 chip is absolutely blown away by the processors in newer iPhones. In real world usage, this means much slower app load times, frequent lag and stuttering, and an inability to run more demanding apps and games smoothly.

What‘s the Best Way to Get an iPhone 7 for Free or Cheap in 2024?

If you decide to stick with the iPhone 7 for a bit longer, here are some tips to get one on the cheap:

• Buy used on Swappa – iPhone 7 models in good condition start around $60-$100
• Check local classifieds – Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist often have good deals on used iPhones
• Trade-in a device – Apple‘s trade-in program offers up to $40 credit for iPhone 7
• Carrier deal – AT&T offers free iPhone 7 with new line activation and unlimited data plan
• Ask friends or family – Someone may have an old iPhone 7 sitting in a drawer they‘d give you

I‘d avoid spending over $100 for a used iPhone 7 in 2024. There are just better values to be had on newer refurbished phones.

Should I Upgrade from My iPhone 7 This Year?

If you rely heavily on your iPhone, you will almost certainly notice a big improvement in performance, camera quality, battery life, and future-proofing by upgrading to a newer model like the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 this year.

Compared to the iPhone 7, here are some of the benefits you can expect from upgrading in 2024:

• Blazing fast 5G speeds where available
• A15 Bionic chip for lag-free gaming and multitasking
• Multi-lens rear cameras with Night mode for amazing photos
• Brighter OLED display with HDR
• Face ID facial recognition unlock
• All-day battery life
• Wireless and MagSafe charging
• Four more years of guaranteed iOS updates

Plus, with the new iPhone 14 out, you can find great carrier and trade-in deals on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models making it very affordable to upgrade from the dated iPhone 7. I highly recommend considering an upgrade in 2024 if you rely on your smartphone daily.

The Bottom Line

While the iPhone 7 will remain functional for basic use in 2024, its dated hardware like the lack of 5G and aging A10 processor make it hard to recommend for anyone who counts on their phone for great cameras, apps, performance, and connectivity.

Upgrading to a newer iPhone will provide a much better overall user experience thanks to major improvements in speed, display quality, battery life, and cameras. But if you just need a simple bare bones iPhone that can make calls, send texts, and browse the web, the iPhone 7 should fit the bill in 2024.

I hope this detailed guide helps you decide if sticking with the iPhone 7 is still a good idea or if upgrading is the smarter move this year. Let me know if you have any other questions!