Are iPhone updates necessary?

[CourierDriver]

So, I get the usual message that the iPhone gurus will be updating my phone at 2am eastern, my question is, is it necessary and if I reject the update whats the worst that can happen, my iPhone may be about 5 years old, I'm guessing, it works great at the moment...

 

[factorytuned2012]

Why wouldn’t you want the benefits of the update? Security and bug fixes would be beneficial. My iPhone is a 6 yrs old model and still getting updates.

 

[PandaBear]

In theory, if you don't update you can still use your phone. You may get security risk or compatibility issues with new apps you download (or unable to download), or some websites would not work right with your phone.

 

[Furious]

There has been some important security updates for iOS and Ipad OS in recent months you should have no real reason to not update.

 

[CourierDriver]

ok, but if my phone dies I will haunt you,,lol, im off to the mental hospital for an update.....

 

[dubber09]

Some older iPhones update only so far, if updates are not compatible it will not update past one point.

 

[AutoMechanic]

One time I denied updates on my old iPod Touch and then a few weeks later the screen of dark black and nothing came on and I couldn’t do anything. It’s dead forever don’t know if it was for the update or whatever. Now on my iPhones I don’t deny any updates.

 

[BMW Dom]

Just plug it in and update it?

 

[miden851]

an update if available, why not do it; consider it as a complementary cup of coffee

my dad has a Xs Max model and it still gets updates

 

[SC Maintenance]

I agree with updating for security.

However I had a 6s or maybe it was a 7 that worked fine but every update was just yet a bigger memory and battery hog. Planned obsolescence.

 

[Hall]

Some older iPhones update only so far, if updates are not compatible it will not update past one point.

If it tells you there's an update, it's compatible.

One time I denied updates on my old iPod Touch and then a few weeks later the screen of dark black and nothing came on and I couldn’t do anything. It’s dead forever don’t know if it was for the update or whatever. Now on my iPhones I don’t deny any updates.

Unrelated

 

[daves87rs]

Updates usually good….

 

[alarmguy]

17.6.1 just came out to update the update
It goes fast though, couple minutes

 

[javacontour]

As long as you have storage space, updates are good.

If one is close to using all their available storage, updating (not the update, but the process) can be an issue as you need space to store the downloaded update before it's applied to the phone.

Depending on the updates, they range from a few hundred MB to a GB or more.

If one is already having issues storing photos and so on, updating will be a struggle.