iPhone 5 could lose access to future Apple software updates
Apple could be about to drop support for older models of the iPhone.
The company’s developer downloads webpage lists all of the devices that are in line for the upcoming iOS 10.3.2 update, which is currently in beta.
Missing from the list are the iPhone 5, iPhone 5C and fourth-generation iPad.
According to Apple Insider, this means Apple may cut support for the devices this year, which could make customers who continue using them vulnerable to security glitches and bugs.
The iPhone 5, iPhone 5C and fourth-generation iPad came out in 2012 and 2013, and have all since been discontinued. However, the iPhone 5 in particular is still a popular handset.
All three devices use an A6 system-on-chip, the last of Apple’s hardware to be built on a 32-bit architecture.
Apple made the jump to 64-bit with the launch of the A7 system-on-chip, and the latest version of iOS now warns users attempting to open 32-bit software that “This app will not work with future versions of iOS.”
Apple hasn’t officially announced the demise of the iPhone 5, iPhone 5C and fourth-generation iPad, and all of them received the recent iOS 10.3 update.
The iOS 10.3.2 update in still being tested, so it’s perfectly possible that Apple will add support for the older devices closer to its actual release date.
However, it’s clear that the company’s 32-bit devices are no longer a priority.
