What is the latest supported iOS for the iPad Mini 2?

You have likely misidentified your iPad. With iOS 9.3.5 installed, you likely have a first generation iPad mini.

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

The iPad2, iPad3 and iPad mini1 can only be updated to iOS 9.3.5 (WiFi Only models) or iOS 9.3.6 (WiFi & Cellular models). Apple ended update support for these models in September 2016. These models of iPad cannot be updated to iOS 10 or later major versions of iOS, as the internal hardware does not meet the minimum technical requirements for new versions of iOS/iPadOS. This limitation cannot be bypassed; these are 32-bit architecture devices, whilst all recent versions of iOS/iPadOS are designed for 64-bit hardware platforms. iPad2, iPad3 and iPad mini1 are obsolete.

You need to consider that compatible 32-bit Apps for older models of iPad are no longer available - as App Developers have dropped all support for 32-bit devices. With 32-bit Apps having been withdrawn from the Apple App Store, this will severely limit the usefulness and utility of your current iPad.

As such, if you want or need to access most current Apps, requiring more recent versions of iOS than your iPad is capable, you’ll need to consider replacement of your iPad with a much newer or current 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 15.8.3

iPad5, iPad Pro (9.7"/12.9" 1st generation)* - iPadOS 16.7.10

iPad6, iPad Pro (10.5"/12.9" 2nd generation) - iPadOS 17.7.3

(*) obsolete

Newer models are all able to be updated to the current version - iPadOS 18.2

• iPad Pro 13" (M4)
• iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11" (1st generation and later + M4)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later + M2)
• iPad (7th generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later + A17 Pro)

The last version of iOS that the iPad mini 2 supports is iOS 12.5. 7, released on January 23, 2023.

crumeezur298 wrote:

I have just realized that it was actually a 1st generation iPad mini, for all these years. Also, i dont need a replacement as i have an iPad Pro 4, Thank you very much for this!

I'm delighted that you found the posted information to be helpful for your own situation.