Apple is anticipated to debut iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 at WWDC 2023 later this 12 months, and a brand new leak has seemingly revealed which iPhones and iPads will (and gained’t) be supported by the upcoming software program updates.

In accordance with a MacRumors (opens in new tab) supply “with a confirmed monitor document,” iOS 17 will drop assist for the iPhone 8, iPhone Eight Plus and iPhone X, whereas iPadOS 17 will shun the first-generation iPad Professional (each the 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch fashions) and fifth-generation iPad. All six gadgets have been launched between November 2015 and November 2017.

If the rumor rings true, Apple may have dropped assist for nearly all gadgets working the A11 Bionic chip or older with its subsequent main software program updates. The sixth- and seventh-generation iPad, in addition to the second-generation iPad Professional (each the 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch fashions) will reportedly be exceptions to the rule. 

The information doesn’t come as a lot of a shock, thoughts. Apple routinely drops assist for older gadgets with each re-creation of iOS and iPadOS – the iPhone 6s, iPhone 7 and iPad Air 2 have been among the many fashions left behind by iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, as an illustration – but it surely’s onerous to listen to that the likes of the iPhone X will quickly be outmoded. 

After all, these gadgets gained’t all of a sudden turn out to be redundant with the discharge of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. The most recent iOS and iPadOS updates ought to preserve them ticking alongside properly for a number of years but – Apple is understood for offering higher assist to older gadgets than most Android producers to theirs, lest we neglect – however these iPhones and iPads gained’t profit from any main OS overhauls that Apple has within the pipeline for the longer term.

iOS 17: what to anticipate

As for what options Apple’s subsequent updates can be bringing to the desk, we now know that iOS 17 can be an even bigger iPhone replace than we first thought. 

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had beforehand reported (opens in new tab) that growth on the Apple VR headset would result in “fewer main modifications” for iOS 17, however the seasoned Apple knowledgeable has since claimed (opens in new tab) that the upcoming replace will truly present a number of of customers’ “most requested options.”

So, whereas it’s unlikely that iOS 17 will reinvent the expertise of utilizing one of the best iPhones, we do count on to see a variety of serious updates supplied to current iPhone options and apps, like CarPlay, Siri and Messages. 

As for issues we’d prefer to see launched with iOS 17, our seven needs for iOS 17 information incorporates requires a redesigned Management Middle, common battery widgets and higher picture-in-picture controls.

As talked about, Apple is all however sure to debut iOS 17‌ at its annual WWDC developer convention in June, with the replace anticipated to start rolling out to customers someday in September, coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 15 line.