I have an iPad second generation and I'm guessing at some point it will no longer be able to support the latest releases of iOS. Mine still works with iOS 8 but it runs pretty slowly at times. Will iOS 9 work on the iPad 2 or is it time for a new iPad?
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iPad When will iPad 2 no longer support latest iOS?
- Thread starter RickMC
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They are shockingly still selling the iPad mini with the same A5 CPU, and the iPad 2 is the best selling iPad of all time, so it still has a few years left in it. Definitely still getting iOS 9, will probably get iOS X too.
venom600
macrumors 65816
Your iPad has (mostly) the same hardware as the still on sale iPad Mini and iPod Touch, so I imagine you'll see at least one more round of OS Updates. The iPad 2 has proven to be one of the most prolific, long lasting computers ever made. I bought my first one in June of 2011 and I'd still have it today had I not dropped a bowl of cereal on it. 🙁
Cool, thanks. Yeah now that you mention it, the iPad 2 has been a pretty awesome device since I got it over 3 years ago, and I never felt the need to upgrade.
snow755
macrumors 68000
you dont no that ipad 2 is getting IOS 9 or not so i would not be saying Definitely
i think iphone 4S and ipad 2 will be drop for the line up too be getting IOS 9 this year
richwoodrocket
macrumors 68020
What's this iOS x you speak of?
Unfortunately the iPad 2 will probably still be supported for at least one more iOS version.
0007776
Suspended
Unless you're an apple stockholder wanting the stock price to go up from everyone with an iPad 2 having to upgrade to run the latest iOS why is longer support a bad thing?
T'hain Esh Kelch
macrumors 604
It is already struggling to cope with iOS8, so iOS9 would undoubtly be even worse.
richwoodrocket
macrumors 68020
Badrottie
Suspended
I'd be surprised if the iPad 2 gets iOS 9. It runs 8.3 pretty well, wouldn't mind if it gets left with 8.4.
I've just settled with the fact that all A5 devices will be getting iOS 9. 
have had many chances to drop the original iPad Mini and the 5th gen iPod Touch from the line-up, but they have not. They say it will be an optimisation and stability upgrade, so A5 devices will probably contain next to no new features, but with improved processor and memory management.
But do you remember the 4th gen iPod Touch, which was discontinued on May 30th, and iOS 7 was announced on June 10th, and it didn't support it? We might see a similar case here. So if those two devices get dropped, support will most likely be lost.
have had many chances to drop the original iPad Mini and the 5th gen iPod Touch from the line-up, but they have not. They say it will be an optimisation and stability upgrade, so A5 devices will probably contain next to no new features, but with improved processor and memory management.But do you remember the 4th gen iPod Touch, which was discontinued on May 30th, and iOS 7 was announced on June 10th, and it didn't support it? We might see a similar case here. So if those two devices get dropped, support will most likely be lost.
The dreaded early morning juggling act. Where that extra walk back from the table to the kitchen is just too much to bare. A never ending battle which there are many casualties.
Shirasaki
macrumors P6
Obviously for users, they want to receive another update. However, until now, without an available iOS 9 beta,I think few can guarantee iPad 2 will receive iOS 9.
I am using iPad mini. Recently I download an application called duet display. Thus app can turn your iPad into a secondary screen for various purposes. So now that iPad mini becomes my second display for viewing purpose.
However iOS 8.4 in iPad mini is so slow. So I am afraid iPad mini will not receive any further update.
I am using iPad mini. Recently I download an application called duet display. Thus app can turn your iPad into a secondary screen for various purposes. So now that iPad mini becomes my second display for viewing purpose.
However iOS 8.4 in iPad mini is so slow. So I am afraid iPad mini will not receive any further update.
I assumed that iOS 8.4 would be its last but considering what others have said, since the iPad mini and iPod touch 5th gen. are still for sale and have the A5 chip, iOS 9 will probably be its last. The iPad 2 probably has had the longest life cycle for iOS devices starting at iOS 4 and going to iOS 9.
Shirasaki
macrumors P6
Yes, and iPad 2 will become the historical device in apple's history, if they can receive iOS 9 update. A5 chip will also become the most...uh, impressive chip in apple's history.
Oudinot
macrumors regular
The iPad 2 runs like crap with IOS 8.x. Web surfing is a joke with pages constantly reloading. Apple is forcing people to upgrade their iPads or spend massive amount of time trying to use their "outdated" machines. Doubt I will ever buy another one. Even old MacBooks can surf without constant reloads.
Offering my opinion here. So take it for what it is worth.
I believe that iPad 2's are still in heavy use by school districts across the U.S. Due Apple's commitment to education, I believe that the iPad 2 will get one more iOS update.
I believe that iPad 2's are still in heavy use by school districts across the U.S. Due Apple's commitment to education, I believe that the iPad 2 will get one more iOS update.
oldmacs
macrumors 603
Around 50 percent of iPad users are on the iPad 2 or the iPad Mini 1 which are the same device CPU + RAM wise in a different shell.
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Thats due to the ram issues in iOS 8, that happen on my iPad Mini 2 as well as my iPad 2. If Apple truly does release iOS 9 with bug and performance fixes as the big thing, then the iPad 2 could run it and run it faster.
Believe me web surfing is a joke on almost all iPads besides the Air 2 due to reloads 😛
FSMBP
macrumors 68030
Spot on. Education (Apple's deals with selling iPads to numerous school districts) is the only reason the iPad 2 has received as many updates as it has. They most likely had a clause for X amount of years for support.
Quote:
"Apple is now building a core version of iOS 9 that runs efficiently on older A5 devices, then enabling each properly performing feature one-by-one. Thanks to this new approach, an entire generation (or two) of iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches will be iOS 9-compatible rather than reaching the end of the iOS line."
"Apple is now building a core version of iOS 9 that runs efficiently on older A5 devices, then enabling each properly performing feature one-by-one. Thanks to this new approach, an entire generation (or two) of iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches will be iOS 9-compatible rather than reaching the end of the iOS line."
oldmacs
macrumors 603
The reason why the iPad 2 has received so many updates is that:
1. It was a big advance in hardware for its time
2. Apple sold it for so long
3. Apple still sells it, but in a different shell as an iPad Mini 1
4. Huge numbers of people use the iPad 2 even now
apple sold a boat load to schools so they have made a prison for themselves where they have to support it far longer if they want repeat business in the future.
dumastudetto
macrumors 603
This isn't good news. Apple should be focused on current generation products and pushing consumers to adopt all the new technologies. Historically Apple has done an excellent job of killing off old products and persuading people to upgrade to get the full benefits of their tireless work.
I pray to god iPad 2, original iPad Mini, and the iPhone 4s are all choked off from receiving any further updates by the time iOS 9 arrives. It's time to move on. Those ancient devices are completely inferior in every conceivable way to current generation equivalent products.
oldmacs
macrumors 603
Um Its a good thing that apple is taking care of its customers.
Their current work needs to be optimising iOS, as it is a freaking disaster on everything. Get it running nice on A5 and it will scream on everything else.
I pray thy aren't, as my iPad 2 still does everything I need. I can't afford a new iPad, but loosing iOS support will mean my iPad becomes semi useless. Plus they are still selling the mini 1 and touch 5.