An old iPad is not necessarily considered obsolete. In fact, many are not. However, we did find a list of iPads officially listed as obsolete or vintage by Apple. And although we have already told you that they can continue to be fully functional, they have some peculiarities that you are probably interested in knowing.
When is an iPad considered obsolete?
Apple has a common rule for all devices when it comes to naming them obsolete. An iPad, like the rest, enters this list when they stopped selling more than 5 years ago and less than 7 . Also included in this are those that have not been manufactured during those dates either .
In this way, the company guarantees that there will be no recent product that may be discontinued. And what happens when they are declared obsolete is that they stop receiving hardware support. This means that the company no longer repairs them as it does not have original parts for it.
And it may be a controversial option, but at the end of the day it is something that all companies do, so that they do not have to be manufacturing their components for so many years. That is why a time is set in which they consider that there are no longer so many active users of these devices.
However, as of January 1, 2022, in some countries such as Spain there were changes in the legislation regarding guarantees, establishing that manufacturers must continue to supply parts for at least 10 years. Therefore, iPads purchased in 2022 and later may still have repairs available even if they’re on the obsolete list.
List of iPad declared obsolete
As we already told you, there is an official list of iPads that are considered obsolete. At the moment it is not very wide, but over the years it will get bigger.
iPad (1st generation)
The original iPad was presented by the legendary Steve Jobs at the end of January 2010 in two different versions: the WiFi model and the 3G model. It came with a 9.7-inch IPS screen, a 1GHz A4 chip, and iOS 4 as the base operating system.
It was a success in worldwide sales and those who still have one, are sure to keep it with great affection. Of course, it was not updated for too long, since it stayed with iOS 5.1.1 as its latest version of the system.
iPad 2
A year after the previous one and after the success of the first, Apple announced this second generation of tablet with a design very similar to the previous one, but with small improvements that made it very practical. One of them was its reduction in weight and dimensions, making it much lighter and therefore manageable. Its A5 chip was also an advance, especially in battery management.
It has been one of the longest-lived iPads in history, both in terms of sales and updates. Not surprisingly, it was updated to iOS 9.3.5, a considerably advanced version compared to iOS 4 from which it was originally launched in 2011.
iPad (3rd generation)
Although officially called only “iPad”, this tablet popularly known as iPad 3 followed the path of its predecessors in 2012, with improvements such as a retina screen, a dedicated processor such as the A5X or its two and 4 CPU and GPU cores. respectively.
Of course, it is characterized by being one of the most fleeting. It was only sold for a few months, as the release of the next model was an even bigger change. In any case, it was updated to iOS 9.3.5 in its WiFi versions and to iOS 9.3.6 in the Cellular versions.
iPad (4th generation)
Launched at the end of 2012, it was first a historical fact as it was the first to be launched in the same year as its previous generation. Among its most notable changes, in addition to the A6X chip, it stood out for incorporating a Lightning connector for the first time for battery recharging, leaving behind the famous 16-pin connector.
At the software level, it came with an iOS 6 that would ultimately be the last with the classic Apple interface design. It was also a very long-lived device, not as long as the iPad 2, but somewhat longer than the third generation. Reached iOS version 10.3.4.
iPad Air (1st generation)
This first model of the ‘Air’ range was presented and launched on the market at the end of 2013, with innovations inherited from the iPhone 5s, such as its A7 chip. It also underwent a redesign that was the one that inspired the following generations of Apple tablets. Although, yes, it did not have Touch ID.
It included the renewed iOS 7 as an operating system and for years it continued to be updated, being another of the longest in terms of years of support. Its latest version was iOS 12.5.4, staying at the gates of iPadOS 13, the first version that separated the iPhone and iPad software.
Old iPad FAQs
In reference to these iPad cataloged as vintage by Apple, you may ask yourself several questions. And it is that the implication of being in this list leaves several unknowns that we are going to try to solve in these next sections.
Can you keep updating your software?
As you may have already intuited from what we have been commenting: no. Or at least not generally. Apple grants between 5 and 7 years of updates to its tablets, so there are some that have even gone years without receiving updates and despite this they are not declared obsolete, while those that are declared have already stopped receiving software support ago. years.
Of course, occasionally Apple has released security patches to devices that were already obsolete. It is not normal, but eventually it can happen and, even if they are another version of iOS/iPadOS, it is correlative to the last one they had and only incorporates those protection measures against malware.
Do apps and games work well?
Yes and no. This depends on the software version that the devices have been left on. In general, most applications are compatible with versions much earlier than the current one, so many apps and games are still functional.
However, there comes a point where even the most popular applications stop updating on these devices because it is no longer profitable for them to maintain it, since it requires specific development that they understand is unnecessary as they are operating systems that hardly have any market share. In any case, if that app was already installed, it can continue to be used in the version in which it was left.
What if you need a repair?
Officially we have already commented that these iPads cannot be repaired. This affects both the Apple Store and the SAT (Authorized Technical Service). And it is that in these establishments they only repair the devices of the brand with original parts and, not having them, they only offer recycling options for them.
Now, there are hundreds of unauthorized outlets where you can still find replacement parts for them. They are obviously not original and do not guarantee identical operation to that of the genuine components, but they can serve to get you out of trouble. You may even be able to find some parts online and swap them out on your own, as long as you take the risks involved if you don’t have technical knowledge.
What to do with this type of iPad
If you have an iPad already included in that obsolete list, you are probably wondering what can be done. It can work normally if it’s not broken, so several possibilities arise.
Use it in “emergencies”
If you currently have a newer iPad that you use frequently, either professionally or personally, you could use this one as a secondary iPad. That is, keep it intact and only to use it on those occasions when you cannot use the other, either because someone else is using it or because it has been damaged and requires repair.
Make it a collector’s item
There are devices that, beyond their real market value, have a high sentimental value. If this is your case and you are also a fan of Apple, you can simply keep that device as a collector’s item. After all, it is a device that has changed the tablet industry and maintaining one of the first versions is something that not everyone can boast of.
sell it
Your iPad may have a high value for being the first, but if it is not and you do not want it at all, there is always the possibility of getting some money for it. Whether it’s at a specialty store or second-hand markets, you may be able to find a buyer. Of course, try to restore it well to delete all your data.
Give it away
Although it does not have the same functions as a modern iPad, it is still functional for playing games, watching videos or browsing the Internet. Therefore, it can be an excellent gift for a person who does not have a tablet, especially the little ones in the house. Although, as always, with adult supervision.
recycle it
This option is reserved for those cases in which the iPad is unusable due to being damaged or in which there is no direct intention of seeking a use or an economic return for it. You can take it yourself to a clean point for electronic devices or deliver it to an Apple Store so that they are in charge of doing it in an ecological way.