So my ipad MD 513C/A Can't be updated past 10.3.3? So just thats it? It's obsolete?!

So my ipad MD 513C/A Can't be updated past 10.3.3? So just thats it? It's obsolete?!

iPad, iOS 10

Posted on Aug 25, 2020 5:48 AM

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Posted on Aug 25, 2020 5:55 AM

Essentially yes. It's an 8 year old device and technology continues to march forward. It's process is too under powered to run the now required 64 bit software for the newer modern iOS versions. No mobile hand hand device lasts forever. Your iPad can be updated to 10.2.5 or 10.3.5 depending on whether it is cellular or not, but that won't really get you anywhere these days on such an old device.


Chances are you are not using a cell phone from 8 years ago today either, I would imagine.


Ps: The Model number doesn't make sense, but since you say you're frozen at iOS 10.3.3, you have the 4th gen iPad released in 2012, 8 years ago.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 25, 2020 5:55 AM in response to Wdougyp

Essentially yes. It's an 8 year old device and technology continues to march forward. It's process is too under powered to run the now required 64 bit software for the newer modern iOS versions. No mobile hand hand device lasts forever. Your iPad can be updated to 10.2.5 or 10.3.5 depending on whether it is cellular or not, but that won't really get you anywhere these days on such an old device.


Chances are you are not using a cell phone from 8 years ago today either, I would imagine.


Ps: The Model number doesn't make sense, but since you say you're frozen at iOS 10.3.3, you have the 4th gen iPad released in 2012, 8 years ago.

Aug 25, 2020 5:56 AM in response to Wdougyp

Whilst your iPad may not be able to be updated - and whist its 32-bit platform and OS is essentially obsolete - the iPad is not without use. However, due to its limitations, its utility and usefulness will become increasingly limited.


If your iPad is currently running, or cannot be updated beyond iOS 10.3.3/4, then have an iPad4.


Update support for iPad4 ended September 2017. The final iOS releases for this model were iOS 10.3.3 (WiFi Only models) and iOS 10.3.4 (WiFi & Cellular). iPad4 cannot be updated to any later major version of iOS as it lacks the minimum hardware requirements needed to run more recent versions.


The 32-bit platform upon which the iPad4 is based is effectively obsolete. Later versions of iOS are designed to run on 64-bit hardware - as are all versions of Apps released in recent years.


Many App Developers have dropped all support for older devices and iOS versions preceding iOS11/12/13 - and have withdrawn older versions of their Apps from the Apple App Store. Withdrawal of Apps supporting older models of iPad, as already mentioned, is making their utility and usefulness significantly more limited. Once compatible versions Apps are withdrawn, you’ll not be able (re)download or (re)install them.


If Apps that you need to use now have higher minimum iOS-version requirements, your only option is to replace your iPad with newer model. All current model of iPad support current iPadOS 13.x and the soon to be released iPadOS14. All have hardware specifications and capabilities that outperform older models.


I hope this information is helpful - if only in clearly stating the limitations of your iPad4 and your available options.

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So my ipad MD 513C/A Can't be updated past 10.3.3? So just thats it? It's obsolete?!

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