iPadOS 17 Again Rumored to Drop Support for These iPads

Apple in iPadOS 17 will drop support for the first-generation 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro as well as the fifth-generation iPad, according to French tech website iPhoneSoft.

iOS 17 Icon Mock Feature Feature
This is the second time we have heard claims regarding iPad device compatibility for the next operating system Apple is developing. Early last month, a source with a proven track record for upcoming software updates said the same three models will not be supported.

iPhoneSoft's information is said to come from an internal Apple source. If accurate, that means the following devices will be compatible with iPadOS 17 when it's released in the fall.

  • iPad Pro (2017 and later)
  • iPad Air (third generation and later)
  • iPad (sixth generation and later)
  • iPad mini (fifth generation and later)

It's worth noting that just because an iPad makes Apple's compatibility list doesn't necessarily mean it will fully support everything the software has to offer. For example, iOS 15 is compatible with all devices that can run iOS 14, but some features are not available on older iPhones.

As for which iPhones will run iOS 17, we've heard conflicting reports. The same source that first revealed which iPad models would be dropped from iPadOS 17 also claimed that iOS 17 will drop support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X.

However, this was immediately disputed by another leaker who has shared accurate information in the past. According to a post on the MacRumors forum by the anonymous tipster, all iPhones that support iOS 16 will support iOS 17, including all devices powered by A11 chipsets (i.e. the iPhone X and iPhone 8/8 Plus).

Last year, iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 dropped support for quite a few devices, including the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, original iPhone SE, final iPod touch, second-generation iPad Air, and fourth-generation iPad mini.

Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 during its WWDC keynote on June 5.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

Popular Stories

wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...

Top Rated Comments

ersan191 Avatar
37 months ago

So, the 6th and 7th gen iPads are also getting dropped?
Noticed that too, doubt Apple is wiping out 3 generations in one update. Especially when the rumors are that this version will be very minor in scope. This report is probably bogus.

EDIT: They edited the post, it used to say 8th gen iPad - now says 6th which makes more sense.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
canadianspeculator Avatar
37 months ago
Taking away updates from a tablet people bought in early 2018 seems bad. I have a late 2018 iPad that is perfectly fine for my uses, and I don't plan on upgrading any time soon, even if iPadOS 18 drops support. I always felt like the iPad was supposed to outlast the phone's cycle.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
37 months ago
Why? Does it take too much power to handle static widgets on a new wallpaper layout? ?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bearinthetown Avatar
37 months ago
Anyone believes that these devices are actually too weak to support the iPadOS? No, they are not. This is meant to make your device obsolete to make you buy a new one. And all that from sooo eco-concerned Apple.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bodhitree Avatar
37 months ago
I have a first-gen ipad pro 12.9” from 2015 which still runs fine and have no intentions of replacing it even if ipados drops support. In fact, I’ve found that my ipad use is just a few use cases - email, browsing on mainly forums, some youtube - and I’ll likely keep doing that until the apps drop support and that is likely to take a while.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
darngooddesign Avatar
37 months ago

So, the 6th and 7th gen iPads are also getting dropped?
Not according to this article


Attachment Image
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)