Have One of These 16 Apple Devices? Software Support Ends This Fall

[MilaM]

This is why? Apple supports devices with latest versions for years, and even longer with security and bugfixes. Apple devices last a long, long time.

The hardware lasts for a long time. But lacking long-term OS support does make them difficult to use past the 8-10 year range.

I have to admit that I have been contemplating switching to Linux quite often recently. Support for old hardware is excellent and the user experience has also improved a lot.

 

[Arran]

Why? The AWU2 is getting watchOS 27. Replacing perfectly capable hardware every three years because the calendar says so is peak consumerism and makes zero sense.

It's nothing to do with OS27.

From experience, a watch with a newer CPU performs better. The latest hardware platform (regardless of OS) yields an overall slicker experience - which I value.

To put it another way, OS27 will run great on an Ultra 2 and 3. However, it'll run better on an Ultra 4, 5 and 6, assuming Apple upgrades the CPU for Ultra 4. Now, if Apple doesn't upgrade the processor in a U4 then I'm absolutely staying put with my U2.

 

[jccrtv]

Apple will end software support for 16 devices this fall across four product lines, with the Apple Watch seeing the most sweeping cull in the product's history.

The full extent of this year's software drops became clear with the announcements of macOS 27 Golden Gate, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, and watchOS 27 at WWDC this week. The one bright spot is that iOS 27 features identical device support to iOS 26, with no iPhone models removed from the compatibility list, and the same goes for the HomePod.

The Apple Watch sees the sharpest cuts. watchOS 27 drops the Series 6, Series 7, Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra (first generation), and Apple Watch SE (second generation) in a single wave, requiring an S9 or S10 chip. watchOS 26 had supported the same lineup as watchOS 11 before it, including the Series 6 and later, the SE (2nd generation) and later, and all Apple Watch Ultra models. Wiping out three launch generations at once is the biggest loss of latest-generation support for Apple Watch to date.

The iPad lineup also sees an unusually aggressive set of cuts. iPadOS 27 raises the floor to the A14 Bionic chip or the M1 chip, dropping five models that still run iPadOS 26: The iPad Air (3rd generation), the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), the iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation), the iPad (8th generation), and the iPad mini (5th generation). By comparison, iPadOS 26 cut only a single device from the iPadOS 18 list (the 7th generation iPad).

macOS Golden Gate brings the era of Intel Macs to a close. The four remaining Intel machines supported by macOS Tahoe don't make the cut this year: The MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019), MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports), iMac (2020), and Mac Pro (2019). Apple said last year that macOS Tahoe would be the final release for pre-Apple silicon Macs, and macOS 27 makes that official.

Apple TV sees two models dropped with tvOS 27: The Apple TV HD from 2015 and the Apple TV 4K (1st generation) from 2017. Only the 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TV 4K models will receive the update. The full list of devices losing support for the latest software this fall is as follows:

watchOS 27

• Apple Watch Series 6 (2020)
• Apple Watch Series 7 (2021)
• Apple Watch Series 8 (2022)
• Apple Watch Ultra (1st generation, 2022)
• Apple Watch SE (2nd generation, 2022)

iPadOS 27

• iPad Air (3rd generation, 2019)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation, 2018)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation, 2018)
• iPad (8th generation, 2020)
• iPad mini (5th generation, 2019)

macOS 27 Golden Gate

• MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
• iMac (2020)
• Mac Pro (2019)

tvOS 27

• Apple TV HD (2015)
• Apple TV 4K (1st generation, 2017)

Owners of affected devices aren't entirely without options in the near term; Apple typically continues issuing security patches for the previous OS version for at least a year after it's superseded. For the latest features, though, newer hardware is the only path forward. Apple's new operating systems are expected to be released in September following a period of beta testing.

Article Link: Have One of These 16 Apple Devices? Software Support Ends This Fall

Software compatibility is what I'm most curious (and amused) about. I stay on the bleeding edge of new everything, and yet I get a ton of those, "This software won't be compatible" notices LOL. Curious to see what companies won't have a new version out by launch. I expect a bunch of emails that say "Don't update to Golden Gate yet! We're feverishly working on a compatible version that will be out in a year".

 

[MRSugarD]

The 2018 iPad Pros had a magnificent run for eight years🙌

 

[Student of Life]

The 2018 iPad Pro and the 2017 Apple TV have had a good long life. 8 to 9 years support is impressive.

 

[pigeonguy]

Some of these dont sound reasonable to me. Keeping the 2020 iPad Pro (A12Z) but dropping the nearly identical 2018 iPad Pro (A12X)…
I dont like it.

Agreed. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Dropping a device for the sake of dropping it.

 

[WU27f1xcCs]

I really am quite frustrated by the Ultra (2022) already not getting feature updates. My expectations were different.

 

[apparatchik]

Why? The AWU2 is getting watchOS 27. Replacing perfectly capable hardware every three years because the calendar says so is peak consumerism and makes zero sense.

I agree, which means you shouldn't replace the Apple Watch just because it doesn't run the latest major OS version: the Watch will keep getting security updates and remain perfectly funcional with watchOS26, it's not like Apple will brick your device.

 

[kb12252004]

"iPadOS 27 raises the floor to the A14 Bionic chip or the M1 chip..." According to Apple's website the iPad 9, with its A13 chip, is included in the iPadOS 27 compatibility list.

 

[963852741]

I wonder when M1 will get the shaft.

 

[ReliableSource]

The Watch list is the most egregious to me; I’d be pretty annoyed if I had an Ultra 1.

It seems like this is a watershed moment with all the AI stuff, and what used to be “Apple devices don’t need that much RAM because they’re so optimized for the software” has caught up with them. And now they’ve got to rip the bandaid off and draw a line for what’s going to get support going forward.

It does suck though. They should be able to give you a 27-lite version that just doesn’t have Siri AI if you’re running hardware they’ve deemed too old.

 

[Shalev Lazarof]

Apple watch ended support for arm64_32 architecture, this phase is over and apple is going forward with arm64.

 

[I7guy]

That's why I already switched to Linux since 2 and I have plans to get a Pixel phone with GrapheneOS this month. Plus a Casio watch instead of an Crapple one.

God damn Crapple.

Enjoy your integrated ecosystem. Think you’ll get tired of it in the future because today it feels like a win and independence. Tomorrow it will be a prison.

 

[Davelfc]

As I’ve mentioned previously, I will continue to use my Ultra 1 until it stops allowing Apple Pay. I’m not even sure when we in the UK will be getting the new Siri, so I doubt I will be missing much.

 

[sjsharksfan12]

This is a good post because it clarifies the ultimate confusion of the week. I couldn't believe I was thinking at first they were going to cut support for the M1 Ipad Air, considering it's their own chip. That didn't make sense. Glad that ended up not happening.

 

[Taq'aix]

I agree, which means you shouldn't replace the Apple Watch just because it doesn't run the latest major OS version: the Watch will keep getting security updates and remain perfectly funcional with watchOS26, it's not like Apple will brick your device.

I partially disagree. I can see why some people would want the latest watchOS features, but for the average user, I don’t think that’s enough of a reason to upgrade.

 

[Arran]

Apple watch ended support for arm64_32 architecture, this phase is over and apple is going forward with arm64.

I didn't know that. Thanks.

I googled for more info and found a relevant Macrumors article from exactly a year ago as watchOS 26 was warming up.

watchOS 26 Moves Latest Apple Watch Models to New Architecture

watchOS 26 brings a significant upgrade to the Apple Watch's architecture, transitioning the latest models to full arm64. The change was revealed in Apple's "What's new in watchOS 26" video for developers. The Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are set to move from arm64_32...

www.macrumors.com

 

[biffuz]

Looks like a lot of folks will be forever stuck with a ugly, buggy, and slow OS.
Including me, on the iPad. Well, that was a bad purchase decision anyway.

 

[DocMultimedia]

And I continue waiting for an updated ATV, my current 4k original becomes unsupported. Hopefully that means they'll finally release a new one this fall. Maybe. I need a Gurman confirmation. 🤣

 

[svish]

Many watches lost support this year! Intel Macs not getting the update was not surprising.

 

[MrENGLISH]

And I continue waiting for an updated ATV, my current 4k original becomes unsupported. Hopefully that means they'll finally release a new one this fall. Maybe. I need a Gurman confirmation. 🤣

I've been holding off upgrading my ATV for so long now. I don't know what Apple is waiting for. I won't be upgrading until the next gen models are available to purchase.

 

[Black_Mage]

Geez. R.I.P. Apple Watches. The 6? Ok. The 7? Too soon! The 8? WTF?

 

[aespana]

Apple TV 4K 1st gen is out? Our Apple Tv works perfect so, no problemo

 

[eric89074]

I wonder when M1 will get the shaft.

I think the base M1 Macs will get one more update. M1 Pro and Max maybe two? M1 iPads at least two more updates.

 

[ChrisA]

That's why I already switched to Linux since 2 and I have plans to get a Pixel phone with GrapheneOS this month. Plus a Casio watch instead of an Crapple one.

God damn Crapple.

I've been buying 2014 Mac Minis. You can get them between $50 and $120, depending on specs. Then replace macOS with Proxmox, and you have a very capable small server that will be supported with updates until the end of time. The 2014 Mini used an Intel i5 and up to 16Gb of RAM and a 256GB SSD. This is still usable today.