Note: Apps and services that send or receive data over a cellular network, or that answer incoming calls, may incur additional fees.
iPad Air (1st generation)
[6] iOS 7 introduced a major aesthetic redesign of the operating system, departing from skeuomorphic elements such as green felt in Game Center, wood in Newsstand, and leather in Calendar, in favor of flat, colorful design. Jonathan Ive, the designer of iOS 7’s new elements, described the update as “bringing order to complexity”, highlighting features such as refined typography, new icons, translucency, layering, physics, and gyroscope-driven parallaxing as some of the major changes. It can act as a hotspot with some carriers, sharing its Internet connection over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB, and also access the Apple App Store, a digital application distribution platform for iOS.
[8] The iPad Air can optionally sync content and other data with a Mac or Windows computer using iTunes.
[10] Apple also began giving away its iLife (iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband) and iWork (Pages, Keynote, Numbers) apps with the device. In June 2019, Apple announced that it would drop support for the iPad Air with the release of iPadOS 13 in September 2019. [15] The new front-facing camera is capable of video in 720p HD, includes face detection, and backside illumination. The A7 present in the iPad Air is slightly different however, in that it does not use a PoP design which stacks the RAM on top of the SoC.
[18] It also features a metal heat spreader to compensate for the slightly faster clock speed and to provide better thermal management. Apple also sells a “camera connection kit” with an SD card reader, but it can only be used to transfer photos and videos. Apple’s ability to handle many different bands in one device allowed it to offer, for the first time, a single iPad variant which supports all the cellular bands and technologies deployed by all the major North American wireless providers at the time of the device’s introduction. The audio playback of the iPad Air is in stereo with two speakers located on either side of the Lightning connector.
Shimpi further states that the Air “hits a balance of features, design and ergonomics that I don’t think we’ve ever seen in the iPad. “[22] UK Editor-in-Chief of TechRadar, Patrick Goss, gave the iPad Air a positive review, giving praise to the A7 chip and camera upgrades, as well as the crisp and colorful display.
He concludes by stating: “It’s hard to put into words how much Apple has improved the iPad, offering a stunning level of detail and power with a build quality that’s unrivalled.
“[23] Christina Bonnington of Wired awarded the Air a rating of 8 out of 10, calling the performance “outstanding” and noting that high-definition video streams and gaming animations are “smooth and stutter free.”
[24] Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak criticized the focus on decreasing size and weight rather than increasing storage space and stated that he did not want an iPad Air as it did not fit his personal needs. [25][26] Dave Smith of the International Business Times wrote that while the device was nice, it did not bring anything new to the iPad. Smith strongly criticized the lack of a fingerprint reader, and noted that the updates, such as the increased speed and the decreased size and weight, were only slight improvements.
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.
iOS version by device — iOS Ref
These tables show the first and maximum version of iOS or iPadOS for each iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Information about which devices are vintage/obsolete was obtained from this page.
iPad models compatible with iPadOS 17
Note: Apps and services that send or receive data over a cellular network, or that answer incoming calls, may incur additional fees.
iPad Air (1st generation)
[6] iOS 7 introduced a major aesthetic redesign of the operating system, departing from skeuomorphic elements such as green felt in Game Center, wood in Newsstand, and leather in Calendar, in favor of flat, colorful design. Jonathan Ive, the designer of iOS 7’s new elements, described the update as “bringing order to complexity”, highlighting features such as refined typography, new icons, translucency, layering, physics, and gyroscope-driven parallaxing as some of the major changes.
It can act as a hotspot with some carriers, sharing its Internet connection over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or USB, and also access the Apple App Store, a digital application distribution platform for iOS. [8] The iPad Air can optionally sync content and other data with a Mac or Windows computer using iTunes. [10] Apple also began giving away its iLife (iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband) and iWork (Pages, Keynote, Numbers) apps with the device. In June 2019, Apple announced that it would drop support for the iPad Air with the release of iPadOS 13 in September 2019.
[15] The new front-facing camera is capable of video in 720p HD, includes face detection, and backside illumination. The A7 present in the iPad Air is slightly different however, in that it does not use a PoP design which stacks the RAM on top of the SoC.
[18] It also features a metal heat spreader to compensate for the slightly faster clock speed and to provide better thermal management. Apple also sells a “camera connection kit” with an SD card reader, but it can only be used to transfer photos and videos. Apple’s ability to handle many different bands in one device allowed it to offer, for the first time, a single iPad variant which supports all the cellular bands and technologies deployed by all the major North American wireless providers at the time of the device’s introduction. The audio playback of the iPad Air is in stereo with two speakers located on either side of the Lightning connector.
Shimpi further states that the Air “hits a balance of features, design and ergonomics that I don’t think we’ve ever seen in the iPad. “[22] UK Editor-in-Chief of TechRadar, Patrick Goss, gave the iPad Air a positive review, giving praise to the A7 chip and camera upgrades, as well as the crisp and colorful display.
He concludes by stating: “It’s hard to put into words how much Apple has improved the iPad, offering a stunning level of detail and power with a build quality that’s unrivalled. “[23] Christina Bonnington of Wired awarded the Air a rating of 8 out of 10, calling the performance “outstanding” and noting that high-definition video streams and gaming animations are “smooth and stutter free.”
[24] Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak criticized the focus on decreasing size and weight rather than increasing storage space and stated that he did not want an iPad Air as it did not fit his personal needs. [25][26] Dave Smith of the International Business Times wrote that while the device was nice, it did not bring anything new to the iPad.
Smith strongly criticized the lack of a fingerprint reader, and noted that the updates, such as the increased speed and the decreased size and weight, were only slight improvements.
Apple iPad
The iPad is a line of tablet based computers designed and marketed by Apple Inc. that use Apple’s iOS and iPadOS mobile operating system. Apple maintains a list of Supported iPad models on its website.
iOS version by device — iOS Ref
These tables show the first and maximum version of iOS or iPadOS for each iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Information about which devices are vintage/obsolete was obtained from this page.
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 to Know If Your iPad Supports iPadOS 16
You can also find out which version of iPadOS your device is running by going to Settings -> Software Update. iPadOS 16 won’t be released until fall 2022, likely around October, but you can check back here in the Settings app when the new update is officially launched to ensure your iPad stays up-to-date with all the latest features.
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
Some older iPads won’t be compatible with iPadOS 17 — here are the tablets that aren’t supported
Among the many announcements at this year’s WWDC event, Apple revealed the upcoming iPadOS 17 software update for iPad users and announced some of its major features. Set to release in a public beta in July ahead of a fall launch, the new iPadOS will include many of the same capabilities as iOS 17 for iPhones with a few additions, including the first Health app for the iPad, AR effects in FaceTime, and dynamic PDF editing.
Be First to Comment