Hello,
Please help - how can I update my iPad mini 3?
The last update was 12.5.7.
The iPad is basically useless because it hasn’t been updated and doesn’t support a lot of apps. Do I just toss it in the garbage? Frustrating!
Thank you in advance for any help/information.
iPad mini 3
Unfortunately, iOS 12.5.7 is the highest this 2014 iPad Mini 3 can go.
This iPad year and model is over 9-years old, now.
Sorry.
That iPad model has overall internal hardware that is too old, too underpowered and incapable of running all of the new, advanced and internal hardware resource intensive features of the newest iPadOS versions.
Sorry.
Third party app support, typically, continues for 2-3 years AFTER Apple ends full support of a subset of their devices.
The last major update to iOS 12 was in 2019, with iOS 12.3.
Apple has stopped issuing any major iOS 12 updates for these very old iPad models and have been ONLY issuing security, “point” updates for the past few years.
It is well past the three year mark and third party app iOS 12 support/compatibility has been on a quick and steady, downward/decline trend for all iOS 12 supported devices.
Many third party apps are no longer available to 9 to 10-year old iPad models that are, permanently, stuck at some version of iOS 12, or earlier iOS version.
That older Safari Web browser may, or may not, be too old old to access certain types of Website, as well.
Compatible third party Web browsers for over 9-10 year and older iPad models are nearly non-existent.
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 nearing the end of 2023.
iPadOS 17 is here!
These 9-years old, and older, iPad models are pretty much at their end of life and are obsolete!
Third party app support is almost non-existent, now, in 2023.
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 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 )
( The above iPad models, probably, are at their last full year of full Apple OS 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 )
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!
Unfortunately, iOS 12.5.7 is the highest this 2014 iPad Mini 3 can go.
This iPad year and model is over 9-years old, now.
Sorry.
That iPad model has overall internal hardware that is too old, too underpowered and incapable of running all of the new, advanced and internal hardware resource intensive features of the newest iPadOS versions.
Sorry.
Third party app support, typically, continues for 2-3 years AFTER Apple ends full support of a subset of their devices.
The last major update to iOS 12 was in 2019, with iOS 12.3.
Apple has stopped issuing any major iOS 12 updates for these very old iPad models and have been ONLY issuing security, “point” updates for the past few years.
It is well past the three year mark and third party app iOS 12 support/compatibility has been on a quick and steady, downward/decline trend for all iOS 12 supported devices.
Many third party apps are no longer available to 9 to 10-year old iPad models that are, permanently, stuck at some version of iOS 12, or earlier iOS version.
That older Safari Web browser may, or may not, be too old old to access certain types of Website, as well.
Compatible third party Web browsers for over 9-10 year and older iPad models are nearly non-existent.
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 nearing the end of 2023.
iPadOS 17 is here!
These 9-years old, and older, iPad models are pretty much at their end of life and are obsolete!
Third party app support is almost non-existent, now, in 2023.
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 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 )
( The above iPad models, probably, are at their last full year of full Apple OS 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 )
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!
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!
iPad mini 3 updates available?
