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Anyone know when Apple will stop issuing updates for iPad Pro 12.9” 1st gen or how to find this out? I’m looking at buying one used however having a 1st gen iPad I know how useless it eventually gets to be once you can no longer update it. I’d hate to spend all that money for them to stop issuing updates and I can only get a year out of it before apps are no longer compatible.
iPad Pro 12.9-inch Wi-Fi
Hello,
Apple does not often release information when end-of-support for a device will occur ahead of time. Upcoming system software update support often occurs when Apple announces a new system update during the summer.
Hello,
Apple does not often release information when end-of-support for a device will occur ahead of time. Upcoming system software update support often occurs when Apple announces a new system update during the summer.
No way to know this as Apple does not release support life span time tables for products.
However, in general and based on past update history, its around 5 or 6 years from time of release.
The first generation 12.9" iPad Pro was released in 2015, so its about at the end of the software update cycle. It may get one more update this year to iOS 14, and will likely continue to be able to run current apps for a few more years after that.
Its not like it will stop working and no longer be compatible with apps the moment it does not get an update however. It takes a considerable amount of time before apps stop being compatible.
Currently only the iPad 1, 2, 3 and iPad Mini 1 are considered to be non compatible with most apps at this time. So no, its unlikely you would only get a year of compatible apps. That is just being a tad melodramatic.
In general, end-of-life (EOL) is generally marked by a new version of iOS (or for iPad, iPadOS) requiring more system resources (CPU or RAM) than the installed hardware can provide.
Consider that all iPad Pro models have modern/powerful 64-bit CPUs, with 4GB RAM; the only exceptions to this are the original 9.7” iPad Pro (2GB RAM) and the newest top-end iPad Pro models with 1TB internal storage (6GB RAM).
All “current” models of iPad have 3GB RAM minimum. So, with the exception of the 9.7” Pro, all Pro models generally exceed - or at least match - current models for CPU performance and RAM.
Whilst we cannot speculate as to the actual EOL will occur, if linked to necessary specification, it might be reasonable to anticipate ongoing support for older models of iPad Pro until such time as the minimum hardware specifications of the then “current” models exceed that of the legacy models. iPadOS 13.x currently requires 2GB RAM as the minimum supported spec’; all devices with 2GB RAM are, perhaps, at greatest risk of EOL at time of the next major update to iOS/iPadOS.
I hope this is helpful in informing your eventual decision.
Thank you! This makes so much sense for someone who doesn’t keep up with the specs of all these devices! I’m going to go for it, it may actually get me longer use time than other used iPads. If not I should be able to get a couple years out of it at least before apps stop working.
A third-party press article from Cult of Mac, appearing in recent days, has stated that iPadOS14 is expected to support all iPad models that can currently run iPadOS13 - with limited exceptions. If the reported intel’ is indeed accurate, it is perhaps likely that your stated purchase intentions are “on safe ground”.
Here is a link to the published article in Apple News:
https://apple.news/AtS5Tr1FKTtGqCpcZ_vw94w
I hope you find this to be helpful in further informing your eventual purchase decision.
Not trying to be melodramatic just weighing the price vs the length of use I’d get out of it. Thanks for the info, it gives me an idea of what I’d be getting into if I purchase it.
Updates for iPad Pro 12.9” 1st gen?
