Apple has seeded Release Candidates for iOS 15.7.7 and iOS 14.8.7 to developers. These updates are security-focused releases for devices that cannot run iOS 26, giving older iPhones continued protection without requiring a hardware upgrade.
iOS 15.7.7 is for iPhones that top out at iOS 15, primarily iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and the original iPhone SE. iOS 14.8.7 targets the even older iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s, which cannot run iOS 15. Both RCs signal that public releases are imminent, typically arriving within a day or two of the RC seed.
Who Should Install
If you or someone you know is still on an iPhone 6s, original iPhone SE, iPhone 6, or iPhone 5s, these updates matter. Apple consistently backports critical security patches to legacy branches, and RC seeds are the last step before a public release. Full release notes will be available on Apple’s security releases page once the updates ship publicly.
What to Expect
Release Candidates are functionally equivalent to the final release. If you are a registered developer on one of these older devices, you can install the RC now. Everyone else should see the public update hit Settings within the next day or two.
To update, go to Settings, General, Software Update and tap Download and Install when the update appears.