iPadOS 17 compatibility: Which iPads are supported?

When Apple releases its next major software update this year, we have a second guess about which iPads will lose compatibility. Coming from a reliable source, the latest information confirms the earlier rumour. Here’s a look at the expected compatibility for iPadOS 17 and the three iPads that could drop.

In early April, we saw our first rumor iPhones and iPads Support will be lost with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. This comes from an anonymous Twitter account that has correctly predicted the details of Apple’s software updates in the past.

Now iPhoneSoft Apple’s source says they’ve heard about iPadOS 17 compatibility, which matches the first rumor.

For some background, iPhoneSoft correctly predicted that Apple would drop support for the first-generation iPhone SE and iPhone 6s with iOS 16 at the end of 2021 (the original report did not include the iPhone 7, which was dropped last fall). iPhoneSoft has been upfront about compatibility with iOS 13 and iOS 14.

iPads 17 lose compatibility

Here are three iPads rumored to be getting rid of iPadOS 17:

• iPad 5th gen
• iPad Pro 9.7 inch first generation
• iPad Pro 12.9 inch first generation

Compatible with iPads 17

Here are the iPads supported by iPadOS 17:

• iPad Air 3rd generation and later
• iPad 6th generation and later
• iPad mini 5th generation and later
• iPad Pro 2017 and later

Another thing to keep in mind is that while iPads from 2017 and later must be compatible with iPadOS 17, older devices typically don’t support the latest features and capabilities that come with newer software.

Meanwhile, for the iPhone, there are conflicting reports. The first rumor we saw said that three iPhones would lose support with iOS 17, and the second rumor said that all iPhones that could run iOS 16 would be able to run iOS 17. Read more in our full coverage:

Do you have iPad 5th gen or iPad Pro 1st gen? Will you upgrade if iPadOS 17 loses support? Share your thoughts in the comments!