New iPhone - old Mac compatibility?

[Ombligo]

My son and his GF would like to get newer phones but both have older Macs.

His isn't too bad, Mid2012 MBP running Yosemite. He doesn't want to go to Mojave because he would lose CS6 and some other programs he uses for school. She is on my old 2009 Macbook unibody, also on Yosemite. So Mojave isn't an option for her.

So will going through the cloud eliminate the issue and let them get newer phones and not have a problem with compatabilty?

[jdc]

Yup. Skip the whole needing to attach it to computer notion -- you dont. We have 4 iPhones... never once hooked up to a mac. Theres just no need.

If they want backup... iCloud. 99¢ a month for 50 GB. Unless they are power users, should be plenty.

His 2012 MP could just go to Sierra or HS if he wants. Both are fine with CS 6.

[Gareth]

iOS 12 requires at least El Capitan (10.11), and the XS Max works with El Capitan. So presumably, if the Mac can run El Capitan they'd be fine. The 2012 definitely will, can't speak for the 2009 offhand. CS6 is also fine in El Capitan.

[ka jowct]

Sierra would be worth a try, also.

[GGD]

The system requirements for the latest iTunes is 10.10.5 (Yosemite), one would think it could backup the old phone and restore onto the new one.

https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Software:

OS X version 10.10.5 or later
400MB of available disk space
Apple Music, iTunes Store, and iTunes Match availability may vary by country
Apple Music trial requires sign-up and is available for new subscribers only. Plan automatically renews after trial.

[Gareth]

GGD wrote:
The system requirements for the latest iTunes is 10.10.5 (Yosemite), one would think it could backup the old phone and restore onto the new one.

One would think, but that does not make it so. I just went through this with my boss and her iPhone 6. She updated to iOS 12, and it would no longer sync with Yosemite (with latest iTunes). An error message popped up stating 10.11 was required. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8540034

Even though Apple's own vague article implies that only the XS and XS Max require 10.11. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209142

[OWC Jamie]

They use itunes for archived music on their older systems ?

[Rolando]

billb wrote:
They use itunes for archived music on their older systems ?

iTunes Match, $35/year.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204146

Included with AppleMusic

[jdc]

Gareth wrote:
One would think, but that does not make it so. I just went through this with my boss and her iPhone 6. She updated to iOS 12, and it would no longer sync with Yosemite (with latest iTunes). An error message popped up stating 10.11 was required. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8540034

One more example of the unncessary need to hookup to a computer.

Backup via iCloud, restore via iCloud -- like you never even got a new phone.

[NewtonMP2100]

......Apple forces you to upgrade even worse than it used to......you have to upgrade the OS and/or software for anything to work......you can't even activate an Apple Watch unless you have the very latest OS......