As we approach WWDC 2023, speculation around which devices will be supported by iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 has become a hot topic. Generally, Apple provides an extended support cycle for iPhones and iPads, as evidenced by the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus receiving updates up to iOS 15.x before being dropped in iOS 16. These 2015 models enjoyed six years of feature updates, with security updates still ongoing.
However, this year’s situation may be different, with rumors suggesting that iOS 17 will drop support for the iPhone X and all earlier models. The iPhone X was released in 2018, and if it does not receive iOS 17 support, its feature update cycle will have lasted only four years.
User @Fame_G_Monster, known for accurately predicting iOS device support in the past, recently posted (and later deleted) a tweet claiming that iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 will no longer support the following devices:
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone X
- 9.7-inch iPad Pro (1st generation)
- 12.9-inch iPad Pro (1st generation)
One possible reason for Apple discontinuing feature updates for these devices is the bootrom vulnerability, which affects devices using Apple’s A5 through A11 chips. The vulnerability cannot be permanently fixed, as the bootrom operates in read-only mode. This flaw allows devices with A5 to A11 chips to achieve a permanent jailbreak and modify the file system on various iOS versions, which may explain Apple’s decision to stop providing feature support.
It is worth noting that these rumors are still unconfirmed, as @Fame_G_Monster deleted the tweet, and the accuracy of the predictions remains unclear. Furthermore, even if feature updates are discontinued, Apple will likely continue to provide security updates for older devices, as seen with the occasional security updates still being received by the iPhone 5s.