Apple has announced that it will be hosting its WWDC 2023 event on June 5, where it will see fit to release iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17 to developers. It was previously reported that iOS 17 will be a major update with some notable features and improvements. However, Apple will be removing support for some older iPhone and iPad models. If you happen to own an iPhone or an iPad from almost five years ago, chances are your device will not be compatible with the latest software. Check out more details on which iPhone and iPad models will drop support for iOS 17 and iPadOS 17.
Apple will no longer support these iPhone and iPad models with the release of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17
Apple will release iOS 17 to developers after its WWDC 2023 event. The company will also release updates for the Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV. Take note that the public release of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 will take place later this year in September with the launch of the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models. Unfortunately, iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 will drop support for some iPhone and iPad models.
According to a reliable source, iOS 17 will not be compatible with the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the iPhone X that launched back in 2017. What this means is that devices running on Apple's A11 Bionic chip will not support iOS 17. As for iPadOS 17, the operating system will not support the first-gen iPad Pro models with 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch display sizes. As for the iPad's processor, the A10X and A10 Fusion chip will continue to be compatible with iPadOS 17.
iOS 17 will have a lot in store for users, and it will take advantage of the new iPhone 15 Pro design. We have previously reported that the iPhone 15 Pro will feature solid-state Power and Volume buttons instead of mechanical keys. Additionally, Apple will be finally moving away from the Mute Switch in favor of a solid-state Action Button similar to the one you will find on the Apple Watch Ultra. Henceforth, to take advantage of new hardware, iOS 17 will offer enhanced controls. For older models, iOS 17 support will bring new features to the mix that Apple will announce at its WWDC 2023 event.
Other than this, the iPhone X and iPhone 8 series were the only devices with a hardware-based exploit that allowed developers to jailbreak the software. With Apple dropping support for iPhone X, users would be limited to jailbreaking their device on iOS 16. This is because there are no working jailbreak tools for iOS 16 on newer devices.
Apple usually drops support for a device when the hardware is not capable of handling the latest features. While it does make sense, Apple has also reserved some features for high-end models. For instance, even though the iPad mini 6 and the iPad Air 4 are plenty capable, the Stage Manager feature is only available on iPad models with Apple's M-series of chips. It is still great to see how Apple offers five years of software updates for devices launched more than five years ago.
Take note that these are mere speculations at this point, as Apple has not shared any details on the subject so far. Nonetheless, we will keep you guys updated on the latest. Do you think Apple will drop iOS 17 support on iPhone X? Let us know in the comments.
