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

[1ppl3]

many devices in this list have remarkable performance and feels like new on the IOS 18.7.8

People who didn’t upgrade to iOS/MacOS/iPadOS/TVOS 26 will enjoy their gadgets years and years. 2017-2025 was a golden age without vibe slop . Take care of your devices ppl, they are clean

 

[Homme]

many devices in this list have remarkable performance and feels like new on the IOS 18.7.8

People who didn’t upgrade to iOS/MacOS/iPadOS/TVOS 26 will enjoy their gadgets years and years. 2017-2025 was a golden age without vibe slop . Take care of your devices ppl, they are clean

2021-22 was the most golden of the golden ages. iOS/iPadOS 15 being out to the Air 2/Mini 4/6s/SE as well as the last version of iOS to support a iPod Touch

 

[Kottu]

At the moment, Macs are among the few devices that allow users to install an older, faster version of the operating system if they prefer. If Apple continues on its current path, it may eventually introduce the same kind of restrictions found on many other devices. Apple’s silicon is so efficient that these machines remain highly capable for many years, which is not necessarily in Apple’s financial interest when people keep using older hardware for a long time.

As a result, users install newer versions of the OS, performance may decline, and the device constantly reminds them that it might be time to upgrade to the latest model.

I also use a Sony Xperia 1 V as a secondary phone. Officially, it received only two major Android updates, but thanks to LineageOS, I can still run the latest version of Android. On Android devices, even when manufacturers stop providing updates, there are often alternative ways to install the operating system of your choice. With iPhones, however, once Apple ends support, you are effectively forced to remain on the newest—and potentially slowest—version of iOS that was ever released for that device.

 

[SmugMaverick]

At least Google now promises 7 years of updates so you know where you stand.

Dropping the Ultra 1, series 7/8 and 2018 iPad Pro is diabolical.

 

[MilaM]

I have a MacBook older than 10 years, it still works. The fact it doesn't get the latest and greatest doesn't make it useless and, how did you put it? "Crapple".

OSes gain new features. These features require newer hardware. If they don't, they are not really using the capabilities of that new hardware.

Someone else used the term "Crapple".

Macs are a little different for two reasons. You can still count on two more years of security updates from Apple. I have never seen a similar official commitment from Apple for iOS based devices. Another important difference is that you can easily replace security critical apps like the browser or the email client. A current fully patched version of the Firefox browser will still run on macOS Sierra from 2016! Try using Safari from macOS Sierra with current websites. You will be surprised how much of the web will be broken or misbehave in unexpected ways.

 

[1ppl3]

At the moment, Macs are among the few devices that allow users to install an older, faster version of the operating system if they prefer. If Apple continues on its current path, it may eventually introduce the same kind of restrictions found on many other devices. Apple’s silicon is so efficient that these machines remain highly capable for many years, which is not necessarily in Apple’s financial interest when people keep using older hardware for a long time.

As a result, users install newer versions of the OS, performance may decline, and the device constantly reminds them that it might be time to upgrade to the latest model.

I also use a Sony Xperia 1 V as a secondary phone. Officially, it received only two major Android updates, but thanks to LineageOS, I can still run the latest version of Android. On Android devices, even when manufacturers stop providing updates, there are often alternative ways to install the operating system of your choice. With iPhones, however, once Apple ends support, you are effectively forced to remain on the newest—and potentially slowest—version of iOS that was ever released for that device.

You can always install Linux to the Mac in the future also )))

I agree with you like by far on 200% Apple Silicone is sooo sooo powerful, most likely it is ahead of time by any means

 

[1ppl3]

Dropping a four year old Watch Ultra seems unreasonable. You would think you'd get at least five years of support from a $800 device.

If you look closely it’s just better amoled, different design, slightly more specific features and bigger battery. From engineering perspective they are almost the same as Apple Watch 8. When Ultra Watch 2 was released Apple shrunken the batter size and form factor of the regular watch. Why would you do that, more battery more happy user - but they are did it to keep distance bigger between regular watches and ultra, from my point of view it was greedy..

 

[Homme]

At least Google now promises 7 years of updates so you know where you stand.

Dropping the Ultra 1, series 7/8 and 2018 iPad Pro is diabolical.

Yeah but it’s 7 years of OS Updates apply to the Pixel 8 and up. At least with iPhones the 11 lineup gets a extra 7 years on top of its base OS and that was released before COVID was a thing

 

[Alloween]

I guess you forgot the first HomePod (which ist still receiving updates - even though it‘s legacy).

 

[BuddyRich]

ive got a 3 year old Series 8 that will be left in the cold. My only 2 issues with not getting the next WatchOS is being stuck with the terrible WatchOS 26 and app support.. it may be awhile yet but eventually apps stop working with old OSes... and not all devs allow you to install an older app version or if they do, they dont work/share data if you have another device that can run the latest version of the app... since everything is basically a live service/subscription and we cant purposefully install old versions of software and stay on it, this is going to get worse.

 

[FeliApple]

Part of Apple's brand promise (that they live up to in widely varying degrees) is that you can safely accept their upgrades, and do it with confidence that you're running the best personal OS in the world. OBVIOUSLY that's not the whole story, but if we're at the point where any user who doesn't carefully research the viability of an OS update on their particular device is at fault and 'has to start taking some responsibility', that's a vast failure of Apple's entire 'it just works' concept and promise.

We also have an iPad Mini 5 in our house, it's my wife's Candy Crush and Kindle device. She upgraded because the iPad suggested it, it runs OK, but not great, IMHO the 5 shouldn't have been certified for iOS 26, not because the hardware can't handle it, but iOS 26 is a hot mess and a mediocre performer on ALL hardware,

I'm not saying you're wrong that we've hit a point where the basic usability of iOS and Apple's other offerings can't be assumed by the average user.

I *am* saying that if you're right, it's a damn sad day for Apple.

You know it’s not only iOS/iPadOS 26.

Updates ALWAYS impact performance and battery life permanently. There was a problem with Devices with the A9 processor in which if they were running iOS 9, they started deactivating them in 2018, when iOS 12 was current. It’s the only time this ever happened, nobody knows why. You’d get the hello screen and a message that said “unable to activate, please update iOS”.

Apple forced (literally forced, they deactivated the device) my 9.7-inch iPad Pro from iOS 9 to iOS 12, 30% battery life loss.

Apple forced my iPhone 6s from iOS 9 into iOS 13, 40-50% battery life loss and significant performance issues.

Most iOS updates on all devices barring the newest iterations do this.

Apple can promise whatever they like, this promise is completely false. iOS updates massively impact battery life and performance when compared to the original version. A long-term user of iOS should know this. A long-term user of iOS should know that every update impacts battery life, but the first couple of major updates don’t have a massive impact, maybe you can lose 15-20% of battery life, and performance will mostly be okay. When you start updating to the third, fourth, fifth major update, or the final one, the device WILL be horrible. This has always happened. And people just keep updating and complaining.

This is as if there were a nondescript red button. It has no signs of anything. It says it will “help”. You press it and it gives you a strong electric shock. Whose fault is that? The button, obviously. You had no way of knowing it would be detrimental.
Twenty years later, you’ve pressed the button nineteen times. It has shocked you all nineteen times. You press it again, and it keeps shocking you with increased power. “Hey, why is this button shocking me?” It has shocked you NINETEEN times! Can’t you learn? That’s how ridiculous users who update and complain sound to me.

 

[FeliApple]

I was forced into it. I have a collaborative document in Numbers I share with someone else. Apple won’t let iOS/iPadOS use the browser based version to edit. Another behavior that should be criminal. So yes, Apple did force me.

Sorry to hear that, I understand. I never update iOS and I have several iOS versions. My iPad Air 5 (M1) on iPadOS 15 cannot access some notes created on my 11th-gen iPad (A16) on iPadOS 18, I just accept it. As you can see, I never update anything.

I think it’s just part of the considerations before updating. Some compatibility issues are eventually inevitable (I NEVER update anything, my iPod Touch 5G runs iOS 6, my iPhone Xʀ runs iOS 12, my iPhone 16 Plus runs iOS 18, I have well over a decade of experience managing iOS incompatibility, but I prefer it over having a garbage device because updates kill them), but I just accept them and tolerate them.

I understand that what I do isn’t always possible for everyone, but you couldn’t access that Numbers document elsewhere? Updating was absolutely required and there was no alternative? I ask because maybe if this happens again to you you can try to figure out a solution instead of updating. I’d always advise everyone to stay behind.

Just for you to see that this happens to me, too, I just accept it and access the note elsewhere:

Screenshot from my iPad Air 5 (M1), running iPadOS 15.

 

[6un]

WTF, Apple Watch Series 8 released in September, 2022. I bought the latest one to get longer support window and they deprecate it together with series 6 and series 7.
They better backport some support for their watchOS 26 then, or this leaves a very sour taste.

 

[MilaM]

Series 0 - 3 years of major updates
Series 1 - 4 years of major updates
Series 2 - 4 years of major updates
Series 3 - 5 years of major updates
Series 4 - 6 years of major updates
Series 5 - 5 years of major updates
Series 6 - 6 years of major updates
Series 7 - 5 years of major updates
Series 8 - 4 years of major updates
Ultra 1 - 4 years of major updates

Four years of updates is a short amount of time for something like a watch. I think manufacturers should be required to publish this information very prominently on product pages. Buyers need to know how long/short the support period is.

 

[Torty]

Wow those smartwatches have a short lifespan. I'm sticking with my radio-controlled solar Casio.

 

[ItchyRat2160]

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

£800 for an Apple Watch Ultra in 2022, and only 4 years of support. What a joke.

 

[jonku]

I'm going to be pretty annoyed when my M1 Pro MBP 14" with 32GB of RAM gets bumped. As if it couldn't handle tens years worth of updates.

I agree. I’ve that model. For the things I use it for, it’s exactly as good as when I bought it. Although, so long as it gets security updates I’m happy, all the frippery of modern OS’s is of little interest to me, I disable/ignore much of it.

I’d honestly be happy to run Windows XP on my gaming PC if it was still secure and ran modern games, ha!

 

[opeter]

One can assume, that macOS 28 will drop support for M1 Macs.

 

[Parowdy]

So Apples real priorities are not to fix their 26 software on all devices, but to fix iOS on all devices for the PR and end support for millions of devices in all other hardware categories, hopefully to little to no push back.
It’s especially a shame with the watches and iPads.
I mean, 3 generations and three different tiers all dropped at once, that’s drastic enough without the buggy software.

 

[Torty]

One can assume, that macOS 28 will drop support for M1 Macs.

Good for those owners: Keep the last OS with rosetta support.

 

[joiwomcow]

Got a new battery for my Apple Watch 7 last year. I plan on using it another three years minimum. There has been zero useful added functionality with newer apple watches, so I have zero interest in binning it.

Only a pity that WatchOS 26 was such a trash fire - that's one "upgrade" I regret.

 

[FeliApple]

So Apples real priorities are not to fix their 26 software on all devices, but to fix iOS on all devices for the PR and end support for millions of devices in all other hardware categories, hopefully to little to now push back.
It’s especially a shame with the watches and iPads.
I mean, 3 generations and three different tiers all dropped at once, that’s drastic enough without the buggy software.

Again, users have to know that when they update. Apple will leave unsupported devices on a poor iOS version, always. Updating to the final version is a ridiculously poor decision.

How many years do you need to learn? It’s been 20 now. Enough of avoiding responsibility. It’s users’ fault. Stay behind, even a couple of versions before the final one typically makes a huge difference, even if it’s never as good as the original.

 

[HVDynamo]

Wife’s Series 8 watch
Apple TV
Intel iMac
2 iPads

It’s the security risk using the Mac and iPads that concerns me going forward and how long they still provide updates.

Thanks Tim and John! Mother Nature will chastise you for the e-waste!

Generally speaking, Apple tends to support security updates for 2 previous versions of their OS's, and in some cases even go farther back for bigger vulnerabilities. Generally I wouldn't worry about it much for another 2 years past september.

 

[HVDynamo]

Apple products are inherently secure. Android, Linux, Windows are not.

uh... no they aren't... Nothing that's internet connected is inherently secure. Apple is now big enough that security through obscurity also falls apart.

 

[Parowdy]

One can assume, that macOS 28 will drop support for M1 Macs.

Question remains will it only be the M1 or also the M1 Pro and Max and Ultra that were introduced significantly later.