iPadOS 17 could finally make you upgrade your old iPad Pro

By Daryl Baxter
published

Time to move on?

An iPad Mini next to a larger iPad with a Magic Keyboard attached to it.
(Image credit: Future)

It might be time to move on from your aging iPad if rumors are true about which devices iPadOS 17 will support.

According to iPhoneSoft (opens in new tab), the first generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro from 2015, alongside the iPad 5 from that year, will be unable to update to the upcoming version, expected to be announced at WWDC 2023.

It's normal for Apple to drop support for its previous products - the second generation iPad Air from 2014 was unable to update to iPadOS 16 in 2022 for example.

However, as Apple decided to open up Stage Manager to more iPad models in the run-up to iPadOS 16's release, we could see some features reserved for its more recent devices.

A tale as old as Apple time

Stage Manager in iPadOS 16.1

(Image credit: iMore)

Removing old devices from newer updates is nothing new - even before iOS 4 removed support for the original iPhone back in 2010, Apple made sure to remove older Macs from updating to its Mac OS X updates. It's all in the vein of making sure there are enough plates to spin without spreading itself too thin.

No company can maintain supporting a bunch of products - the probability of bugs hampering the user experience is too great. It's the same for developers - there is only so much an app can support without it buckling from running on every Apple device.

So while iPadOS 17 is rumored to be a smaller update this time, with refinements and bug fixes being the name of the game while its VR headset takes center stage, it could still be a good time to look into upgrading your iPad if you own one from 2015.

From the iPad mini (2021) to the iPad (2022), you could get a faster chip, TouchID on the power button, and many colors to choose from, with software support for a few more years to come from any of Apple's best iPads.

Daryl Baxter
Daryl Baxter
Features Editor

Daryl is iMore's  Features Editor, overseeing long-form and in-depth articles and op-eds. Daryl loves using his experience as both a journalist and Apple fan to tell stories about Apple's products and its community, from the apps we use everyday to the products that have been long forgotten in the Cupertino archives.


Previously Software & Downloads Writer at TechRadar, and Deputy Editor at StealthOptional, he's also written a book, 'The Making of Tomb Raider (opens in new tab)', which tells the story of the beginnings of Lara Croft and the series' early development. He's also written for many other publications including WIRED, MacFormat, Bloody Disgusting, VGC, GamesRadar, Nintendo Life, VRV Blog, The Loop Magazine, SUPER JUMP, Gizmodo, Film Stories, TopTenReviews, Miketendo64 and Daily Star.

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Chris Laarman
    Yes, time goes by. But that in itself won't have me discard older devices.

    (Oh, I may want a new one, then keep using the old one alongside it. Wouldn't you yourself?)
    Reply
  • Annie_M
    Chris Laarman said:
    Yes, time goes by. But that in itself won't have me discard older devices.

    (Oh, I may want a new one, then keep using the old one alongside it. Wouldn't you yourself?)
    I agree. My husband is currently using 3 iPads... the newest is one that I convinced him to purchase because I didn't think his other one would get the next update. Of course, it did, and he said that I bamboozled him into buying a new one. LOL, which is retrospect is probably partially true. :D

    Welcome to iMore, by the way!
    Reply