From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

Q: How long after release does Apple still provide "security updates"?
A: It's a *lot* shorter than you think...

Note that people "think" Apple supports releases far longer than facts show since these dates are the *longest* possible support lengths we can get.

For example, for Microsoft Windows XP...
1. Windows XP was released on October 25, 2001
2. The last known security update was released on May 14, 2019
3. That is 6,421 days, or 17.59 years of security updates after release
The point is a "security update" is not a "full update" by any definition.

To be clear, I'm all about the truth. The factual truth. Not marketing BS. Hence, this thread is about security updates. It's not about full updates.

I may be wrong as this is a first pass at gathering the data, so please
take a look at this data I've compiled and let us all know what you think.

[Note I'm fitting everything to a single line so words change a bit.]

1. iPhone OS 1 was released on June 29, 2007
2. The last known security update was iPhone OS 1.1.5 on July 15, 2008
3. That is 382 days, or 1.05 years of security updates after release

1. iPhone OS 2 was released on July 11, 2008
2. The last known security update was iPhone OS 2.2.1 on January 27, 2009
3. That is 200 days, or 0.55 years of security updates after release

1. iPhone OS 3 was released on June 17, 2009
2. The last known security update was iPhone OS 3.2.2 on August 11, 2010
3. That is 420 days, or 1.15 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 4 was released on June 21, 2010
2. The last known security update was iOS 4.3.5 released on July 25, 2011
3. That is 399 days, or 1.09 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 5 was released on October 12, 2011
2. The last known security update was iOS 5.1.1 released on May 7, 2012
3. That is 208 days, or 0.57 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 6 was released on September 19, 2012
2. The last known security update was iOS 6.1.6 on February 21, 2014
3. That is 520 days, or 1.42 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 7 was released on September 18, 2013
2. The last known security update was iOS 7.1.2 released on June 30, 2014
3. That is 285 days, or 0.78 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 8 was released on September 17, 2014
2. The last known security update was iOS 8.4.1 released on August 13, 2015
3. That is 330 days, or 0.90 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 9 was released on September 16, 2015
2. The last known security update was iOS 9.3.6 released on July 22, 2019
3. That is 1,406 days, or 3.85 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 10 was released on September 13, 2016
2. The last known security update was iOS 10.3.4 released on July 22, 2019
3. That is 1,042 days, or 2.85 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 11 was released on September 19, 2017
2. The last known security update was iOS 11.4.1 released on July 9, 2018
3. That is 293 days, or 0.80 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 12 was released on September 17, 2018
2. The last known security update was iOS 12.5.7 on January 23, 2023
3. That is 1,589 days, or 4.35 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 13 was released on September 19, 2019
2. The last known security update was iOS 13.7 on September 1, 2020
3. That is 348 days, or 0.95 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 14 was released on September 16, 2020
2. The last known security update was iOS 14.8.1 on October 26, 2021
3. That is 405 days, or 1.11 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 15 was released on September 20, 2021
2. The last known security update was iOS 15.8.2 on January 22, 2024
3. That is 854 days, or 2.34 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 16 was released on September 12, 2022
2. The last known security update was iOS 16.7.10 on January 22, 2024
3. That is 497 days, or 1.36 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 17 was released on September 18, 2023
2. The last known security update was iOS 17.4.1 on March 21, 2024
3. That is 185 days, or 0.51 years of security updates after release

1. iOS 18 was released on September 16, 2024
2. The last known security update was iOS 18.3 on February 12, 2025
3. That is 149 days, or 0.41 years of security updates after release

For macOS, as far as I can tell, here's the data (please doublecheck).

1. Mac OS X 10.0 (Cheetah) was released on March 24, 2001
2. The last security update was Security Update 2002-07-12 on July 12, 2002
3. That is 475 days, or 1.30 years of security updates after release

1. Mac OS X 10.1 (Puma) was released on September 25, 2001
2. The last security update was Security Update 2003-06-09 on June 9, 2003
3. That is 622 days, or 1.70 years of security updates after release

1. Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar) was released on August 23, 2002
2. The last security update was Security Update 2004-05-24 on May 24, 2004
3. That is 640 days, or 1.75 years of security updates after release

1. Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) was released on October 24, 2003
2. The last security update was Security Update 2007-004 on April 19, 2007
3. That is 1,273 days, or 3.49 years of security updates after release

1. Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) was released on April 29, 2005
2. The last security update was Security Update 2009-005 on Sept 10, 2009
3. That is 1,596 days, or 4.37 years of security updates after release

1. Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) was released on October 26, 2007
2. The last security update was Security Update 2011-006 on Nov 9, 2011
3. That is 1,475 days, or 4.04 years of security updates after release

1. Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) was released on August 28, 2009
2. The last security update was Security Update 2013-004 on Sept 12, 2013
3. That is 1,477 days, or 4.04 years of security updates after release

1. OS X 10.7 (Lion) was released on July 20, 2011
2. The last security update was Security Update 2014-004 on Aug 13, 2014
3. That is 1,120 days, or 3.07 years of security updates after release

1. OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) was released on July 25, 2012
2. The last security update was Security Update 2015-006 on August 13, 2015
3. That is 1,114 days, or 3.05 years of security updates after release

1. OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) was released on October 22, 2013
2. The last security update was Security Update 2016-003 on July 18, 2016
3. That is 1,000 days, or 2.74 years of security updates after release

1. OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) was released on October 16, 2014
2. The last security update was Security Update 2017-005 on July 19, 2017
3. That is 1,007 days, or 2.76 years of security updates after release

1. OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) was released on September 30, 2015
2. The last security update was Security Update 2018-003 on July 9, 2018
3. That is 1,013 days, or 2.77 years of security updates after release

1. macOS 10.12 (Sierra) was released on September 20, 2016
2. The last security update was Security Update 2019-004 on July 22, 2019
3. That is 1,035 days, or 2.83 years of security updates after release

1. macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) was released on September 25, 2017
2. The last security update was Security Update 2020-006 on Sept 24, 2020
3. That is 1,095 days, or 3.00 years of security updates after release

1. macOS 10.14 (Mojave) was released on September 24, 2018
2. The last security update was Security Update 2021-005 on July 21, 2021
3. That is 1,031 days, or 2.82 years of security updates after release

1. macOS 10.15 (Catalina) was released on October 7, 2019
2. The last security update was Security Update 2022-005 on July 20, 2022
3. That is 1,017 days, or 2.79 years of security updates after release

1. macOS 11 (Big Sur) was released on November 12, 2020
2. The last security update was Security Update 2023-005 on Sept 11, 2023
3. That is 1,034 days, or 2.83 years of security updates after release

1. macOS 12 (Monterey) was released on October 25, 2021
2. The last security update was Security Update 2024-002 on Jan 22, 2024
3. That is 820 days, or 2.25 years of security updates after release

1. macOS 13 (Ventura) was released on October 24, 2022
2. The last security update was macOS Ventura 13.6.6 on March 25, 2024
3. That is 518 days, or 1.42 years of security updates after release

1. macOS 14 (Sonoma) was released on September 26, 2023
2. The last security update was macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 on March 21, 2024
3. That is 177 days, or 0.49 years of security updates after release

If those numbers are correct, then we can make an educated assessment:

LONGEST:
A. The longest iOS support (but that's not FULL support) = 4.35 years
B. The longest macOS support (but not FULL support) = 4.37 years

SHORTEST:
A. The shortest iOS support (but that's not FULL support) = 0.55 years
B. The shortest macOS support (but not FULL support) = 1.30 years

AVERAGE:
A. The average iOS support (but that's not FULL support)
Sum = 25.52 years (for completed versions)
Count = 16 versions (have completed)
Average = 26.14 / 18 = 1.59 years
B. The average macOS support (but that's not FULL support)
Sum = 53.17 years
Count = 19
Average = 2.80 years

Note that this FACT is likely far shorter than most people think it is.
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

...Arlen decides to release another inherently dishonest comparison.


On 2026-03-27 12:13, Maria Sophia wrote:

Q: How long after release does Apple still provide "security updates"?
A: It's a *lot* shorter than you think...

Note that people "think" Apple supports releases far longer than facts show since these dates are the *longest* possible support lengths we can get.

For example, for Microsoft Windows XP...
1. Windows XP was released on October 25, 2001
2. The last known security update was released on May 14, 2019
3. That is 6,421 days, or 17.59 years of security updates after release
The point is a "security update" is not a "full update" by any definition.

So why don't you mention any other Microsoft OS?

Why is it you want to take a single data point from other companies'
products and compare it against the AVERAGE for Apple products?

To be clear, I'm all about the truth. The factual truth. Not marketing BS. Hence, this thread is about security updates. It's not about full updates.

Lying with "facts" is a well known pattern from you.
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

I'm agnostic when it comes to Apple versus Android.
I only care about the truth.

I speak logically sensibly about all operating systems, not just iOS.

My ego isn't tied to a platform's marketing genius.
My ego is tied to gaining an adult understanding of the truth.

Given I don't defend any mothership to the death, no matter what, I took
Tom Elam up on his offer to get from the Android newsgroup the same kind of statistics we've been gathering for this iOS newsgroup on full OS support.
*What is the reality of the Samsung 7-years of S-series support?*

Newsgroups: comp.mobile.android
Subject: What is the reality of the Samsung 7-years of S-series support?
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2026 22:39:49 -0700
Message-ID: <10rhvj6$1c3i$[email protected]>

It's complicated...

Q: What is the reality of the Samsung 7-years of S-series support?
A: ?

Everyone banters about this word "support" but it has distinct meanings
that I'm confused about when it comes to what Samsung's promise means.

Samsung's "7-years" is especially confusing (to me at least) because of
their policy to "slow down" updates on older phones, even as they are still under what appears to be "full support" and the typical policies of only
fully updating the latest Android version (& not earlier Android versions).

So what's Samsung's new S-series 7-years-of-support policy, really?

Q: How many levels of support does Samsung promise for new devices?
A: ?

Does Samsung's 7-year promise for the new S-series devices include...
a. All known bugfixes for all known bugs (in their control)
b. All known security vulnerabilities for all known security flaws
b. All known enhancements for all known modules (in their control)
c. Seven operating system updates (+ the original operating system)
d. Any and all those fixes on a regular (i.e., monthly?) schedule?
e. Or, does that schedule slow down over time but still promise all?
f. Are the security fixes SIMULTANEOUS on all 7 of those Android upgrades?
g. ? any others ?

With iOS, it's a lot easier to calculate because Apple has never in its
history ever simultaneously fully supported more than a single release.

All other OS vendors have simultaneously fully supported multiple releases.

As for the definition of "full support", we must make a point that fixing a random bug in any OS is not full support. Full support means something well documented by Apple but for other operating systems, it's not so easy.

But full support includes fixing every known bug that can be fixed.
An example of what is NOT full support is WinXP fixed bugs for 18 years.
1. Windows XP was released on October 25, 2001
2. The last known security update was released on May 14, 2019
3. That is 6,421 days, or 17.59 years of security updates after release

Also, we have to keep in mind that software support is not the same as
hardware support, where we calculated on the iOS newsgroup this summary:

The average iOS SOFTWARE support (this is per release only!)
a. Sum = 25.52 years (for completed versions)
b. Count = 16 versions (have completed)
c. Average = 26.14 / 18 = 1.59 years

As for the iOS HARDWARE full-security-updates (AFAIK)
a. Longest full iOS support: 6.99 years (iPhone XS / XS Max)
b. Shortest full iOS support: 2.37 years (iPhone 3G)
c. Average full iOS support: 5.10 years

Given all these varying definitions of "support"...

This question is asked so that we can, together, nail down what Samsung actually means when they claim "7 years of "support" for the S-series.
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

On Apr 12, 2026 at 10:44:51 PM MST, "Maria Sophia" wrote <10rhvsj$e4d$[email protected]>:

I'm agnostic when it comes to Apple versus Android.
I only care about the truth.

Starting off with an obvious lie is not a good way to begin!

I speak logically sensibly about all operating systems, not just iOS.

My ego isn't tied to a platform's marketing genius.

Your ego is tied to putting iOS down, even if you do so with ignorance.

My ego is tied to gaining an adult understanding of the truth.

Another lie from you.

Given I don't defend any mothership to the death, no matter what,

You attack Apple products with lies for trolling fun.

...
--
It's impossible for someone who is at war with themselves to be at peace with you.
--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

Maria Sophia wrote:

This question is asked so that we can, together, nail down what Samsung actually means when they claim "7 years of "support" for the S-series.

Given my 2021 free el-cheapo Samsung had 4 years of full support, I don't
think it at all difficult, nowadays, for Samsung to provide 7 years.

Galaxy Tab S10+
Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra <https://sammyguru.com/galaxy-tab-s10-and-s10-ultra-receive-updates-for-seven-years/>

Also these (see reference below).
Galaxy Tab S10 FE
Galaxy Tab S10 FE+

Note this article above covers all Galaxy phones, apparently, even mine:
*Here's every Samsung device eligible for 7 major Android updates*
<https://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-android-updates-1148888/>

But, apparently there's a catch in that it's quarterly, not monthly.
<https://www.phonearena.com/news/galaxy-tab-s10-updates_id163563>

--- Synchronet 3.21f-Linux NewsLink 1.2