iPadOS 18 Rumored to Drop Support for These iPad Models

[FeliApple]

Ah well… my old iPad-4 with the A6x processor still functions well. Still on the original battery. Running iOS 10.

Now about Apple’s environmental responsibilities: if a company is that good with building hardware, it should maintain that hardware for a way longer time than is the standard today. Yes, you’ll miss out on many new features but the basic functionality remains. As this iPad didn’t receive a single security update for 7 years, I don’t dare to do any financial work on it like banking. From an environmental perspective I’d really like companies such as Apple to provide at least security updates for as long as it’s necesary - we know Apple can easily monitor the usage statistics.
Actually, I should have some iPad-1 somewhere, still waiting for a jailbreak so I can install Linux or something. Yes, this iPad is also as if it’s new.

If Apple would maintain such devices way longer, it also makes more sense to recycle old iPads to those who cannot afford a new one. I’d be happy to give mine away but only of I’m certain of its security. Now it’s actually only fit for the shredder - a shame and it hurts.

32-bit updated devices run very poorly, though. They could provide security updates, but they already push major updates as-is. Pushing harder would only make it exponentially worse - for example, the iPhone 6s has been obliterated by iOS 15, what makes you think that it would run iOS 17 with any decency? The last decent iOS update for the 6s is iOS 12. The last update in which it runs as it should is iOS 10. It would disintegrate on iOS 17.

Regardless, banking on a website would be imposible on iOS 10 anyway, websites would be completely incompatible. Apple providing a security update would not change that.

 

[artifex]

Now the question is...

What about Macs?
(Also this is why you SHOULD NOT buy the iPad 9, because it is just going to get dropped in 2 years...)

I finally bought the 9 last February, and if it 'only' gets 2 more years, that's about 3 more total than any prior Android tablet or phone I ever had got. I'm sure it'll still display library books&stream well enough for a while after.

 

[FeliApple]

I finally bought the 9 last February, and if it 'only' gets 2 more years, that's about 3 more total than any prior Android tablet or phone I ever had got. I'm sure it'll still display library books&stream well enough for a while after.

It’ll work for content consumption for ages after that. The impact of outdated iOS versions on content consumption is massively exaggerated.

 

[supergt]

I bet the 2019 iPad with A10 (iPad 7) will be supported, regardless of A10X, as Apple has always given at least 6 years of support to base iPads and it would only get 5 if they don't give it iPadOS 18.

Agree with this take. IPad 7 needs one more update and if so, why wouldn't A10X come along for the ride?

 

[Digitalguy]

Agree with this take. IPad 7 needs one more update and if so, why wouldn't A10X come along for the ride?

That's what I had said in my iPadOS predictictions last summer, it makes sense for A10X to last at least as long as the A10 in the iPad 7, but I can definitely see Apple ending support for the 2017 pro but not for the 2019 base.