Apple could drop support for iPhone 6, 5S and iPad mini 2 with iOS 13

Apple is expected to drop support for a number of older iPhones and iPad models on iOS 13.

The company is widely expected to announce the next iteration of the iOS operating system at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Jose, California next month, where it will also offer a sneak peek of macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and perhaps even some new hardware.

The week-long WWDC event usually kicks off with a conference that outlines the key changes coming to each operating system this year, and as such, previews of iOS 13, macOS 10.15, tvOS 13 and watchOS 6 are just around the corner.

Apple is also expected to drop beta previews for all four operating system enhancements on the same day so that developers back home can get to work on building next-generation Apple-friendly software.

iOS 11 and iOS 12 were Apple’s biggest releases yet, supporting more iPads and iPhones than ever before – but with iOS 13, it’s likely users with older devices will be left in the dark.

Apple trimming supported devices list

According to reports, the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, iPhone 5S, and iPhone SE will no longer be supported with iOS 13, meaning they’ll be stuck with the current operating system forever.

However, considering the iPhone 5S will be six years old when iOS 13 rolls out in September, it’s not surprising that the company will be adding the device to its ‘discontinued’ list.

If the report is accurate, then Apple will have removed support for all four-inch display devices, which could help to pave the way for some bigger home screen changes that have been rumored in previous months.

Could we finally get a new look for the home screen?

As well as the iPhone, the iPad mini 2 and the iPad Air will also be given the boot.

iOS 13 is expected to be one of Apple’s biggest OS updates to date, including a long-awaited Dark Mode, a new CarPlay, a new Find My iPhone app, Reminders and Mail app refreshes, and much more.

AppleMagazine will bring you the latest as and when we get it, as it’s likely that more rumored features will leak before the official unveiling of the OS.

What are your thoughts on Apple dropping support for older iPhones and iPads? Let us know on Twitter using @AppleMagazine, and keep it locked on our website for the latest.

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