Why does 11" iPad Pro 1st Gen get iOS 17 but not the 12.9" iPad Pro 1st Gen?

Apple released the 12.9” iPad Pro 1st generation in September 2015. Apple released the 11” iPad Pro 1st generation three years later.

Why? The reasoning is simple...

The first generation iPad Pro lacks the internal system resources (typically CPU and RAM) required to meet the minimum system requirements for iPadOS17. The second generation iPad Pro (and later model) have more recent CPU/SoC and more/faster RAM.

Apple only restrict availability of more recent major OS versions where a specific model cannot provide adequate performance - or is fundamentally incapable of running the newer version.

I believe the question he asked is why does the iPad Pro 11” iPad accept ios17 but the iPad Pro 12.9” iPad which are both 1st generation does not. To which I would say there is something wrong with that particular iPad in question and it could be relating to the internet used to process the possible update or In fact the iPad Pro 11” is in-fact enrolled into the Beta program and is running the beta software but without getting my hands on the device to check for you I cannot confirm your situation I recommend completing a complete full restore of the iPad Pro 12.9” because either out of the devices the 11” or the 12.9” the most likely to actually run the software would be the 12.9” so both should be working if the 11” works!

I believe it is because the 2015/2016 iPad Pro models lacks the 120 Hz screen refesh rate, the TrueTone display and higher nits brightness display, as well as, support for HDR video.

The 2017 2nd gen iPad Pro models have these features and, most likely, the reason why it got another full year of support with iPadOS 17.

All the external cameras are better, also. in the 2017, 2nd gen iPad Pro models, as well.

The 2015/2016 iPad Pro models have gotten 7 years of full support, from Apple.

They will continue to get, for a little while longet, at least, importsnt security “point” updates.

Also, third party app support should continue for another 3 years, or so.

So, your 7-year old iPad Pro will still get important third party updates, taking that iPad year and model to 10-years of support.

That is entirely up to you.

I have/own the same iPad Pro year and model as you ( mine is the 2016 version with 256 GBs ( 238 GBs actual ) of internal storage.

I haven't been able to afford a new iPad Pro for quite sometime.

I had a window to do so, before the world shutdown in 2020/2021, but life and all the other circumstances kept/prevented me from purchasing

So, I am going to keep going with this iPad Pro for another 3 years, or so, when third party app support will start waning/taperring off.

This iPad Pro is still my everyday use tablet device and it still does what it was designed to do.

Also, still using very old 2010, 27 inch screen iMac that is still working and is still a creative workhorse for me, as well.

Do what you will.

It is what it is.

I, and others here, are just Apple product users, just like you.

No one here knows anything about what Apple does or doesn't do.

There had to be something the 2015/2016, 1st gen iPad Pro had an issue with that Apple dedided to pull it from iPadOS 17 compatibilty.

My guess it had something to do with the lack of the 120 Hz screen refresh rate and, maybe, the support for higher video frame rates and newer Codecs.

I have the 256 GBs version of this year and model iPad.

I am comfortable knowing third party apps will continue supporting this iPad for the next three years, or so.

No technology company supports their devices forever.

The 2015/2016 iPad Pro models have gotten nearly 7/8 years of full support from Apple.

Your 1st gen iPad Pro will still be fine for another 3+ years and Apple will continue to give this iPad Pro small, point security updates, when needed.

Also forgive me if I annoy anyone but when it come to security and I mean hardware also not just software being up to date is critical

Apple do not just bring out device after device after device because of generating revenue nor do Microsoft for that matter

its is done to stay ahead in the realm of digital technology for safety reasons as well as providing a fun user experience and trust within the company’s

I strongly recommend especially when it comes to the powerful unit of iPads you get a new model if it is possible because old software and hardware are always subject to data breaches and fraudsters and in this day and age Cyber Attack in guaranteed

this is the world we live in =[

and a big thank you Apple

Not exactly correct.

Of course technology companies ( just like any other product making companies ), has to make yearly products to make/generate money/profits and stay in business.

That's Capitalism.

If companies didn’t do this, they would not stay in business for long.

Let's get real here.

No one needs a $1000+ U.S.D. iPhone Pro/Max/iPad Pro or $800+ Watch Ultra.

Most of Apple's products are not produced just for security reasons.

Sorry, but not true.

And really, how much has really changed on the outside hardware of these designs for the past 16 years!

Apple's external hardware is not very different from the very first iPhone/iPad/Watch.

Glass/aluminum rectangular devices with a glass touch screen interface and a couple of camera lenses.and simple external control buttons and a Touch ID button or FaceID cameras.

The hardware technologies inside, any yearly technology device, are always just incremental, year after year and don’t always represent hardware that makes the device more or less secure.

Security in Apple devices is both driven by hardware and software.

Doesn't make older Apple devices, necessarily, less secure.

During Covid, users were annoyed with Face ID that did not work unless you lowered your mask and I remember many wishing for newer Face ID devices still had the older Touch ID technology.

You are simply confusing the 11" iPad Pro (1st generation) with what you should be comparing...the 9.7" iPad Pro.

Apple decided to name the THIRD release of the smaller iPad the 11" iPad Pro (1st generation). It is not the model to compare to yours.

The first release iPad Pro that was released at the same date as your 12.9" is the 9.7" iPad Pro...and it does not support iPadOS 17 either. You may be able to get a public/developer beta but it most definitely does NOT support iPadOS 17.

1) 9.7" iPad Pro-----------------------12.9" iPad Pro (1st generation)

2) 10.5" iPad Pro----------------------12.9" iPad Pro (2nd generation)

3) 11" iPad Pro (1st Generation)--------12.9" iPad Pro (3rd generation)

4) 11" iPad Pro (2nd Generation)-------12.9" iPad Pro (4th generation)

5) 11" iPad Pro (3rd Generation)--------12.9" iPad Pro (5th generation)

6) etc.

You need a newer unit to get 17.

You won't need a newer unit to get any future updates to 16 Apple might release.

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