WWDC 2024 is still more than three months away, while the new operating systems that will be unveiled during this event will only arrive on our devices in the fall. But we are already hearing a lot of rumors about Apple’s announcements.
While iOS 18 is expected to support all the same phones as iOS 17, the latest report indicates that iPadOS 18, the big upcoming software update for the iPad, will drop support for iPads equipped with the Apple’s A10X Fusion chip. This means that these devices – namely the 2017 iPad Pro models from just before the big redesign – won’t be able to install the new operating system and will be stuck forever on point updates to iPadOS 17 or earlier.
The information comes from a private account on Twitter/X that MacRumors credits with “a proven track record of sharing build numbers for upcoming iOS and iPadOS updates.” The post has since been deleted, which may sound bad, but is probably just a way for the account to avoid the spotlight. As MacRumors observes, the account has in the past deleted leaks that turned out to be accurate.
The following iPads are certified compatible with iPadOS 17:
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation and later)
- 10.5-inch iPad Pro
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (6th generation and later)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
If we remove the models equipped with an A10X processor, it looks like this:
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (6th generation and later)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
But we must not stop there. As MacRumors notes, there are two devices on the iPadOS 17 list (the 6th and 7th generation iPads from 2018 and 2019 respectively) that don’t have A10X chips, but instead have the slower A10. If the A10X isn’t up to the task, the A10 probably won’t be either. So here is our final compatibility list:
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (8th generation and later)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
- Whatever iPads come out by fall
Of course, this isn’t concrete information yet, but it makes sense: Last year, Apple dropped support for three iPad A9s from 2015 to 2017, so we can’t be surprised to see some 2017 and 2018 models disappear this time. For all the latest information on Apple’s summer event this year, check out our WWDC 2024 superguide.
