Do you still use an older iPhone to keep in touch with friends or family via WhatsApp? In this article you can read which iOS versions and devices are still supported.
WhatsApp on older devices
WhatsApp is a widely used app to keep in touch with others. Almost everyone has WhatsApp, even people who previously did not want to have anything to do with smartphones and do not think having the latest device is so important. However, it is good to know that at some point WhatsApp will stop supporting older iOS versions, so that it is not always possible to continue to use WhatsApp on older devices. In this article you can read which device and each iOS version you need.
- Minimal iOS version
- Suitable iPhones
- What can you do?
WhatsApp: you need this iOS version
This is the current status:
- January 1, 2021: At least iOS 9 or Android 4.0.3 required
This means that devices that still run on iOS 8 will have to update to iOS 9. In fact, this does not mean a major change. In February 2020, WhatsApp already stopped supporting iOS 7 and with that the beloved iPhone 4 was dropped. However, the 2011 successor iPhone 4s can still be updated to iOS 9.
These iPhones are suitable for WhatsApp
In fact, it means that the following devices are suitable for WhatsApp:
- iPhone 4s
- All iPhone 5 models
- All iPhone 6 models
- All iPhone 7 models
- All iPhone 8 models
- All iPhone X / XS / XR models
- All iPhone SE models
- All iPhone 11 models and newer
What is missing are the iPhone 4 and earlier models such as the iPhone 3GS. These devices are more than ten years old and have not received any updates from Apple for years. In our iOS version overview you can see which devices can be updated to which iOS version.
What can you do?
If you know someone whose WhatsApp suddenly stops working, there are a few solutions. The device may still be able to be updated to a newer iOS version. For example, the iPhone 6 was originally delivered with iOS 8. If the owner of the device ‘forgot’ to update the device over the years, it still runs on iOS 8 while you can still put iOS 12 on it.
If it is not possible to update, then you are dealing with a device of 10 years old and it might be an idea to look for a newer model. With an iPhone 8 or newer you can move forward for a while. If you have an older iPhone that is still suitable and that you want to keep using it for a while, replacing the iPhone battery can be a worthwhile investment. Most devices still perform well in terms of performance, but the battery is the part that causes the most wear over the years.
If you are looking for a new iPhone, we will help you on your way with the article below.
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