Apple recently rolled out the iOS 26.2.1 and iPadOS 26.2.1 updates for its latest devices. However, the company also pushed a surprise update to several older models, including the 13-year-old iPhone 5s and the 12-year-old iPhone 6.
iOS 12.5.8 and iPadOS 12.5.8 have been rolled out by Apple for several older devices. Users with an iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air, iPad mini 2/mini 3, or an iPod touch (6th gen) are recommended to install the new update.
The update doesn’t bring any new features, but it extends the certifications required to run iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation. Therefore, it is important to install the update if you want to use the above devices after January 2027.
Apple released the iOS 12 update eight years ago, and it’s nice to see that the company is still providing support for older devices. Notably, Apple had previously seeded a security update for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6 in 2023.
