How Old Is Too Old for an ipTIME Router? Which Models Still Get Firmware, by Launch Year
TL;DR
- None of the 133 ipTIME routers launched in 2016 or earlier got firmware 16.00.8, released on November 11, 2026, and 126 of them got no firmware at all in the last 12 months.
- Of the routers launched in 2017-2018, 14 of 33 got 16.00.8; of those launched in 2019 or later, 65 of 82 did.
- ipTIME promises security updates for 3 years after a model is discontinued, but it does not publish discontinuation dates.
- If ipTIME's status page lists an older version than the newest release (16.00.8 as of November 11, 2026) for your model, your router no longer gets ipTIME's newest firmware.
An ipTIME router launched in 2016 or earlier is too old: none of them got ipTIME's newest firmware. For routers launched from 2017 on, it depends on the model. ipTIME released 16.00.8 on November 11, 2026, and the oldest of the 79 routers that got it is the A8004NS-M, launched in January 2017.
The newest firmware, by launch year
ipTIME1 keeps a firmware status page with 248 routers, 29 on sale and 219 discontinued. For each one it gives the launch month and the newest firmware with its release date. I grouped the routers by launch year.
(open full-size image)Green is 16.00.8, the newest release. Orange is a router that got firmware in the last 12 months, but an older version such as 12.18.0. Grey is a router with no firmware in the last 12 months.
None of the 133 routers launched in 2016 or earlier got 16.00.8, and 126 of them got nothing in the last 12 months. The other 7, such as the A1004, got only the security patch 12.18.0 of January 15, 2026. For 114 of the 133, the newest firmware is from 2018 or earlier.
According to its release notes, 16.00.8 covers 112 models, access points and extenders included, and fixes one security vulnerability, CVE-2026-98432. Is ipTIME firmware 16.00.4 the latest? explains what changed from 16.00.4 and 16.00.6.
Launched 2017-2018: 14 of 33
14 of the 33 routers launched in 2017 or 2018 got 16.00.8, and 15 got no firmware in the last 12 months. The A2003NS-MU, launched in August 2017, got 16.00.8 on the same day as the BE5100plus, a model launched in November 2026. So for a router from these years, the launch year does not answer the question; its own line on the status page does.
Launched 2019 or later: 17 models without 16.00.8
65 of the 82 routers launched in 2019 or later got 16.00.8. These are the other 17.
| Models | Launched | Newest firmware |
|---|---|---|
| N104E, N102E, N102i, N102Eplus, N104Eplus, N102iplus | 2019-2022 | 12.15.2 (June 2, 2022) |
| N702E, N602E, N704E, A8004BCM, N702Eplus, N602Eplus, N704Eplus | 2019-2022 | 12.18.0 (January 15, 2026) |
| N604E, N604SE, N602SE | 2019-2022 | 15.36.6 (August 25, 2026) |
| N604Eplus | 2021 | 16.00.0 (September 16, 2026) |
For the N604E, N604SE and N602SE, ipTIME's 16.00.0 release notes say updates stop from that version on, because the routers have only 4 MB of flash storage. So the N602SE, launched in November 2022, ends at 15.36.6.
ipTIME's 3-year promise
ipTIME's security update policy of July 2, 2026, promises security updates while a model is on sale and for 3 years after it is discontinued. After that, it says it releases new firmware when security requires it. The status page shows whether a model is discontinued, but not when, so you cannot work out when the 3 years end. The newest firmware on the status page is the part you can check.
Read the status page for your router
The status page is in Korean. Use your browser's find function (Ctrl+F) with the model name on the label under your router. The router tables have these columns:
| Column (Korean) | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 모델 | Model |
| 출시 | Launch month |
| 최신 펌웨어 | Newest firmware version |
| 배포일 | Release date of that version |
| 최근 12개월 업데이트 | Number of updates in the last 12 months |
| 최근 보안 조치 | Most recent security fix |
| 후속 모델 | Suggested replacement (discontinued models only) |
- If the newest firmware is the same as ipTIME's newest release (16.00.8 as of November 11, 2026), your model is current. Open 192.168.0.1 on a device connected to the router and install it from the firmware upgrade screen (관리도구, then 펌웨어 업그레이드).
- If it is an older version, your router no longer gets ipTIME's newest release. Plan to replace it, and look at the replacement column: for the A1004, it is the A2004SR.
safeuntil's ipTIME list shows the support status of each model on it. Where ipTIME gives no end date, it shows an estimated end based on the model's newest firmware or its launch date.
FAQ
My 2016 router got 12.18.0 in January. Is that the 3-year promise at work? Maybe, but nobody outside ipTIME can tell: the 3 years run from a discontinuation date that ipTIME does not publish. 12.18.0 fixed CVE-2025-55423, and no firmware came for those models after it up to November 11, 2026.
Does the same rule work for other brands? No, each maker sets its own end. Netgear publishes end dates. TP-Link's US list gives only the dates it stops selling a model, and its policy says updates usually end 3 years later. How long routers get firmware updates covers each maker's rule.
Sources
Launch months and release dates are as ipTIME's status page and release notes give them.
- ipTIME, firmware support status by model (as of November 11, 2026): https://iptime.com/support/firmware-status
- ipTIME, security update support policy (July 2, 2026): https://iptime.com/support/downloads/27415
- ipTIME, router firmware 16.00.8: https://iptime.com/support/downloads/27833
- ipTIME, router firmware 16.00.0: https://iptime.com/support/downloads/27529
- ipTIME, router firmware 12.18.0: https://iptime.com/support/downloads/27033