At the beginning of May next year, Meta’s messaging app WhatsApp will stop supporting Apple devices which are operating on iOS versions earlier than 15.1. Users of older iPhone models may have already received the notification regarding the same, however, users who haven’t received the notification yet need to consider upgrading their devices.
Right now WhatsApp is compatible with iOS 12 but the support for this version along with any versions which are prior to iOS 15.1 will be discontinued on the 5th of May in 2025. The iPhone models that will be impacted by this decision consist of iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Considering the fact that the iPhone 6 was released a decade ago, this decision should not come as a surprise. The number of users using these older devices is minimal and Meta cannot possibly continue support to such outdated technology.
Maintaining compatibility with older hardware consumes valuable resources and restricts the potential for app enhancements and it is clear that an iPhone 5 cannot perform the same level of complex functions as an iPhone 16 could. In addition to this, the declining user bases for these older models make continued support less economically viable.
For users who are still using older devices and wish to remain within the iOS ecosystem, the newly redesigned iPhone SE could be a good option. This model is expected to be more budget-friendly than other options and will also have a contemporary design moving away from the outdated iPhone 8 chassis in favour of the iPhone 14 design.
Moreover, the new iPhone SE is expected to support Apple Intelligence which is the latest initiative of the company which is being heavily promoted. The SE models generally receive a minimum of five years of software support, though Apple could extend it ensuring long-term usability.
