IPad Support: How long do iPads last?

If you already have an iPad or you are thinking of collecting an older one, maybe a restored iPad will want to know how long you can still use the latest version of iPados.

Apple is usually excellent in this area, it often keeps the major generations of its products in the last versions of the operating system or at least blessed with security updates to keep them safe. But there comes a time when the software in an iPad can no longer be updated to a safe version of ipados, and when that happens, it can find that applications and services will no longer work and their data could be at risk.

Here is a quick guide for how long an iPad should remain usable.

MacWorld says: The 2nd generation iPad of 12.9 inches (2017), the iPad Pro of 10.5 inches (2017) and the iPad of Sixth Generation (2018) and older ones are avoided, since they will not admit the update of iOS 2025: iOS 26.

What ipados versions admits Apple?

Although the latest version of iPados is the one that has the latest functions, and the one that Apple will update with new functions during the year, the company provides safety updates for older versions of ipados to guarantee the safety of older iPads users, but how long can you expect to obtain these updates?

The crucial thing is if Apple will update the software of the operating system that is executed on its iPad if you discover a security failure. It could be at risk if you use an iPad that does not have adequate security measures.

This means that the real defining element of how long an iPad can last are security updates. Once they stop, it is not advisable to continue using the device, since it could be vulnerable.

In general, Apple issues safety updates for some generations of iPados. For example, Ipados 15 and Ipados 16 received an important security update in March 2025. Ipados 17 was updated in May 2025. However, these security updates can be very irregular, before the March 2025 update, the last update of Ipados 16 was in August 2024.

Apple may well stop the support for ipados 15 and 16 with the arrival of ipados 26 at the end of 2025 (the jump from 18 to 26 is due to the fact that Apple has realized the numbering of all its operating systems so that they coincide with the year).

Security updates simply update the code in the system to close the potential areas where computer pirates or malware could get access. These appear on their device as “point” versions, as ipados 18.1, 18.1.1, 18.2, etc., and make small adjustments to ipo and fix any security failure that can put their data at risk.

To find out if you have installed the most recent version of Ipados, visit Configuration> General> Update and Software Verification.

Apple

What version of iPados can I run?

The key is to know which version of iPados can execute its iPad, that way you can identify if Apple is still committed to update it with safety -related solutions. Apple tends to continue the security support for the two or three most recent versions of Ipados (Apple tends not to admit a third version if the most recent version covers the same iPad models).

Ipados 26

Poado 26 is likely to arrive in September 2025. It will be executed in the following models:

• 11 -inch and 13 -inch iPad Pro (M1 and posterior)
• iPad Pro 12.9 inches (3rd generation and later)
• 11 -inch iPad Pro (1st generation or posterior)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• iPad (seventh generation and later)
• iPad Mini (fifth generation and later)

This means that iPads admitted by Ipados 18 are also compatible with ipados 26.

Ipados 18

Ipados 18 arrived on September 16, 2024. It is executed in the following models:

• 11 -inch and 13 -inch iPad Pro (M1 and posterior)
• iPad Pro 12.9 inches (3rd generation and later)
• 11 -inch iPad Pro (1st generation or posterior)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• iPad (seventh generation and later)
• iPad Mini (fifth generation and later)

With this iteration of iPados, Apple eliminated the support for the 2nd generation of 12.9 inches, the 10.5 -inch iPad Pro and the sixth generation iPad.

Ipados 17

Ipados 17 arrived in 2023 and was last updated with a security solution in May 2025. It is executed in the following models.

• iPad Pro 12.9 (2nd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11
• iPad Pro 10.5
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• iPad (sixth generation and later)
• iPad Mini (fifth generation and later)

Ipados 17 discarded support for ipad pro of 9.7 inches 2016 (chip A9X), 2015 iPad Pro 12.9 inches (1st generation) (chip A9X) and iPad 2017 (5th gen) that runs in an even slower A9 processor. These models are compatible with Ipados 16, which obtained updated security in March 2025, but we recommend that if you are using one of those iPads that updates soon.

Apple

What iPads are not compatible with any update?

With the arrival of ipados 26 we hope that Apple eliminates the support for ipados 15 and ipados 16, which means that iPad Air 2nd Gen and iPad Mini 4 have been removed, from the list of compatible iPads.

Because of this, we recommend that you avoid any iPads that cannot execute iPados 16. That includes these models:

• iPad Air (2nd gen and before)
• iPad (4th gen and before)
• iPad Mini (4th generation and previous)

Keep in mind that at the end of 2025 iPados 17 support it could also end, at which time the following iPads will no longer be admitted:

• 2016 iPad Pro 9.7 inches (A9X)
• 2015 iPad Pro 12.9 inches (1st generation) (A9X)
• Ipad 2017 (5th gen) (A9)

What iPads are compatible with complete updates?

These are the iPads that obtain the latest version of the iPados: Ipados 18, and when Ipados arrives 26. Not all iPad below obtain all the features, many are lost the intelligent Apple characteristics that require a m1, m2, m3 or m4 chips found in the iPad Air or iPad Pro, or the A17 PRO chip used in 2024 iPad Mini.

• iPad Pro (M3, M4)
• iPad Pro 12.9 inches (3rd generation and later)
• 11 -inch iPad Pro (all)
• Air iPad (M2, M3, 3rd Gen and later)
• iPad (seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth gene and a17 pro)
• iPad Mini (5th, 6th Gen and A16)

How long does Apple iPads admit with security updates?

Currently, Apple admits security updates for Ipados 18, 17, 16 and 15. However, the update of the iPad OS15 and 16, which occurred in March 2025, was due to an exploited vulnerability of zero day, so a very necessary update for older iPads and a clear indication of why it is better to avoid using the oldest models.

The oldest iPad capable of running Ipados 18 is from 2018 and the oldest iPad capable of running Ipados 17 is the 1st Gen 12.9 inches of 2016, the ipad pro of 9.7 inches 2016 and the iPad 2017 2017 (5th gen). Apple can stop security updates for Ipados 17 at the end of 2025 or 2026, at which time the support for these models will end. Note that the first 12.9 -inch iPad Pro is already considered obsolete by Apple (as you will see in the section below!)

That is still seven to ten years of security support. When buying an iPad, you can assume between eight and 10 years of security updates.

If it is the full version of iPados you are looking for, you can expect about six years of support: the third generation iPad Pro of 12.9 inches is the oldest iPad that can run Ipados 18, and were introduced in 2018.

Foundry

How long does Apple admit to repair iPads?

In general, Apple moves devices to the vintage list between five and seven years after it stops selling them. Around seven years after Apple stops selling a product, it moves to the obsolete list, although some countries have different rules.

Once considered Vintage by Apple, its possibility of being able to obtain spare parts is difficult, but when a product is obsolete, it will not be able to obtain spare parts. Therefore, if five years have passed since Apple stopped selling an iPad, it is unlikely that you can get spare parts if something goes wrong.

The products considered vintage and obsolete are listed below.

Vintage iPads

• iPad Mini 4
• iPad Pro 10.5 inches
• iPad Pro 12.9 inches (2nd generation)
• iPad (fifth generation, 6th generation)

Obsolete iPads

• iPad Air (1st gen)
• iPad Air 2
• iPad Mini (3rd generation and major)
• iPad (4th gen and before)
• iPad Pro 12.9 inches (1st generation)
• iPad Pro 9.7 inches (1st generation)

How long should an iPad last?

On the side of the software of things, it seems that the current examples established above can expect software security support up to nine years since an iPad went on sale, however, we would not count on that.

Because Apple does not consider a harvest in the product up to five years after it stopped selling it, you can wait at least six years of support (assuming that the product was sold for a year, although Apple often sells products for much longer than that).

Of course, hardware is the other side of the equation and that can be further as the pieces deteriorate or fail. Let’s say the battery life falls from a cliff, it must be within its one -year guarantee period to repair it for free. However, Apple has a battery replacement service, it usually costs $ 99/£ 99 for a replacement and adjustment, so this could prolong the hardware side of things for a good time (essentially until it moved to the vintage list five years after Apple stopped selling it).

Apple offers hardware and pieces for a variety of older iPads, all at a cost, of course. In its site, the company says: “Product owners for iPhone, iPad, IPOD, Mac or Apple TV can obtain service and apple -service providers from Apple, including Apple Store locations and independent repair suppliers, for a minimum of 5 years since Apple distributed the product for sale.” This is clarified later in the text, saying that IPAD can repair up to seven years after they were on the sale of Apple. So, if you want to know if your iPad qualifies, simply Google when Apple discontinued it.

Naturally, a 10 -year -old iPad is an impressive feat of durability, but it will not be as funny or powerful as a new one. Therefore, take a look at our IPAD purchase guide to see what is currently offered. After all, I could use it for a long time.

He wants to know how long Apple admits iPhones and how long Apple admits Macs, we also have it covered.