If you have an iPad already or are thinking of picking up an older one, maybe a refurbished model that would save you some money, it’s a good idea to find out how long it will still be able to use apps and services. Here’s a quick guide to how long you should expect an iPad to remain usable.
The crucial thing is whether Apple will update the operating system software that runs on your iPad if it discovers a security flaw. While Apple only issues updates with new features for the current version of the iPadOS, it does issue security updates to older versions of iPadOS, in order to keep older iPads secure. While full iPadOS updates often require system resources that can be too much for older devices, security updates work under the hood and can usually keep an older model going for years after the point where it can receive a new version of iPadOS. This means that the real defining element of how long an iPad can last is security updates.
Currently iPads that run the following versions of iPadOS are supported with security updates: It’s interesting to note that iOS 12, which runs on some iPads, was last updated in January 2023, but we don’t expect those devices to have coverage in the future. Despite this iOS 12 coverage, it is best to assume that anything prior to iPadOS 15 is no longer supported with security updates. The key is to know which version of iPadOS your iPad can run, that way you can identify whether Apple is still committed to updating it with security-related fixes. If Apple drops support for iPadOS 15, then we can add the following to the list of unsupported iPads: As an example of a model that’s still supported by Apple, the iPad Air 2 made its debut in 2014, but received the iPadOS 15.7.9 update in September 2023, meaning that it’s still going almost nine years after its initial release.
Another senior model that received that update was the iPad mini (4th Generation) which came out in 2015. This means that in January 2023 Apple was supporting ten-year-old iPads with security updates, while in September 2023 the company issued a security update that was compatible with the then nine-year-old iPad Air 2.
While security updates are important because they protect the user from those with malicious intent, if your iPad goes wrong you will want to know whether it will be possible to fix it. Between five and seven years after Apple stops selling products it moves them into the Vintage list.
Then around seven years after Apple stops selling products they are moved into the Obsolete list. Therefore if it has been five years since Apple stopped selling an iPad you are unlikely to be able to get replacement parts if something goes wrong. So it’s not surprising that when iPadOS 17 launches the following iPads will fall off the supported list since they are already vintage: Say your battery life falls off a cliff, you’ll need to still be within your one-year warranty period to have it repaired for free.
Apple does have a battery replacement service though, usually costing $99/£99 for a replacement and fitting, so this could prolong the hardware side of things for a good while (essentially up until it was moved to the vintage list five years after Apple stopped selling it). Apple offers hardware servicing and parts for a range of older iPads, all at a cost of course. Naturally, a ten-year old iPad is an impressive feat of durability, but they won’t be as fun or powerful as a new one.
Wikipedia
The second-generation iPad Pro, unveiled in June 2017, had an upgraded A10X Fusion chip and swapped the 9.7-inch screen for a larger 10.5-inch display. The sixth- and current-generation iPad Pro, introduced in October 2022, includes the M2 chip, Apple Pencil Hover, and ProRes video.
Both sizes employed refresh rates up to 120 Hz, better HDR and TrueTone white balancing. It offers a redesigned camera module, an A12Z processor, 128 GB[a] minimum storage, LiDAR Scanner (<5m distance), and support for the Magic Keyboard with a trackpad that is sold separately.
Smart Keyboard docks are specific with iPad Pro using the visible $connector: magnetic with three pins that provides data transfer and power. [27][28] During the keynote, Apple demonstrated drawing, managing publication layout, and document annotation. [32] It is similar in design and specifications to the first model, but without the detachable connector, and part of the stylus is flattened to inhibit rolling. These adapters utilize the new USB-C connector, which allows the iPad to connect with HDMI cables, USB ports,[34] and read SD cards.
[35] Using an HDMI cable, users can connect their iPad to another display, such as a computer, laptop, or television. The USB and SD card support allows user to transfer and save files to and from external memory storage devices.
The Magic Keyboard features the first trackpad designed for an iPad, a hinge to adjust the viewing angle and includes a USB-C port for pass-through charging. The Magic Keyboard provided a proper typing experience and supplied a good trackpad bundled with excellent build quality.
[38] With the launch of 5th generation of iPad Pro on 20 April 2021, a white color has also been added to the Apple Store. However, he criticized the cost of both the unit and its accessories, while noting its slightly slower processor with less RAM compared to the larger 12.9-inch model. [43] Matt Swider from TechRadar complimented the easy handling, large 256 GB configuration and True Tone display, but was upset about the high starting price. [44] Gareth Beavis gave a positive review, commending the expansive screen and audio quality but stated that the battery life could be made longer.
The iPad Pro’s 9.7-inch version set a record among all currently released tablets tested in color accuracy, screen reflectance, peak brightness, contrast rating in high ambient light, and smallest color variation. Max Parker from TrustedReviews and Gareth Beavis from TechRadar both praised the 10.5-inch model’s high-quality audio and performance, though both critics noted that it was expensive.
Reviewing the 12.9 inch second-generation iPad Pro, Lauren Goode of The Verge complimented the quality camera, A10X processor and large screen size, but argued that the device could have been cheaper. The third generation iPad Pro models were praised for their better displays, slimmed bezels, the addition of Face ID and general speed as well as CPU improvements. Ben Sin from Forbes noted that despite the LCD screen, the 120 Hz refresh rate makes it feel more smooth. [50] The switch to USB-C connectors received mixed reviews; external monitor support and device charging were added at the cost of extra dongles to use older cables and headphones. [51] Some reviewers noted that although the hardware updates are great steps forward, iOS’s limitations, including the lack of external storage capabilities, prevents the third generation from competing against computers. Users on forum boards have reported the iPad bending after a few days of use, or after carrying it around in a backpack.
[55][56] Nelson concluded that the “two weakest points [were] right dead center on either side of the iPad Pro, [and] the crack happened at the very poorly placed microphone hole and the new Apple Pencil 2 charging duct”. Apple responded to these reports quickly, asserting that this is normal and a non-issue,[58] a response that has been criticized. The LIDAR sensor which Apple added for increased AR capability was touted as a feature only a handful of customers will use. [65] The Verge has criticized that they should have had multiuser support like the Mac but they gave positive reviews to the Mini-LED and cameras.
Every iPhone and iPad that iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 will no longer support
For the past few years, owners of older iPhone models have been able to breathe a sigh of relief as Apple has continued to support their devices with new versions of iOS. On Monday, during the WWDC 2022 keynote, Apple revealed iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. The updates will bring several major new features to iPhone and iPad. As a result, iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 are dropping support for some older devices.
In a press release on Monday, Apple confirmed that iOS 16 will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone 8 and later. That means the upcoming software update will drop support for the following devices when it rolls out:
In addition to the devices listed above, iOS 16 will obviously support and ship with the 2022 iPhone that launches this fall. The update gives iPad owners the ability to create overlapping windows that can easily be resized.
Meanwhile, iPadOS 16 will support all of the following Apple tablets at launch this fall: The fact that Apple supported some of these devices as long as it did is fairly incredible.
There’s really no way it would have been able to handle multiple apps running in resizable windows, though, so this is probably for the best. If you want to give iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 a test run, the developer betas rolled out on Monday after Apple’s keynote address.
Apple says that the public beta won’t be available until July, so most of us will probably have to wait until next month
How long do iPads last?
A newer iPad Pro, which has more storage and features, will likely last longer than an older or lower-end model. A newer iPad Pro, which has more storage and features, will likely last longer than an older or lower-end model. If you use your iPad every day and play video games or work with graphic design programs, it’ll wear out more quickly.
If you use your iPad every day and play video games or work with graphic design programs, it’ll wear out more quickly. If you update your iPad software regularly, clean it often, and keep its parts in working order, you’ll increase its lifespan. But if you use your iPad a lot or if you use it in extremely hot or cold temperatures, your battery may die more quickly.
Luckily, replacing an iPad battery that’s no longer working as it should is a simple and fast repair. But every time the company launches a new operating system, it stops supporting some of the older models.
Sometimes you can live with a tiny blemish on your screen, but cracks and scratches on your iPad will only continue to get worse. They make your device more vulnerable to damage from liquid and dirt and, not to mention, can lead to cuts on your fingers. If you have an older iPad and none of the fixes in our guide worked, it’s possible your device may not support the latest operating system updates. When you can’t run the latest update, your older software will eventually stop working.
If you’ve previously replaced your iPad battery and it’s running out of juice, it’s probably time to upgrade your device. If storage is tight on your iPad, there are a few things you can try, like deleting apps you don’t use or moving files to the Cloud.
iPad Pro review
This is the visible seam in the story Apple has stitched together about the iPad over the past five years. The iPad Pro is being marketed as a tablet for users of heavy apps and creative types, and it is a very obvious product differentiation strategy. Yes, if you’re talking about the low- to mid-range PCs that clutter shelves during back-to-school season. It’s hefty by iPad standards, and definitely not suitable for casual stuff like one-handed reading.
With a resolution of 2732 x 2048 at 264 pixels per inch, it’s actually the highest-resolution display on any iOS device, but all that means nothing until you see it. The only knock you could make on the display is that it doesn’t include the new 3D Touch technology Apple introduced with the iPhone 6S, something that arguably could have been more useful on a tablet meant for multitasking than it is on a smaller-screened phone.
Apple has rigged the iPad Pro with its latest chip, the A9X, which it claims has twice the CPU and twice the graphics performance of the previous processor.
Customer Reviews: Apple 11-Inch iPad Pro (1st Generation) with Wi-Fi 256GB Space Gray MTXQ2LL/A
The reason I love the iPad is because it provides the perfect inbetween of a powerful laptop and a portable cell phone. It gave me the flexibility of downloading many movies and music when I’m offline on the go without regretting later on that I purchased too few. Its so light yet rugged with its edges and the all black screen front with the matte polish looks great. Pair the HDR iTunes video playback with its stereo speakers, you have the ultimate portable entertainment device.
CONS: – At the time of this review, almost NO Apps have been updated to work with the compatibility of the iPad Pro’s new rounded screen. So these apps, like Netflix, only utilize 85% of the screen in a square shape.
iPad Pro (1st Gen) Review: A Tablet Full of Potential
It’s gotten thinner, sexier, and smarter each year, but not even Apple’s magic has managed to save the iPad from slumping sales. Just a few years ago, nearly every small tablet weighed that much, and spread across this size, it doesn’t feel heavier than it should. It’s not ideal to carry around with you if you’re used to a 7- or 8-inch tablet, but it’s a fair sight lighter than a laptop, and I’d argue that most people don’t actually bring their iPad Air around with them everyday either. And, because of its loyal fan base, Apple seems to regularly succeed at making successful products that other companies couldn’t seem to sell.
It’s a joy to read on the iPad Pro’s larger screen, whether you’re consuming comic books on Scribd, articles in the News app, or content on Safari. It’s more or less the size of a glossy magazine, and I felt like I’d picked up the latest issue of Vogue or The New Yorker when I grabbed the iPad Pro.
I’ve always liked the iPad Mini for reading because of its compact size and light weight, but there are advantages to the big screen when it comes to consuming certain kinds of content. Reading magazines, comics, or visual news stories on the big screen is preferable, because you can really enjoy the graphics.
Comics show a two-page view when you turn the Pro to landscape mode, which makes it feel even more natural.
The pixel-dense screen is large enough to satisfy your craving for Netflix in bed, but not so big as to crush your chest halfway through a Game of Thrones marathon. Samsung’s Galaxy View tablet — although intriguing in its own way — is far too massive and heavy to bring into bed with you; it has to live on your bedside table. Before the Apple Pencil came in the mail, I did some early testing with my favorite Bluetooth styli from Adonit and FiftyThree.
The soft tip doesn’t clack like Adonit’s stylus does, and it can produce incredibly fine lines with variations in gradient as you increase pressure. Like FiftyThree’s Pencil, the side of the tip creates wider strokes, and it’s absolutely perfect for shading when you’re mimicking the effect of charcoal, graphite, or soft pastels.
There are a number of great drawing apps that are optimized for Pencil and the iPad Pro as well; here are some of my personal favorites. Drawing on the iPad Pro is a dream, and the tablet’s ability to run several Adobe apps without a hitch is fantastic.
The AstroPad app ensures that comic book artists, illustrators, and other creatives who once had to buy Wacom tablets no longer need to — the iPad Pro and Pencil are the answer. Our Computing writer Brad Bourque used the iPad Pro as his laptop for an extended amount of time to put the tablet through its paces. As Brad points out, in order to replace a laptop, the iPad Pro has to be versatile enough to take on all the tasks of the day, and well equipped enough to deal with any problems that arise without getting in the way. Performance and responsiveness are one part of the equation, but so is the ability to organize emails quickly to look for a message, or to relax after a long day of work. He found the iPad Pro to be versatile and effective at most tasks, but there were a few big pitfalls to using it as his main laptop.
The split-screen mode was helpful, but Brad found the slide-over function, which momentarily overlays one app on another, much more useful.
If your day-to-day involves many browser tabs and application windows at once, this might overwhelm the singular focus of iOS. Conversely, those who sit and stare at one document, or spend hours editing a single image, will find a lot to love in the iPad Pro.
There isn’t much room to tinker around under the hood, with a distinct lack of file explorer or sideloading privileges. The portability, battery life, and big, beautiful screen will appeal to a lot of users, and the trade-off of a locked down OS won’t be noticeable to most of them. In other words, the iPad Pro’s A9X processor and 4GB of RAM are doing a bang-up job imitating laptop-level performance. The tablet also pulled off an impressive 63,542 on AnTuTu’s benchmark and 33,122 on 3D Mark’s Ice Storm Unlimited test, which puts it in laptop territory for both.
Apple promises 10 hours of battery life from the iPad Pro, and based on what we’ve seen so far, that seems like a very reasonable estimate. In our laptop test, the battery did typically make it through a full day without any problems, which is hugely impressive.
The Pro is closer to a laptop in terms of power, size, and its potential for productivity, but there are still two degrees of separation between the two: iOS and the lack of a keyboard in the box. The fact that you’ll have to shell out $170 for the keyboard cover to make it more like a laptop also stops it from being a true computing device.
That said, if you’re a light laptop user who more or less just wants a killer tablet, the Pro could work for you, but it isn’t as cheap as some Windows and Mac options.
iPad Pro 12.9 (2015) review
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. The latter is more the domain of Windows devices, where the operating system and hardware collide with varying results. To many, this is a direct rival to Microsoft’s Surface Pro 4, but in reality the two devices are coming at the laptop replacement issue from different angles. The iPad Pro is designed for the casual user, one who doesn’t need a computer all day long.
Microsoft’s device is more for those who need to massively multitask all the time, using dedicated desktop applications to get everything done. But compare that to the iPhone 7 Plus, which costs US$869 (£819, AU$1419) for the 256GB version, and it doesn’t seem that pricey in the pantheon of Apple products. To others, a brilliant hybrid device that enables them to flip effortlessly from sketching to movies to typing reports on the go. Could you ever get by just using this tablet and the optional accessories around it, or does it need to be part of a larger family – a device that’s perfect for certain situations but gets relegated when it’s time for proper work?
There was only one way to find out – force myself to ditch the laptop and try to write this review on the Pro (and you can see the results below).
Or if you want to just keep your fabulously expensive device safe, check out our best iPad cases round up instead.
Review: Apple’s 11-inch iPad Pro is stunningly powerful, with a few key limitations
The screens are now branded Liquid Retina and have rounded corners, using the same pixel masking techniques as used on the iPhone XR, as well as a new backlight design. Apple claims the new iPad Pro models are faster than 92 percent of all portable PCs sold in the last year. Apple claims the iPad Pro sports the equivalent of the graphics found in an Xbox One S, in a product that’s 94-percent smaller. Those portrait photos do get all of the latest additions Apple has made to this feature such as adjustable Depth Control for the bokeh and background blur. The back camera, in comparison, gained only minor improvements, retaining the same 12 megapixels as before albeit losing a lens element in the assembly. We had to shake the iPad Pro like madmen to break the Apple Pencil’s magnetic grip, so we’re sure it won’t fall off with regular use.
It’s true that an OLED panel would go a long way toward improving color accuracy and perhaps battery life, but iPad Pro’s LCD is anything but antiquated and has features even the iPhone can’t touch yet, such as ProMotion. ProMotion allows the display to refresh up to 120 times a second for smooth animations and precise Apple Pencil tracking.
Not only that, but it can dynamically adapt down to a refresh rate of only 24 times a second to match the content you’re viewing so you’re not wasting battery life.
Now that Touch ID is gone, iPad’s massive top and bottom bezels are too, bringing the display closer to a user’s hands in all orientations. Right now, the new iPad Pro lacks the app support needed to take advantage of all of that power, whether it be a true multitasking interface or an easily accessible file system. Without a supporting app, only photos/videos can be imported from these devices, and even then you must place them in a folder titled DCIM ahead of time.
You can’t edit photos or videos without first importing them into your camera roll, which then starts syncing them to your iCloud if you have that enabled. We tried importing video clips directly from our Sony A7iii digital camera and they simply didn’t show up.
We discovered that iOS only recognizes and is able to import files that are within the DCIM folder and have names that are exactly 8 characters long with a three letter DOS-style suffix.
Apple doesn’t appear to have any interest in the Samsung Dex concept, where users can plug in a monitor, keyboard, and mouse to a mobile device, and get work done that way.
Despite Apple’s claims back in the ’80s that the Mac was the computer for the rest of us, the actual fulfillment of that came with the iPhone, and then the iPad, and this extends to this, the most powerful iOS device that the company has created. For the vast majority of AppleInsider readers, the iPad and iPhone won’t replace our Macs or PCs.
From a peripheral perspective, our workflows don’t accommodate the lack of a mouse very well, to say nothing of overcoming inertia from using a “computer” for years if not decades. As the evolution has progressed, use cases that prioritize the iPad over other platforms are no less valid than any other, and there’s no reason to look down or deride anybody who’s made the shift to Apple’s fondleslab full-time.
If you’re primarily a content consumer, the new iPad will certainly fit the bill with a gross level of overkill for the chosen task. For the content creator that has embraced iOS and all that it entails, the 10.5-inch 2018 iPad Pro is a solid 4.5 out of 5, with a slight ding for the ridiculous limitation on mass storage, reliance on the DCIM folder, and the weakness of the Files app.
Apple iPad Pro (12.9-Inch, 2015) Review
If you’re used to doing your work on a Mac or PC, however, you’ll quickly run into the tablet’s limits: two windows (hey, at least it’s not a single one any more), no easy way to navigate the UI without pulling your hand up from a connected keyboard, and apps that just aren’t quite as powerful as their desktop equivalents. Ultimately, the supersized iPad Pro is a love letter to the creative types who have been Apple’s most faithful customers.
The iPad Pro isn’t meant to sit on a desk with a keyboard attached; it’s made to be held with Apple’s spectacular new stylus, the Pencil (an optional $99 accessory), in your other hand. People who really need enterprise applications, in general, will be better served by the Microsoft Surface Pro 4, while everyday iOS fans should stick with the lower-cost iPad Air 2.
9-by-12 inches is a standard drawing pad size, so the iPad Pro should feel just about right to people who are used to carrying around some Strathmore. But you get about double that with the brightness turned down to half (which starts to approach the 10 hours that Apple quotes), and I think the Pro—because of its huge size—is more likely to be used plugged in than other tablets. The embedded Apple SIM lets you choose between AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, or get prepaid data through GigSky at the rate of $50 for 1GB. That’s double the frame rate on the iPhone 6s and the Macbook Air, and equal to the performance of a 2013-era desktop iMac.
In my standard test exporting a one-minute file in iMovie, the Pro proved only 10 percent faster than last year’s iPad Air 2, even though the processor and GPU are much more powerful; that’s a limitation of the software. I found myself very frequently popping open an Evernote sidebar to copy text into my Microsoft Word documents. And you just can’t think of the iPad Pro as a general-purpose laptop replacement because so many applications assume desktop technologies. For instance, my daughter’s school has an online homework app, that, for some reason, doesn’t render in mobile Safari.
I know many people, like my father, already use iPads as laptop replacements, reveling in their always-on, quick-hit, virus-free nature. Add a smooth, white, $99 accessory to the iPad Pro, and amazing things start to happen for artists, designers, architects, and other members of Apple’s core creative classes. The Pencil is far superior to hold compared with Microsoft’s Surface Pen, which feels lumpy and awkward in contrast. In addition, iOS’s bench of pressure-sensitive, high-end creative apps runs deep, with full Adobe and Corel suites available. Although high-end creative apps are available on the Surface Pro 4, their stylus compatibility isn’t obvious and sometimes involves driver updates, and the screen has a disturbing amount of give while drawing, creating a wave effect. But there are still good reasons for a tablet this huge to have a rear camera: augmented reality, computer vision, scanning, and translation applications all come to mind. But in general, focus lock can take about half a second, so you can’t just whip out the tablet and shoot instantly. For multimedia playback and gaming, you have a very luxurious experience here—something I realized when I started showing YouTube videos to a group of nine-year-olds.
But as happens so often, Apple has remixed existing elements into something new, driven by design, ease-of-use, and compelling third-party apps. The iPad Pro, with the Pencil, makes pro-level on-screen work easy in ways previous devices never did because the styli weren’t accurate enough (previous iPads), or the third-party ecosystem for proprietary stylus technology never developed (Samsung’s Note tablets and the Surface Pro).
It also doubles as a light-duty, virus-free laptop, thanks in large part to the terrific Microsoft Office suite. But there’s an old Streets song that goes “cult classic, not best seller,” and unless iOS software catches up with the laptop-class hardware here, that’s what the iPad Pro is destined to become.
The more pro you get, the more line-of-business you get, and the more you start pushing against the functionality limits of even the most professional iOS apps. The iPad Pro does that, breaking the ARM/x86 boundary to create a mobile device with the kind of processor power previously reserved for laptops, and pushing the boundaries of Apple’s touch-centric interface to officially include keyboards and styli, after years of tolerating them winkingly. Apple iPad Pro (12.9-Inch, 2015) 3.5 Check Stock at Amazon MSRP $799.00 Pros Laptop-level power.
iPad Pro 11 (2018) review
With a smaller frame but larger screen, bags of power, and a new redesigned Apple Pencil, this was for a while the new face of the company’s slates, though the newer iPad Pro (2021) range now has that title. Apple needed to make these improvements so the iPad Pro 11 could be the true device for a professional user, and it seems the company delivered. Some of the useful features of iPadOS include gesture controls, and improved markups, and widgets you can place around the home screens. Note that all the above prices are for the Wi-Fi-only version of the slate – if you want to add cellular connectivity you’ll need to shell out an additional $150 / £150 / AU$200.
For some reference, the newer iPad Pro model costs roughly the same price as this one, but for some of the pricier storage and connectivity variants it can be a touch cheaper – not much though. The first thing that will grab the attention of anyone picking up the iPad Pro 11 is the screen, as it’s stretched closer to the edges of the device, with the formerly thick bezels reduced in width.
It doesn’t have the same stunning effect you get from an OLED display, such as you’ll find on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, and given the high price the new iPad Pro commands, not having the best screen technology irks. That’s not to say it’s a bad screen in any way – Apple’s TrueTone technology and the 120Hz refresh rate both really do add something to the quality of the experience, while HDR content is rich in detail.
If you’re watching a period drama or gritty series, this is probably better – but for more visually powerful scenes you might find it a tad washed out, with the LCD backlight bleeding through the dark area more than on an OLED display.
It’s not uncomfortable, and it makes the iPad a touch more grippy, but it lacks the premium feel a curved piece of metal offers in the hand.
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