At last week’s iPhone launch, Apple gave the stage to Lisa Jackson, vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives. Her message included some impressive changes in manufacturing designed to help the environment; as an example, by simply moving the iPhone’s logic board to 100 per cent recycled tin, Apple will prevent the mining of over 10,000 tons of ore next year.

But she had another message, one that seemed counter to the rest of the presentation. Jackson talked about the effort Apple was making to ensure its iPhones would last longer, so users could continue to use older devices:

“All of these devices, including the iPhone 5S, run iOS 12, and iOS 12 is designed to make your iPhone and iPad experience even better, even more responsive, faster… just better! And because they last longer, you can keep using them. And keeping using them is the best thing for the planet.”

I’ve been using the iOS 12 beta for a few months, and today iOS 12 is available to the wider public. I’ve been testing iOS 12 on multiple devices and it has not only been one of the fastest and most stable betas I can remember; it is probably the most stable version of iOS in years.

And while older iPhone users have been wise to avoid newer operating systems in recent years, iOS 12 is kind to older phones. I’m running it on the oldest model that supports iOS 12 — an iPhone 5s from 2013 — and the speed and stability of iOS 12 has brought that old phone out of retirement, as a modern walkman for my child.