Apple iPad Lifecycle: End Of Life And Support Status

Last updated on March 4, 2024

The iPad is Apple’s tablet that uses the iPadOS mobile operating system. First launched in 2010, the iPad now has different variants, including the iPad (basic), iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

Support status guide

End of life (EOL) is the end of a product’s useful life. When a product reaches the end of its life cycle, the manufacturer no longer supports it. The following table explains the different phases of a product’s lifecycle. Testing status is when the product is initially released and EOL is when product support is no longer offered. The time between these two points is the support timeframe.

Testing

The software is not yet publicly available. It is in testing phase i.e., alpha, beta, release preview etc.

Active

The software is actively supported by the vendor.

Phasing Out

The software will soon reach its end of life. You need to look for upgrade or migration options. The software will automatically go into phasing out status 2 months before end of life.

End Of Life

The software is no longer supported by the vendor. You need to make sure your system and environment are safe.

Version

Released

Active Support

Discontinued

iPad (10th Gen)
1 year and 5 months ago
(26 October 2022)
Supported
In Production
iPad Pro (6th Gen)
1 year and 5 months ago
(26 October 2022)
Supported
In Production
iPad Air (5th Gen)
2 years and 1 month ago
(18 March 2022)
Supported
In Production
iPad (9th Gen)
2 years and 6 months ago
(24 September 2021)
Supported
In Production
iPad Mini (6th Gen)
2 years and 6 months ago
(24 September 2021)
Supported
In Production
iPad Pro (5th Gen)
2 years and 10 months ago
(21 May 2021)
Supported
Ended 1 year and 6 months ago
(18 October 2022)
iPad Air (4th Gen)
3 years and 5 months ago
(23 October 2020)
Supported
Ended 2 years and 1 month ago
(8 March 2022)
iPad (8th Gen)
3 years and 7 months ago
(18 September 2020)
Supported
Ended 2 years and 7 months ago
(14 September 2021)
iPad Pro (4th Gen)
4 years and 3 weeks ago
(25 March 2020)
Supported
Ended 2 years and 11 months ago
(20 April 2021)
iPad (7th Gen)
4 years and 6 months ago
(25 September 2019)
Supported
Ended 3 years and 7 months ago
(15 September 2020)
iPad Mini (5th Gen)
5 years and 1 month ago
(18 March 2019)
Supported
Ended 2 years and 7 months ago
(14 September 2021)
iPad Air (3rd Gen)
5 years and 1 month ago
(18 March 2019)
Supported
Ended 2 years and 7 months ago
(14 September 2021)
iPad Pro (3rd Gen)
5 years and 5 months ago
(7 November 2018)
Supported
Ended 4 years and 1 month ago
(18 March 2020)
iPad (6th Gen)
6 years and 3 weeks ago
(27 March 2018)
Supported
Ended 4 years and 7 months ago
(10 September 2019)
iPad Pro (2nd Gen)
6 years and 10 months ago
(13 June 2017)
Supported
Ended 5 years and 5 months ago
(30 October 2018)
iPad (5th Gen)
7 years and 3 weeks ago
(24 March 2017)
Supported
Ended 6 years and 3 weeks ago
(27 March 2018)
iPad Pro (1st Gen)
8 years and 5 months ago
(11 November 2015)
Supported
Ended 6 years and 10 months ago
(5 June 2017)
iPad Mini 4
8 years and 7 months ago
(9 September 2015)
Supported
Ended 5 years and 1 month ago
(18 March 2019)
iPad Mini 3
9 years and 5 months ago
(22 October 2014)
Ended 1 year and 2 months ago
(23 January 2023)
Ended 8 years and 7 months ago
(9 September 2015)
iPad Air 2
9 years and 5 months ago
(22 October 2014)
Supported
Ended 7 years and 4 weeks ago
(21 March 2017)
iPad Mini 2
10 years and 5 months ago
(12 November 2013)
Ended 1 year and 2 months ago
(23 January 2023)
Ended 7 years and 4 weeks ago
(21 March 2017)
iPad Air (1st Gen)
10 years and 5 months ago
(1 November 2013)
Ended 1 year and 2 months ago
(23 January 2023)
Ended 8 years and 4 weeks ago
(21 March 2016)
iPad Mini (1st Gen)
11 years and 5 months ago
(2 November 2012)
Ended 4 years and 8 months ago
(22 July 2019)
Ended 8 years and 9 months ago
(19 June 2015)
iPad (4th Gen)
11 years and 5 months ago
(2 November 2012)
Ended 4 years and 8 months ago
(22 July 2019)
Ended 9 years and 6 months ago
(16 October 2014)
iPad (3rd Gen)
12 years and 1 month ago
(16 March 2012)
Ended 4 years and 8 months ago
(22 July 2019)
Ended 11 years and 5 months ago
(23 October 2012)
iPad 2
13 years and 1 month ago
(11 March 2011)
Ended 4 years and 8 months ago
(22 July 2019)
Ended 10 years and 1 month ago
(18 March 2014)
iPad (1st Gen)
14 years and 2 weeks ago
(3 April 2010)
Ended 11 years and 6 months ago
(19 September 2012)
Ended 13 years and 1 month ago
(2 March 2011)

Up until 2023, Apple refreshed the iPad series every year since its launch – sometimes multiple models every year. However, in 2023, since the products were not ready ahead of the holiday shopping season, Apple failed to launch a newer model of iPads.

Each iPad model supports a limited version of iPadOS. Therefore, an iPad is only supported for as long as its supported iPadOS is supported. The table below shows which iPads support which iPadOS versions:

 

iPad   Supported iPadOS Version
 iPad (10th Gen)  16-17
 iPad Pro (6th Gen)  16-17
 iPad Air (5th Gen)  15-17
 iPad (9th Gen)  15-17
 iPad Mini (6th Gen)  15-17
 iPad Pro (5th Gen)  14-17
 iPad Air (4th Gen)  14-17
 iPad (8th Gen)  14-17
 iPad Pro (4th Gen)  13-17
 iPad (7th Gen)  13-17
 iPad Mini (5th Gen)  12-17
 iPad Air (3rd Gen)  12-17
 iPad Pro (3rd Gen)  12-17
 iPad (6th Gen)  11-17
 iPad Pro (2nd Gen)  10-17
 iPad (5th Gen)  10-16
 iPad Pro (1st Gen)  9-16
 iPad Mini 4  9-15
 iPad Mini 3  8-12
 iPad Air 2  8-15
 iPad Mini 2  7-12
 iPad Air (1st Gen)  7-12
 iPad Mini (1st Gen)  6-9
 iPad (4th Gen)  6-10
 iPad (3rd Gen)  5-9
 iPad 2  4-9
 iPad (1st Gen)  3-5