Ipad Air 3Rd. Generation Update

Note: Apps and services that send or receive data over a cellular network, or that answer incoming calls, may incur additional fees.

iPad Air (3rd generation)

Its case design is identical to the iPad Pro 10.5 inch; internal hardware includes an upgraded Apple A12 Bionic SoC, a 10.5-inch Retina Display, 3GB of LPDDR4X memory, and support for Bluetooth 5.0 and Apple Pencil (first generation). This iPad Air retains the Lightning port, keeps the headphone jack, and has a slightly larger battery of 30.2 watt-hours (up from 27.6 W·h), rated by Apple to provide the same “10 hours” of active use. In September 2022, third-generation iPad Air was listed as one of the devices that can be updated to iPadOS 16. It was praised for its laminated screen, Smart Keyboard case capability, as well as a speedy SoC.

[7] In addition, while the current Pro models provide some support for HDR, the Air 3 does not. Some devices of this model, which were manufactured between March 2019 and October 2019, have issues where the screen may flicker or flash before permanently dying.

[8][9][10][11][12] As a result of this Apple released a recall program which allows users to send in their device for replacement up to two years from the date of purchase.

Which iPad tablets are compatible with iPadOS 16?

Apple’s iPadOS 16 has finally arrived after the company delayed it for a few weeks to ensure it was truly ready for prime time. As a result, it skipped over version 16.0 and went straight to iPadOS 16.1 to match the corresponding iOS 16.1 release that came out at the same time for iPhone users. Nevertheless, it packs in most of the new collaboration and multitasking capabilities that Apple showed off at its June Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). However, iPadOS 16 also gets its own unique set of productivity tools to edge Apple’s tablet closer to a more laptop-like experience. Unfortunately, all this extra power means Apple is leaving a few older iPad models off the list of compatible tablets this year. However, like its iPhone counterpart, it’s worth noting that iPadOS 16.1 won’t offer all the same features on older iPads as it does on Apple’s latest tablets.

That’s a moot point for now, though, as external display support isn’t even coming to Apple’s latest M2-powered iPad Pro (2022) until iPadOS 16.2 arrives later this year. These featured the same A12 chip used in the iPhone XS a few months earlier, putting them merely a notch below their contemporary A12X-equipped iPad Pro models.

Can my iPad get iPadOS 17? Here’s every compatible model

The update brings new ways of customizing the lock screen, interacting with widgets, and working on PDFs in the Notes app. In addition to these changes, the update includes new sticker packs, which can add fun and creativity to your conversations.

Interestingly, the iPadOS 17 update works on the iPad 6th gen, which includes the A10 chipset. The feature lets you add 3D augmented reality effects like hearts, confetti, fireworks, and more on video calls. This feature ensures you maintain a safe distance between your eyes and the iPad screen to avoid potential harm. However, this feature is only available on iPad Pro models due to the presence of Face ID sensors.

iPad (3rd generation)

The third device in the iPad line of tablets, it added a Retina Display, the new Apple A5X chip with a quad-core graphics processor, a 5-megapixel camera, HD 1080p video recording, voice dictation, and support for LTE networks in North America. [6] It shipped with iOS 5, which also provides a platform for audio-visual media, including electronic books, periodicals, films, music, computer games, presentations and web browsing. Six variations of the third-generation iPad were offered, compared to nine in the United States and Canada, although some countries had only the Wi-Fi only model. Each variation was available with black or white front glass panels, with options for 16, 32, or 64 GB of storage.

Initially, the cellular version was titled and marketed worldwide as the “Wi-Fi + 4G” model, but due to regional differences in classification of 4G (LTE) connectivity outside of North America, Apple later rebranded and altered their marketing to call this the “Wi-Fi + Cellular” model. [14] It gained mostly positive reviews, earning praise for its Retina display, processor and 4G (LTE) capabilities.

On February 9, 2012, John Paczkowski of All Things Digital stated that “Apple’s not holding an event in February—strange, unusual or otherwise. On February 29, 2012, Apple announced a media event scheduled for March 7, 2012, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

[35] The April 20, 2012, release added a dozen countries including South Korea and Malaysia.

The April 27, 2012, release added nine more countries, including India and South Africa. [41] It can also access the App Store, a digital application distribution platform for iOS developed and maintained by Apple. The service allows users to browse and download applications from the iTunes Store that were developed with Xcode and the iOS SDK and were published through Apple.

The iPad comes with several pre-installed applications, including Safari, Mail, Photos, Videos, YouTube, Music, iTunes, App Store, Maps, Notes, Calendar, Game Center, Photo Booth, and Contacts. Although the tablet is not designed to make phone calls over a cellular network, users can use a headset or the built-in speaker and microphone and place phone calls over Wi-Fi or cellular using a VoIP application, such as Skype. The third-generation device has an optional iBooks application, which displays books and other EPUB-format content downloaded from the iBookstore.

On July 22, 2019, Apple released iOS 9.3.6 for the WiFi + Cellular models of the third-generation iPad to fix issues caused by the GPS Week Number Rollover.

The issues would impact accuracy of GPS location and set the device’s date and time to an incorrect value,[53] preventing connection to HTTPS servers and, consequently, Apple’s servers for activation, iCloud and the iTunes and App stores. Researchers demonstrated within hours of the product release that the third-generation iPad can be “jailbroken” to use applications and programs that are not authorized by Apple.

[57][58] One of the main reasons for jailbreaking is to expand the feature set limited by Apple and its App Store. [60] Users install these programs to personalize and customize the interface,[60] adding desired features and fixing annoyances,[61] and simplify app development by providing access to the filesystem and command-line tools. The device has an Apple A5X SoC with a 1 GHz dual-core 32-bit Cortex-A9 CPU and a quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 GPU; 1 GB of RAM; a 5-megapixel, rear-facing camera capable of 1080p video recording; and a VGA front-facing videophone camera designed for FaceTime. [64] The display resolution is 2,048 by 1,536 (QXGA) with 3.1 million pixels—four times more than the iPad 2—providing even scaling from the prior model. Unlike the iPhone and iPod Touch’s built-in applications, which work in three orientations (portrait, landscape-left and landscape-right), the iPad’s built-in applications support screen rotation in all four orientations, including upside-down. Consequently, the device has no intrinsic “native” orientation; only the relative position of the home button changes.

The tablet is manufactured either with or without the capability to communicate over a cellular network; all models can connect to a wireless LAN. Apple sells a “camera connection kit” with an SD card reader, but it can only be used to transfer photos and videos. High-power USB ports found in newer computers and accessories provide full charging capabilities. Apple offers several other accessories,[80] most of which are adapters for the proprietary 30-pin dock connector, the only port besides the headphone jack.

[15][16][18] According to Walt Mossberg of All Things Digital, the new model “has the most spectacular display…seen in a mobile device” and holds the crown as “the best tablet on the planet. “[66] Jonathan Spira, writing in Frequent Business Traveler, claimed that it “seems to make everything sharper and clearer.

A month later, on June 21, 2012, Apple was sued for A$2.25 million for false advertising in Australia. Apple agreed to remove all references to 4G (LTE) capability in its UK advertising but as of August had not done so. Many users reported abnormally high temperatures on the casing of the unit, especially after running 3D games. The claimed superiority of the A5X over the Tegra 3 processor was questioned around launch time by competitor Nvidia; some benchmarks later confirmed the iPad’s superiority in graphics performance, while other benchmarks show that the Tegra 3 has greater performance in some areas.

Consumer Reports gave the third-generation iPad a top rating and recommendation, claiming that the tablet was “superb”, “very good”, and “very fast”, and that the 4G network, the Retina display, and overall performance were positive attributes. “[19][95] As with the preceding models (see the parent article on the iPad), iOS’ closed and proprietary nature garnered criticism, particularly by digital rights advocates such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, computer engineer and activist Brewster Kahle, Internet-law specialist Jonathan Zittrain, and the Free Software Foundation who protested the iPad’s introductory event and have targeted the iPad with their “Defective by Design” campaign.

[97][98] Apple said that “customer response to the new iPad has been off the charts and the quantity available for pre-order has been purchased. “[35] Despite the delayed shipping, many users chose to purchase the iPad online instead of waiting in line at the Apple Store.

“[4] By Q2 of 2012, Apple would hit an all-time high, claiming 69.6 percent of the global tablet market.

I have iPad Air 3rd generation. How can I…

This is why I like to ask these types of questons up front before getting started trying to figure out solutions to Apple iPad users’ issues. Many popular third party apps are no longer available to 9 to 10-year old iPad models that are, permanently, stuck at some version of iOS 12.

Also, the internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads are, also, running on borrowed time. Not worth the costs to replace these old internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads, any longer, either.

These 8 to 9-year old, iOS 12 iPad models are coming to the full end of their support life. You really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted sources, like other Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions. There are PLENTY of newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS. All of these older model iPads below CAN, currently, run the latest releases of iPadOS 16.

Apple iPad – iPadOS Software Updates

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How to Update an Old iPad

Updated on 11/10/2023 with new model number information and iPadOS 17 compatibility. Apple leaves devices behind when they don’t have the hardware that’s necessary to smoothly run the new operating system.

Consult the chart below to find out the latest version of iOS or iPadOS that your tablet supports. The Latest Version of iOS or iPadOS by iPad Model

Devices Latest Version of iOS or iPadOS iPad – 1st generation (2010), Model numbers A1219, A1337 iOS 5.1.1 iPad 2 – 2nd generation (2011), Model numbers A1395, A1396, A1397 iPad Pro 12.9″ – 6th generation (2022), Model numbers A2436, A2764, A2437, A2766 iPadOS 17

You can update it wirelessly over WiFi or connect it to a computer and use the iTunes app. Make sure iCloud Backup is turned on and select “Back Up Now.”

Connect your iPad to your computer with your Lightning or USB-C cable. (You may see a message asking for your iPad passcode or for you to “Trust This Computer.” On a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or on a PC, launch iTunes. Click on the “Back Up Now” button, and you’ll receive a confirmation when the backup is complete.

On a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or on a PC, open iTunes. For the past 20+ years, Suzanne Kantra has been exploring and writing about the world’s most exciting and important science and technology issues.

Ten years ago, she founded Techlicious, which serves the role of that tech-savvy friend you can count on to share tips and tricks to get the most out of technology; whether that’s saving time in our hectic schedules, discovering new ways to enjoy our personal interests, or keeping up with the latest technology trends and styles. Previously, she served as Technology Editor for Popular Science Magazine.

Can my iPad get iPadOS 17? Here’s every compatible model

The update brings new ways of customizing the lock screen, interacting with widgets, and working on PDFs in the Notes app. In addition to these changes, the update includes new sticker packs, which can add fun and creativity to your conversations. Interestingly, the iPadOS 17 update works on the iPad 6th gen, which includes the A10 chipset. The feature lets you add 3D augmented reality effects like hearts, confetti, fireworks, and more on video calls. This feature ensures you maintain a safe distance between your eyes and the iPad screen to avoid potential harm. However, this feature is only available on iPad Pro models due to the presence of Face ID sensors.

How long does Apple support iPads?

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.

iPad Air (3rd generation)

Its case design is identical to the iPad Pro 10.5 inch; internal hardware includes an upgraded Apple A12 Bionic SoC, a 10.5-inch Retina Display, 3GB of LPDDR4X memory, and support for Bluetooth 5.0 and Apple Pencil (first generation). This iPad Air retains the Lightning port, keeps the headphone jack, and has a slightly larger battery of 30.2 watt-hours (up from 27.6 W·h), rated by Apple to provide the same “10 hours” of active use. In September 2022, third-generation iPad Air was listed as one of the devices that can be updated to iPadOS 16.

It was praised for its laminated screen, Smart Keyboard case capability, as well as a speedy SoC. [7] In addition, while the current Pro models provide some support for HDR, the Air 3 does not. Some devices of this model, which were manufactured between March 2019 and October 2019, have issues where the screen may flicker or flash before permanently dying. [8][9][10][11][12] As a result of this Apple released a recall program which allows users to send in their device for replacement up to two years from the date of purchase.

Is Your iPad Obsolete and Outdated?

In a technical sense, an obsolete device is one that the manufacturer no longer supports. Vintage iPads are not quite obsolete, but they don’t receive full support from Apple. Apple’s official definition of “vintage” is that they’ve been unavailable for sale for five to seven years.

The following models are no longer sold, but these devices remain within Apple’s service window for iPadOS updates:

An iPad out of the service window isn’t necessarily useless because it no longer receives iPadOS updates. An older tablet makes a great tableside companion in your living room, an effective e-book reader, or a light-duty device for reading mail or checking your favorite websites.

Still, the longer your iPad goes without updates from Apple, the more likely it is that security glitches could affect your tablet.