My laptop is older than that and I have no problem getting updates. Turns out tightly coupling hardware and software for general computing devices is not such a great idea for users or the environment.
Apple straight-up disallows MacOS updates on plenty of Macs that could easily update, too. I'd even argue they're worse than Microsoft about it; I heard about Opencore Legacy Patcher looooong before I knew people were modifying Windows 11 images to get a working install.
> you can argue that it's "easy" to install Linux on it
In my experience, the average Linux install wizard is less technically involved than the MacOS one. So yeah, maybe I would argue that.
Moot point. Both Microsoft and Apple expected the user to install their own OS in the past, and the world didn't explode because of it. If stuff like UEFI and bootloader unlocking was standard again, OS installation would be easy as plugging in a dongle and rebooting.
Plus, you still haven't touched the central point; tightly coupled software and hardware creates more e-waste. What people do today doesn't matter if they're never presented a serious alternative; if ignorance was a basis for removing functionality there would be nothing left of the modern smartphone.
Apple fans would say tightly coupled software and software is why Apple products are better than competitors. I don't fully agree but I can see the point.
They may be right. If that same system has proven harms though (or even simple conflicts-of-interest), Apple might have to find a new business model. The whole "we own your app store, we own your payment processor" shtick has really raised eyebrows in the international markets.
> iOS 15.8 is still powering those devices, seemingly with official Apple support, with the latest update from October the 25th, which addressed some security vulnerabilities.
> In reality, however, Apple seems to only be addressing some security issues in its older supported devices.
The author is surprised, reasonably IMO, that if a device is getting security updates, you are still exposed to known vulnerabilities.
For a tech competent user this is worse than clearly being out of support in which case you would retire the device.
The phone is almost 10 years old, the only thing Apple should do is send out a push notification warning users their device is no longer supported.