Is Your iPad Obsolete and Outdated?

Did you know about half of the iPads out in the world are obsolete? And most people don't even know it because their devices still work quite well. That's the great "mistake" of Apple's iPad. It works so well, people don't even realize when it might be time to upgrade.

If you are one of those people walking around with an obsolete or outdated iPad, you may soon find it unable to run the newest apps or even update existing apps. In a technical sense, an obsolete device is one that's no longer supported by the manufacturer. But we'll also look at a real-world definition of being obsolete, which is when a device is closer to a paperweight than a useful tablet.

The following iPad models became obsolete on or before September 26, 2019. By "obsolete," we mean the model is both discontinued and unsupported by Apple, and it won't receive the latest versions of iPadOS.

• iPad, iPad 2, iPad (3rd generation), iPad (4th generation), iPad Air
• iPad Mini through iPad Mini 3

The following models are no longer sold, but they still remain within Apple's service window for iPadOS updates:

• iPad Air 2
• iPad Mini 4
• iPad Pro, 1st and 2nd generation
• iPad, 5th and 6th generation

If you're rocking one of these devices in the autumn of 2019, you're in excellent shape:

• iPad Pro, 3rd generation
• iPad Air, 3rd generation
• iPad Mini, 5th generation
• iPad, 7th generation

An iPad out of the service window isn't necessarily useless. Although they may be older or even no longer capable of receiving iPadOS updates, an older tablet still makes a great table-side companion in your living room, an effective ebook reader, or a light-duty device for reading mail or checking your favorite websites.

It's okay to use the device until it dies—just know that the longer you go without updates from Apple, the more likely it is that security glitches could affect your tablet. So don't use an unpatched iPad for important or sensitive applications.