Apple’s iPhones have a general reputation for being considerably more future-proof than the average smartphone, to the extent such a concept is possible in the mobile tech world. This sentiment is partly based on the fact that the Cupertino company commits to ensuring the long-term software support of all of its devices.
But all good things must come to an end… even software support for smartphones as iconic as the iPhone X. According to a new leak, iOS 17 will be dropping the support for a number of iPhones, including the iPhone X, and the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. All three of the aforementioned devices were launched in late 2017.
Similarly, several iPads are also on the chopping block with iPadOS 17 – namely, the original 12.9” iPad Pro (1st generation), the 9.7” iPad Pro (1st generation) and the fifth-generation vanilla iPad. All devices listed by MacRumors were released between 2015 and 2017.
For reference, iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are expected to debut at WWDC 2023, alongside the Apple AR/VR headset. The conference will take place between June 5 to June 9. Beyond the recent leak, we know relatively little about the new iterations of Apple’s operating systems.
Most reports indicate that iOS 17 will be a somewhat incremental update, focusing more on Apple’s commitment to complying with European legislation. The Cupertino company will likely roll out support for third-party App Stores for the first time.
On the other hand, we know absolutely nothing about iPadOS 17. In all likelihood, Apple will continue implementing sophisticated multitasking features to facilitate a better 2-in-1 fantasy on its high-end ‘Pro’ iPads.
