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iPad Q&A
Update Published September 19, 2023
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Which iPad models support iPadOS 17? Do some models "partially" support iPadOS 17? Which ones?
Apple first announced iPadOS 17 on June 5, 2023 and it was released as a public beta on July 12, 2023. The "final" version shipped on September 18, 2023.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPadOS 17)
Apple provides basic iPadOS 17 compatibility in the corporate press release, but specific feature support is scattered elsewhere in fine print and can be complicated to parse, so an independent evaluation can be especially worthwhile.
New iPadOS 17 Features
In the press release for iPadOS 17, Apple promotes the operating system as bringing "new levels of personalization and versatility to iPad."
In more detail, the company explains that iPadOS 17 is:
Delivering entirely new ways for users to personalize the Lock Screen and interact with widgets. Working with PDFs is easier with AutoFill, which intelligently identifies and fills fields in forms, and Notes brings a new experience for marking up and collaborating on PDFs. Messages gets significant updates, including a new stickers experience, and users can now leave FaceTime video and audio messages. The Health app comes to iPad with interactive charts, and HealthKit enables developers to create innovative experiences designed for the iPad display.
Compared to its predecessor, iPadOS 16, which brought improvements to multitasking and full external display support to some iPad models, iPadOS 17 is a much more modest upgrade, but the improvements to make collaborative work easier should be welcomed for those with iPad models that support these features.
Although there are dozens of others, Apple chose to emphasize these additions for iPadOS 17:
- Personalized Lock Screen: New photo features and "Live Activities" to watch a sports game, a flight, or the progress of a delivery order.
- Improved Widgets: Widgets on the Lock Screen and Home Screen now support interaction.
- Improved PDFs: Autofill forms enhanced by Machine Learning and improvements to collaborative tools for multiple users to work on PDF files.
- Improved Messages: Improvements to transcription, search, and interface as well as gimmicky new "Live Stickers" that can be created from a photo.
- Improved FaceTime: Makes it possible to coordinate a FaceTime call on an iPad and show the videocall on an Apple TV 4K-connected television. Audio or video messages can be left if someone is unavailable, as well.
- Improved Safari: Allows users to segment browsing tasks by category in addition to improvements to security and privacy.
- Health App: Brings the iPhone health app to the iPad for the first time.
However, it is important to be aware that not all of these features are supported on all compatible devices. In fact, a substantial number of supported devices do not support some of these features at all.
Compared to its predecessor, iPadOS 16, iPadOS 17 drops support entirely for the iPad 5th Gen, iPad Pro 12.9" (1st Gen), and iPad Pro 9.7".
A full list of iPad devices supported at the time the iPadOS was released
follows. There are some significant differences in terms of feature support documented further below.
Identification Help (Skip)
If you are not sure which iPad you have, all models can be quickly identified externally by Model Number precisely enough to determine whether or not it is supported by iPadOS 17. You also can find this Model Number in the "Settings" app on your iPad under General > Regulatory > or General > Legal & Regulatory, depending on the version of the operating system.
These particular iPad devices support iPadOS 17:
iPadOS 17 Compatible Tablets |
Model No |
If your iPad isn't listed above, and it wasn't released before the next version of the iPadOS was released (iPadOS 18), it isn't compatible with iPadOS 17.
Although it is not as straightforward, you also can use the Order Number for identification, which is specified as "Model" within the iOS "Settings" app under General > About.
For example, in the United States, this "Model" within the iPadOS is MP5F3LL/A, which specifically refers to an iPad Pro 11" (Wi-Fi/Cell US - 4th Gen) in Silver with 1 TB of storage.
Everyi.com's Ultimate iLookup feature can identify these devices by order numbers from around the world and other identifiers, too.
All of the above iPad devices are compatible with iPadOS 17, but in fine print, Apple disclaims that some features only are supported by a subset of devices.
Bottom line, only the iPad Pro 11" 3rd Gen, iPad Pro 11" 4th Gen, iPad Pro 12.9" 5th Gen, and iPad Pro 12.9" 6th Gen actually support all new features. On the other hand, the iPad (6th Gen), iPad (7th Gen), iPad Pro 10.5", and iPad Pro 12.9" (2nd Gen) do not support any of the below features.
Support for other iPad models varies accordingly.
Full-Size iPad
The iPad 6 and iPad 7 support iPadOS 17, but do not support any of these features. The iPad 8, iPad 9, and iPad 10 support some advanced features:
| iPad 8 | iPad 9 | iPad 10 | |
| React with Your Hands | No | No | Yes |
| FaceTime on Apple TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Screen Distance | No | No | No |
| Enhanced Autofill | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| More Accurate Autocorrect (EN, FR, ES) | No | No | Yes |
| Inline Predictions (EN) | No | No | Yes |
| External Camera for FaceTime | No | No | No |
| Back-to-Back Siri Requests | Yes | Yes | Yes |
iPad mini
The iPad mini 5 and iPad mini 6 support some advanced features:
| mini 5 | mini 6 | |
| React with Your Hands | No | Yes |
| FaceTime on Apple TV | Yes | Yes |
| Screen Distance | No | No |
| Enhanced Autofill | Yes | Yes |
| More Accurate Autocorrect (EN, FR, ES) | No | Yes |
| Inline Predictions (EN) | No | Yes |
| External Camera for FaceTime | No | No |
| Back-to-Back Siri Requests | Yes | Yes |
iPad Air
The iPad Air 3, iPad Air 4, and iPad Air 5 models vary in their support for advanced features:
| Air 3 | Air 4 | Air 5 | |
| React with Your Hands | No | Yes | Yes |
| FaceTime on Apple TV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Screen Distance | No | No | No |
| Enhanced Autofill | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| More Accurate Autocorrect (EN, FR, ES) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Inline Predictions (EN) | No | Yes | Yes |
| External Camera for FaceTime | No | No | No |
| Back-to-Back Siri Requests | Yes | Yes | Yes |
iPad Pro
The iPad Pro 10.5" and iPad Pro 12.9" (2nd Gen) support iPadOS 17, but do not support any of these features. The iPad Pro 11" 3rd Gen, iPad Pro 11" 4th Gen, iPad Pro 12.9" 5th Gen, and iPad Pro 12.9" 6th Gen support all of these features.
Advanced feature support for other iPad Pro models varies accordingly:
| 11" | 12.9" 3 | 11" 2 | 12.9" 4 | |
| React with Your Hands | No | No | No | No |
| FaceTime on Apple TV | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Screen Distance | No | Yes | No* | Yes |
| Enhanced Autofill | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| More Accurate Autocorrect (EN, FR, ES) | No | No | No | No |
| Inline Predictions (EN) | No | No | No | No |
| External Camera for FaceTime | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Back-to-Back Siri Requests | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
* In the company's original promo copy, Apple specifies that the Screen Distance feature is "available using the TrueDepth camera on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later) and iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and later)." This would seem to omit the iPad Pro 11" 2nd Gen model, which was released the same day as the iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd Gen) and that also has a TrueDepth camera. This may be a typo on Apple's part and this info is subject to confirmation/correction if needed.
iPadOS 17 Summary
Ultimately, iPadOS 17 is a minor update, but the enhancements to collaborative work, in particular, are welcomed. Some of the other additions may prove to save a bit of time or add a bit of fun to life, too.
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