WhatsApp plans to stop support on a list of devices in the next few hoursaffecting both Android and iPhone models. Starting November 1, the popular messaging application will stop working on these devices because they do not meet the minimum operating system requirements necessary to support the platform’s recent features and functions.
This update will affect thousands of users, mainly those who have old devices or that they have not updated their software in several years. Below, we detail the affected phones and the alternatives for users.
Android models that will be left without WhatsApp
Phones with operating systems lower than Android 5.0 (Lollipop) will no longer be supported. This includes several models released before 2014 that, although popular at the time, today no longer have the processing and security features that WhatsApp needs.
Among the Android models that will lose support, we find flagship devices such as:
– Samsung: Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note II
– HTC: One X, One X+
– LG: Optimus G, Nexus 4
– Sony: Xperia Z, Xperia SP
– Motorola: Moto G (1st generation)
– Samsung: Galaxy Ace 3, Galaxy S4 Mini
– HTC: Desire 500, Desire 601
– LG: G2 Mini, L90
– Sony: Xperia T, Xperia V
– Motorola: Droid Razr HD, Moto E (1st generation)
– Nokia: Lumia 920, Lumia 1020
– Huawei: Ascend P6, Ascend Y300
– ZTE: ZMAX, Grand
These devices are left out due to the age of hardware and limitations in the upgradeability of their systems. WhatsApp not only seeks to ensure the functionality of its most recent features, but also to implement its privacy and data protection policies, which require security updates that cannot be applied to such old system versions.
iPhone devices that will also lose support
In the Apple ecosystem, The restriction applies to devices running iOS 11 or earlier. This includes the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5cwhich can no longer be updated to higher iOS versions. Like the affected Android models, these iPhones cannot support WhatsApp updates due to a lack of security support and modern functionalities.
Despite Apple usually offers long-term support for its older modelstime and the lack of updates for iOS 12 on these devices have left them out of compatibility with the messaging application. Users of these models will have to migrate to a newer device to continue using WhatsApp.
Why does WhatsApp stop supporting older devices?
WhatsApp’s decision to stop support for certain phones each year is based on several factors. One of the main ones is security: Old versions of mobile operating systems often have vulnerabilities that no longer receive security patches from manufacturers, exposing user data.
WhatsApp is also constantly introducing new features that require greater processing power, so maintaining compatibility with older devices limits the possibility of implementing improvements and optimizations.
Another reason is application optimization. With the advancement of technology, WhatsApp needs to evolve to take advantage of the new resources offered by current operating systems. Older devices do not have the same hardware power, which impacts the user experience and can cause performance issues.
The news that WhatsApp will no longer be available on some phones can be worrying for many, especially those who still use old models. However, this measure underlines the importance of keeping devices up to date not only for the operation of applications, but also to protect data security. For those who depend on WhatsApp for daily communication, evaluating options to update their device or explore messaging alternatives will be crucial in the coming days.
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