You probably have an iPad already or are considering of selecting up an older one, possibly a refurbished mannequin that might prevent some cash, it’s a good suggestion to learn how lengthy it’ll nonetheless be capable of use apps and providers. Apple is normally wonderful on this space, typically retaining older generations of its merchandise on the most recent variations of iPadOS or at the least blessed with safety updates to maintain them protected. However there comes a time when the software program on an iPad can now not be up to date to a safe model of iPadOS, and when that occurs you could discover that apps and web sites will now not work and your information may very well be in danger.
Right here’s a fast information to how lengthy it’s best to count on an iPad to stay usable.
Which variations of iPadOS does Apple assist?
The essential factor is whether or not Apple will replace the working system software program that runs in your iPad if it discovers a safety flaw. Whereas Apple solely points updates with new options for the present model of the iPadOS, it does subject safety updates to older variations of iPadOS, as a way to hold older iPads safe.
Safety updates are launched comparatively incessantly and easily replace the code within the system to shut any potential areas the place hackers or malware may achieve entry. These seem in your machine as ‘level releases’, akin to iPadOS 16.1, .1.1, 2.1, and many others., and so they make small changes to iPadOS and repair any safety points.
Whereas full iPadOS updates typically require system assets that may be an excessive amount of for older units, safety updates work underneath the hood and might normally hold an older mannequin going for years after the purpose the place it might obtain a brand new model of iPadOS.
Which means that the true defining aspect of how lengthy an iPad can final is safety updates. As soon as these cease, it’s not advisable to proceed utilizing the machine, because it may very well be susceptible to assaults.
At the moment iPads that run the next variations of iPadOS are supported with safety updates:
- iPadOS 17 (when it launches)
- iPadOS 16 (final up to date in July 2023)
- iPadOS 15 (final up to date in July 2023)
It’s attention-grabbing to notice that iOS 12, which runs on some iPads, was final up to date in January 2023, however we don’t count on these units to have protection sooner or later.
Regardless of this iOS 12 protection, it’s best to imagine that something previous to iPadOS 15 is now not supported with safety updates. Which means that in case your iPad can’t run iPadOS 15 you could be susceptible to safety flaws.
It’s also potential that Apple will stop supporting iPadOS 15 when iPadOS 17 launches later in 2023.
Which model of iPadOS can I run?
iPadOS 17 is coming later in 2023
Apple
The secret is to know which model of iPadOS your iPad can run, that method you’ll be able to establish whether or not Apple remains to be dedicated to updating it with security-related fixes.
iOS 12
This previous model of iOS ran on numerous iPads in addition to the iPhone, together with:
- iPad Air (1st technology) – from 2013
- iPad mini (2nd and third technology) – from 2013
Apple issued a safety replace in January 2023. We don’t count on any additional updates for this model.
iPadOS 15
iPadOS 15 arrived in 2021 and was final up to date on July 24, 2023. It runs on the next fashions that had been bought previous to the launch of iPadOS 16 (you’ll be able to’t run an older model of iPadOS than the one the iPad shipped with):
- iPad Professional (all fashions) – from 2015
- iPad Air (2nd technology and later) – from 2014
- iPad (fifth technology and later) – from 2017
- iPad mini (4th technology and later) – from 2015
iPadOS 16
That is the present model of iPadOS and might run on the next iPads:
- iPad Professional (all fashions) – from 2015
- iPad Air (third technology and later) – from 2019
- iPad (fifth technology and later) – from 2017
- iPad mini (fifth technology and later) – from 2019
iPadOS 16 remains to be commonly up to date. On the time of writing the most recent launch was July 24, 2023.
iPadOS 16 dropped assist for iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 from these supported by iPadOS 15.
iPadOS 17
When it launches later in 2023 iPadOS 17 will run on the next iPads:
- iPad Professional 12.9 (fifth, 4th, third and 2nd gen) – from 2017
- iPad Professional 11 (third, 2nd and 1st gen) – from 2018
- iPad Professional 10.5 – from 2017
- iPad (tenth, ninth, eighth, seventh and sixth gen) – from 2018
- iPad mini (fifth and sixth gen) – from 2019
- iPad Air (fifth, 4th and third gen) – from 2019
iPadOS 17 will drop assist for 2016 iPad Professional 9.7-inch (A9X chip), 2015 iPad Professional 12.9-inch (1st technology) (A9X chip) and 2017 iPad (fifth technology) which runs on a fair slower A9 processor.
Which iPads will not be supported with updates?
Apple
Whereas some iPads can run iOS 12, which did get a safety replace in January 2023, we might keep away from any iPads that aren’t operating a model of iPadOS that’s supported by Apple.
As a result of these iPads don’t run iPadOS 15 we think about that they’re now not supported:
- iPad Air (1st technology) – 2013
- iPad (4th technology and earlier) – 2012 and older
- iPad mini (third technology and earlier) – 2014 and older
Which iPads are supported with updates?
It’s potential that from September 2023, when iPadOS 17 arrives that iPadOS 15 will now not be supported with safety updates from Apple, which means that solely the next iPads can be on the supported record:
- iPad Professional (all fashions) – from 2015
- iPad Air (third technology and later) – from 2019
- iPad (fifth technology and later) – from 2017
- iPad mini (fifth technology and later) – from 2019
Our recommendation is to not purchase any iPad that isn’t on this record.
If Apple doesn’t drop assist for iPadOS 15 later this 12 months then we will add the next to the record above:
- iPad Air 2 – 2014
- iPad mini 4 – 2015
How lengthy does Apple assist iPads with safety updates?
For instance of a mannequin that’s nonetheless supported by Apple, the iPad Air 2 made its debut in 2014, however obtained the iPadOS 15.7.8 replace in July 2023, which means that it’s nonetheless going nearly 9 years after its preliminary launch. One other senior mannequin that obtained that replace was the iPad Mini (4th Technology) which got here out in 2015.
And since Apple up to date iOS 12 in January 2023 we may embody the unique iPad Air (2013), iPad Mini 2 (2013) and iPad Mini 3 (2014) in our record of supported units in 2023, though we wouldn’t suggest utilizing them.
Which means that in January 2023 Apple was supporting ten-year-old iPads with safety updates, whereas in July 2023 the corporate issued a safety replace that was appropriate with the then nine-year-old iPad Air 2.
Nevertheless, when you have a look at the record above, a lot of the iPads which might be being supported by iPadOS 17 had been launched in 2017 and 2019. It’s actually solely the iPad Professional that will get extra prolonged assist.
How lengthy does Apple assist iPads?
There’s one other issue within the query of whether or not an iPad is supported or not. Whereas safety updates are essential as a result of they defend the consumer from these with malicious intent, in case your iPad goes incorrect it would be best to know whether or not it is going to be potential to repair it.
Between 5 and 7 years after Apple stops promoting merchandise it strikes them into the Classic record. Then round seven years after Apple stops promoting merchandise they’re moved into the Out of date record.
As soon as thought-about Classic by Apple your probability of with the ability to get substitute elements if required is already unlikely, however when a product is Out of date you will be unable to get substitute elements.
Subsequently if it has been 5 years since Apple stopped promoting an iPad you’re unlikely to have the ability to get substitute elements if one thing goes incorrect.
The merchandise thought-about classic and out of date are listed under.
Classic iPads
- iPad Air 2
- iPad mini 2
- Unique iPad Professional 9.7-inch
- Unique iPad Professional 12.9-inch
- iPad fifth technology
Out of date iPads
- Unique iPad Air
- Unique iPad mini
- iPad mini 3
- Unique iPad
- iPad 2nd technology
- iPad third technology
- iPad 4th technology
So, whereas Apple does assist all iPad Professional fashions with safety updates, the unique iPad Professional fashions are already thought-about classic.
So it’s not stunning that when iPadOS 17 launches the next iPads will fall off the supported record since they’re already classic:
- iPad Professional 12.9-inch (1st gen) – 2015
- iPad Professional 9.7-inch (1st gen) – 2015
- iPad (fifth gen) – 2017
How lengthy ought to an iPad final?
On the software program facet of issues, it appears from the present examples laid out above you could count on software program safety assist as much as 9 years from when an iPad went on sale, nevertheless, we wouldn’t rely on that.
As a result of Apple doesn’t think about a product classic till 5 years after it stopped promoting it, you’ll be able to count on at the least six years of assist (assuming the product was bought for a 12 months – Apple typically sells merchandise for for much longer than that). That is probably the explanation why iOS 12 was nonetheless being supported by the corporate up till January 2023.
In fact, {hardware} is the opposite facet of the equation and that may be extra random as elements deteriorate or fail. Say your battery life falls off a cliff, you’ll have to nonetheless be inside your one-year guarantee interval to have it repaired totally free. Apple does have a battery substitute service although, normally costing $99/£99 for a substitute and becoming, so this might lengthen the {hardware} facet of issues for an excellent whereas (basically up till it was moved to the classic record 5 years after Apple stopped promoting it).
Apple presents {hardware} servicing and elements for a spread of older iPads, all at a price after all. On its website, the corporate states that, “Homeowners of iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac or Apple TV merchandise might receive service and elements from Apple service suppliers, together with Apple Retailer areas and Unbiased Restore Suppliers, for no less than 5 years from when Apple final distributed the product on the market”. That is clarified later within the textual content, saying you could get iPads repaired as much as seven years after they had been final on sale from Apple. So, if you wish to know in case your iPad qualifies, merely Google when it was discontinued by Apple.
Naturally, a ten-year previous iPad is a formidable feat of sturdiness, however they gained’t be as enjoyable or highly effective as a brand new one. So, check out our iPad shopping for information to see what’s at present on supply. In spite of everything, you can be utilizing it for a really very long time.
Need to know how lengthy Apple helps iPhones and how lengthy Apple helps Macs, we have now that lined too.