Ipad AIR 2 version 12.5.7

If you cannot upgrade/updates beyond iOS 12.5.7, chances are you have a 10-year old 2013, iPad Air 1st gen.

That year and model iPad is too old.

Sorry.

That older Safari Web browser and Chrome browser may, or may not, be too old old to access certain types of Website, as well.

Compatible third party Web browsers for over nearly 10-12 year old iPad models are very few, now.

Here are few third party Web browsers left, to look at, in the iOS App Store, that are still getting regular updates and are still compatible with your iOS 12 iPad year and model.

Alook Web browser

iCab mobile Web browser

Opera Web browser.

Also, the internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads are, also, running on borrowed time.

Not worth the costs to replace these old internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads, any longer, either.

Also, these very old iPad models have NO real trade-in nor any resale value, either.

Sorry.

You need to consider that it is nearly the Fall of 2023, now.

iPadOS 17 is here!

These 9-10-years old, and older, iPad models are pretty much at their end of life and are obsolete!

These iPad models are, at the very least, five OS iterations behind, now!

You really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted sources, like other Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.

There are PLENTY of newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.

If you need OR ONLY able to afford to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older IPads from 2017 and later.

All of these older model iPads below CAN, currently, run the latest releases of iPadOS 16 AND the up and coming iPadOS 17.

2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017, 10.5 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2018 11 inch or 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 2nd gen Pencil support )

2020 11 inch or 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 2nd gen Pencil support )

2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models ( NO Pencil support ) (up and coming iPadOS 17 NOT supported )

2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2021, 10.2 inch screen iPad 9th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2018, 11 inch or 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 2nd gen Pencil support )

2019, 10.5 inch screen iPad Air 3rd gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2021 10.9 inch screen iPad Air 4th gen models ( 2nd gen Pencil support )

2019, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 5th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2021 8.3 inch screen iPad Mini 6th gen models ( 2nd gen Pencil support )

Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has ANY expandable storage.

I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these old iOS devices.

Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

With iOS 12.5.7 installed, you have a first generation iPad (a.k.a. iPad Air1).

The first generation iPad Air, iPad mini2 and mini3 can only be updated to iOS 12.5.7.

Apple ended major update support for these models of iPad in September 2019 - although they continue to receive occasional “point” security updates, the most recent being released January 2023. These devices cannot be updated to iPadOS 13 (or any later major versions of iPadOS) as the internal hardware does not meet the minimum technical requirements (CPU capabilities and available RAM) for newer versions of iOS/iPadOS.

Some App developers have dropped support for iOS versions preceding iOS 13.x for technical reasons (often because APIs or software libraries upon which they rely have been updated in the new version of iPadOS, making their App incompatible with earlier versions). 

Whilst many App titles remain compatible with your iPad, if you want or need to access to Apps requiring the most recent versions of iOS, you’ll need to consider replacement of your iPad with a newer or current model that supports iPadOS16.

Whether or not you are able to update any iPad to a newer version of iOS/iPadOS will be dictated by the iPad model - and the currently installed version of iOS. You can find this information here:

Settings > General > About

Not sure which iPad you have? Identify your iPad model.

For information, here is a list of the highest version of iOS supported by the older models of iPad (for simplicity - “generations” are shortened to a number) that are restricted in their ability to be updated:

32-bit devices (obsolete)

iPad1 - iOS 5.1.1

iPad2, iPad3 and iPad mini1 - iOS 9.3.5 (WiFi Only models), iOS 9.3.6 (WiFi & Cellular)

iPad4 - iOS 10.3.3 (WiFi Only), iOS 10.3.4 (WiFi & Cellular)

64-bit devices

iPad Air1, iPad mini2 and iPad mini3 - iOS 12.5.7

iPad Air2, iPad mini4 - iPadOS 15.7.9

iPad5, iPad Pro (9.7"/12.9" first generation) - iPadOS 16.7

Newer models are all able to be updated to the current version - iPadOS 17.0.2:

• iPad Pro 12.9" (2nd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11" (1st generation and later)
• iPad Pro 10.5"
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• iPad (6th generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later)

If you decide to go down the path of purchasing used, secondhand Apple devices, from individual Apple device sellers, here is how to avoid purchasing an Apple iOS/iPadOS device with user activation lock, in the future.

If you purchase any iPad, or any Apple iOS device, for that matter, used/second hand, online, or even in-person, make sure this iPad does NOT have user activation lock and has been properly reset for sale.

A properly reset for sale iPad should initially power up to an animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen.

DO NOT take the iPad seller's word that this iPad is user activation lock free!

We have seen plenty of used iOS device purchasers get scammed.

User Activation Lock can never be bypasss, circumvented or worked around IF there is no correct previous/original user information to be able to do so.

Apple doesn't get involved with ANY user activation locked, used/second-hand sold devices, either.

So, buyer beware!

If purchasing a used device in-person, power the iPad ON

If the iPad DOES NOT display the initial animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, then pass on purchasing this iPad.

If the iPad powers up to any other screen, then forget purchasing this iPad.

You cannot trust that the seller actually has the correct needed info to properly reset the iPad back to factory settings right then and there before the actual purchase and exchange of money for the iPad, in question.

Pass on the device!

If you are purchasing this used iPad online ask the seller to provide multiple images, either online or be sent to you via email, showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen of the interested in purchasing iPad model.

Even better, ask for a short video be sent to you showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, in action and in its entirety, posted to the online ad or emailed to you.

If the online iPad seller refuses any of these requests, pass on the iPad. DO NOT buy!

Good Luck to You!