An iPhone 4S running iOS 9.3.5 is considered a "legacy" device. While the App Store no longer offers apps designed specifically for iOS 9, many modern apps still offer "backwards compatible" versions that you can download.
This works for 90% of the apps listed below.
The App Store will only offer the prompt if your Apple account already owns the app. ios 935 compatible apps list best
: Built directly into iOS 9 for seamless EPUB and PDF reading.
: While the official app often requires workarounds, users report that it can sometimes still be run on iOS 9.3.5. Communication & Social An iPhone 4S running iOS 9
: An RSS reader that integrates with Feedly and performs well on older iPads. Social & Entertainment
Ultimate Guide: Best iOS 9.3.5 / 9.3.6 Compatible Apps in 2026 The App Store will only offer the prompt
The native legacy version still functions quite well for tracking other Apple devices tied to your ecosystem or locating the vintage device itself.
The official app offers a highly optimized, clean reading experience that is much faster than loading the browser. Best Games for iOS 9.3.5
This is a must-have . VLC will play almost any video file format (MP4, AVI, MKV) you transfer to your device, bypassing the need for conversion.
Avoid trying to run modern heavy apps (like TikTok or modern banking apps) as they will likely crash due to the 512MB RAM limit. Focus on the "Golden Age" apps and offline utilities.