Sometimes you just don’t want the latest and greatest smartphone. Whether you’re on a budget, want certain niche features, or just prefer older designs, there are plenty of reasons to go vintage when it comes to picking up a new phone.
However, buying an older phone isn’t without its challenges. For one thing, it can be hard to find the exact model you’re after, especially if you’re looking to buy a factory-new handset. Older iPhones – especially Pro and Pro Max models – can be very hard to come by even as soon as two years after launch.
So, with all of these factors in mind, what is the oldest phone you can – or should – still use in 2026?
The oldest box-new phone
If you’re looking to buy a box-new phone, then the oldest units you’ll find in factory new condition are likely to be only a few years old.
For Apple fans, you’re still able to find new iPhone 13 models on pre-paid plans from carriers like Verizon, but might struggle to find the same units unlocked. In the UK, the oldest iPhone I can see for sale new is the iPhone 12, which Laptops Direct still has in stock.
As for Android, you can still find a good supply of Samsung Galaxy S22, Google Pixel 7, and OnePlus 12 series phones at retailers. There are many, many brands of Android phones that vary quite a lot by region, so mileage may vary depending on manufacturer.
The oldest supported phone
If you’re willing to shop used or refurbished, your main concern when buying an older phone should be whether it’s still supported. Ideally you want a phone with one or two operating system updates left in its lifespan, but even if that’s out of the question, you absolutely need a phone that’s still getting security support if you plan to use it while connected to the internet.
According to Apple’s security patch log page, the oldest version of iOS that got any kind of security patch in 2025 was iOS 15.8.5 – meaning the oldest phone that got security updates last year was the iPhone 6S, released in 2015. Not bad – but do keep in mind that some apps, and even newer releases of staple apps, might not run on this older version of iOS.
It’s worth noting that the oldest iPhone that can run iOS 26 – the latest version – is the iPhone 11 (released in 2019). You might want to pick up an iPhone 12 or newer if you plan on using any upcoming features, as the iPhone 11 is now next in line to be dropped.
On the Android side of things, the oldest version of Android still listed in Google’s Android Security Bulletin updates is Android 13, meaning any phone that runs Android 13 or newer can be considered a safe pick.
That means the oldest widely available phone still covered by Android security patches could be the Google Pixel 4, released in October 2019, which received Android 13 as its final major OS update. The Samsung Galaxy S20 and OnePlus 9 families can also run Android 13.
As for phones that can run Android 16 – the latest version – we’re looking at the Samsung Galaxy S22 series (plus the Galaxy S21 FE), the Google Pixel 6 family, and the OnePlus 11 series. Google cinches it again on this one, as the Google Pixel 6 was released in October 2021, beating the respective 2022 and 2023 launches by Samsung and OnePlus.
Classic phones and staying safe
As I covered in a recent piece, the iPhone 4 has surged in popularity lately due to demand for its digital camera, which retro tech lovers prize for its charm and Y2K-style aesthetic. And for collectors, old and obsolete phones can be a real prize.
However, if you’re dead-set on buying a phone that’s so old it no longer gets security updates, there are a few security measures you need to take to stay safe.
You should keep any phone that no longer gets security updates disconnected from wireless networks with no SIM card inserted, and avoid inputting any sensitive or personal data. And be sure to move any files off of the phone with a wired connection to a trusted device.
By following these steps you can protect your nostalgic fun against hackers and malware.
So, overall, the oldest “usable” phone for daily use is probably the iPhone 6S, which seems to still get security support from Apple – but there’s no predicting whether this will last much longer. Personally, I’d recommend getting a daily driver that can run the latest version of your preferred operating system, which would make 2019’s iPhone 11 the front-runner (or…. back-runner?). For Android fans we have to get even more recent with the Google Pixel 6, released in 2021.
If you’re blast-from-the-pasted out, feel free to check out our guides to the best iPhones, best Android phones, and best phones overall for a refresher on the latest and greatest handsets – and let us know your favorite classic phone in the comments below.
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jamie.richards@futurenet.com (Jamie Richards)
