However, for all practical purposes, it has already reached that end of support life point as the updates that are coming out now are very few and far between as there are very few users out there. The problem is that very few app makers are developing for the iPhone 4s and iOS 9 anymore. . . all development and updates are targeted to iOS 10 and your son's phone is going to be left behind as his games slowly stop working if he updates them and they are need hardware or OS functions the phone doesn't have.
The apps he has will continue to work, but if they're updated, they may not. I suggest you turn off auto-update on apps if it is on.
The unlocked from original iPhone 4s has a hardware block for the CDMA signal, even though the phone itself is capable of a CDMA signal.
Finally, I gather you are basically going to use it as an iPod Touch through WIFI and not activate the cellular capabilities for your son. The 911 function will still work regardless. That should be no problem for security. . . iOS is inherently more secure than Android phones, even if not updated. Your son does not use it to access banking or other financial data over WIFI, I would imagine, so I would not worry using iOS 9.3.5.
At the time that iOS 10 was released, 92% of iPhone users were on iOS 9.3.5. Now, 88% have updated to iOS 10 or higher just a month after it was released.
Wow - great info.
Yep, this is basically his “training wheels” iphone. If he can demonstrate that he can take care of this, we’ll consider helping him get a better phone - in a couple of years.
Thanks so much.