iPad Will the Third Generation iPad get iOS 9?

[Yebubbleman]

I'm going to pose this question for the rest of the iOS family in a bit. For now, I'm focusing this question on the third generation iPad as I happen to have one (two, if you count my father's) that I use for MDM, beta testing, Jailbreaking and other such fun things. If it's likely that iOS 9 will not be supported on the third generation, I will probably look to sell both mine (and my father's) before iOS 9 actually releases so that I can actually get some kind of a monetary return before they are more or less out of date software-wise.

That all being said, I'm guessing the attitude here is that anything with an A5 Processor is probably out of the question (given the slow performance of iOS 8 on the iPad 2, first generation iPad mini, fifth generation iPod touch, and the iPhone 4S), but given the fact that the third generation iPad has 1GB in its A5X versus the 512MB that the other A5-based iOS devices have, as well as a substantially better GPU (which, I understand evens out in terms of performance when the retina panel is factored in), I'm wondering which side of the cutoff it will be on.

What say you?

----------

For the record, I'm going to guess that it isn't likely. But I'd be more than open to any educated opinions that suggest otherwise (provided there are facts to back it up).

 

[aneftp]

Consider they are still selling iPad mini one with a5 processor and 512mb ram.

I think a5 processors will get very stripped down version of iOS 9.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Consider they are still selling iPad mini one with a5 processor and 512mb ram.

I think a5 processors will get very stripped down version of iOS 9.

They have, once in the past, stopped selling models of an iOS device prior to the launch of an iOS device that wouldn't run on it. Fourth Generation iPod touch in 2013.

Which is to say that history suggests that the fact that they're still selling it doesn't necessarily matter.

 

[mangomind]

They have, once in the past, stopped selling models of an iOS device prior to the launch of an iOS device that wouldn't run on it. Fourth Generation iPod touch in 2013.

Which is to say that history suggests that the fact that they're still selling it doesn't necessarily matter.

Exactly, and they could easily introduce a new iPod touch and iPad mini this spring, and bump the remaining A5 devices out of the lineup. Especially since they didn't upgrade the internals of these devices in 2014.

On the other hand:
The iPad 2 has ran 5 iOS versions thus far (4-8). Historically, Apple has never decreased the number of operating systems newer devices can run, instead, it has always kept or increased that number. Therefore, the iPad 3 should run at least 5 iOS versions (5-9).

 

[pdoherty]

I have an iPad 3 and I've already avoided upgrading to iOS 8 in any form (staying at 7.1.2 I think it is). Apple is notorious for "helping" older models upgrade to the later OSes despite it rendering them slower or less functional than before. I got burned on that with the original iPad and learned my lesson to not trust them - just because they say the iOS version is upgradeable doesn't mean you should.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Exactly, and they could easily introduce a new iPod touch and iPad mini this spring, and bump the remaining A5 devices out of the lineup. Especially since they didn't upgrade the internals of these devices in 2014.

On the other hand:
The iPad 2 has ran 5 iOS versions thus far (4-8). Historically, Apple has never decreased the number of operating systems newer devices can run, instead, it has always kept or increased that number. Therefore, the iPad 3 should run at least 5 iOS versions (5-9).

It's about performance. iOS 8 performance isn't great on the third generation iPad, though the 1GB of RAM on the A5X helps it not be quite as bad as the non-AppleTV A5 devices. I'm pretty sure A5 is not getting iOS 9 support, but I could really go either way on the A5X.

 

[stevemiller]

ios 6 was the last OS to run WELL on the iPad 3, so three major releases after that is probably a bad idea. I went to 8 only because the 'magic' was already gone by 7 and at least it can take calls and SMS now.

 

[TechZeke]

At this point, unless there are huge improvements in performance with the current iOS 8, it wouldn't be a good idea to put iOS 9 on it either way. iOS 8 pretty much nearly kills the iPad 3.

The only thing that separates the iPad 3 from the iPad 2 is the GPU in the A5X. Processor wise they are exactly the same, so both will probably be dropped at the same time. iPad 2 is for-sure losing support this year, so I expect iPad 3 might follow suit.

 

[The Doctor11]

ios 6 was the last OS to run WELL on the iPad 3, so three major releases after that is probably a bad idea. I went to 8 only because the 'magic' was already gone by 7 and at least it can take calls and SMS now.

But you got to admit, iOS 7 was far better then iOS 8 on in terms of performance on the 3rd gen. If I could have went back I probaly would have on mine.

 

[crjackson2134]

I would hope not. iOS 8 is already pitifully slow on the iPad 3. Unless they find some magic code to restore the performance to iOS 7.x levels, it would just be ipadicide.

 

[kevink2]

Unless I go out and buy an Air 2, I probably won't go to 9 on my iPad.

I had issues with my upgrade, and to get things to work I had to wipe settings and setup as new device. Which required me to reconfigure some apps.

The biggest improvement for me in ios8 (and yosemity) was being able to do SMS texts on the computer/iPad, and not just iMessage.

 

[TacticalDesire]

Performance has actually been pretty great on my first gen mini with iOS 8. I believe I'm on 8.1.1. I don't use it for a whole lot but for what I do use it for I don't have any complaints. I think the iPad 3 has about a 50/50 chance of getting the update. It's always been the red headed step child of the iPad line so I could go either way and wouldn't be surprised regardless.