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my tinfoil-hat theory is that on each OS iteration Apple adds a new feature that leverages the latest chips hardware acceleration features and for older chips t

my tinfoil-hat theory is that on each OS iteration Apple adds a new feature that leverages the latest chips hardware acceleration features and for older chips they do software-only implementations. they ship-of-thesseus the crap out of their OS but replacing with parts that need these new hardware features that run slow on older chips due to software-only implementations. I got the first generation iPad Pro, which is e-waste now, but I use it as a screen for my CCTV, it cannot even display the virtual keyboard without stuttering like crazy, it lags switching apps, there's a delay for everything, this thing was smooth as butter on release.

thewebguyd 1y ago
I have the 4th gen (2020) iPad Pro with the A12X Bionic, the same chip they put in the Apple Silicon transition dev kits. With iPadOS 26 it's become barely usable, despite still being performant as ever on iPadOS 18. I'm talking huge drop in performance, stutters and slow downs everywhere. I was considering just replacing the battery and keeping it for several more years but now I feel forced to upgrade which has me considering whether I still want/need an iPad since I'd also have to buy a new magic keyboard since they redesigned it, and they bumped the price ($1299 now vs. $999 when I got the 4th gen) so I'd be looking at $1700. Trying to hold out for an iPad Air with ProMotion. I may be in the minority here, but I think 5 years is too short of a lifespan for these devices at this point. Early days when things were advancing like crazy, sure. But now? I have 8 year old computers that are still just fine, and with the M-series chips I'd expect at least 10 years of usable life at minimum (battery not withstanding)
- qingcharles 1y ago
  That's weird. I have an 8th Gen iPad, the slowest device that can run iPadOS 26, and everything is fine on that old thing. (except the OS takes up the majority of the storage)
  - thewebguyd 1y ago
    Interesting. Might try a factory reset then and see. There's noticable lag for me, it's especially slow when switching apps or bringing up the keyboard, as well as on first unlock. Interacting within a single app is still fine, it's interacting with the OS that's really sluggish.
    - gosub100 1y ago
      Total guess but is there a tiny fan inside that got filled with dust? Maybe it's thermal throttling.
      - sgerenser 1y ago
        Apple has never made an iPad with a fan
    - NetMageSCW 1y ago
      How long have you been running on 26? Every iOS/iPadOS update takes a few days to stabilize.
      - yencabulator 1y ago
        > Every iOS/iPadOS update takes a few days to stabilize. What in the actual world of software engineering?
        radnor 1y ago
        It's not new. With every new iOS release the device can often spend a day or two churning and indexing stuff.
  - dwood_dev 1y ago
    8th Gen iPad is about the same on iPadOS 26 as 18 for me, which is slow. The 32GB really handicapped it for even being usable as to even upgrade it, I have to factory reset it first. I'm replacing it with a Mini. The iPad Air 13 with a M3 is a really nice experience. Very fast device.
  - techstrategist 1y ago
    weird, my iPaid Air 3 which should have the same specs has been really for at least a year. Plenty of free storage, not so many apps, all visual enhancements turned off.
    - qingcharles 1y ago
      I think you accidentally a word?
- cgh 1y ago
  I have a 3rd Gen iPad Pro from 2018 and iPadOS 26 runs fine.
- misiek08 1y ago
  I have perfectly fine Mini 2 Retina, but because they blocked Safari updates and faked AppStore connectivity issues - I have just perfect display with still good battery than can be used as bread cutting board :(
trinix912 1y ago
Plus they don't let you downgrade to previous iOS versions on iPhones and iPads (unless you've been smart to save SHSH blobs and all that) so the only option to revert to a smooth version now is to download a sketchy jailbreak.
- 05 1y ago
  > A12 devices and newer > You cannot restore to any iOS versions other than signed ones. All SHSH blobs are currently useless. So, anything newer than iPhone X can’t be downgraded
osn9363739 1y ago
At some point you have to use the new features available to you. That's not really tinfoil, just progress, and how all tech works no.
- setopt 1y ago
  They could choose to not offer the new feature to users on old hardware, but still provide those platforms with e.g. security updates and key features like Safari upgrades.
- behnamoh 1y ago
  this couldn't be farther from the truth. people still use vim and it's better than most new tech that was made post 2000s.
seec 1y ago
Yep, this is pretty much how they operate. Apple has always done that to some extent. Sometimes they are even quite clear about it and use it as a marketing point to push upgrading.

thewebguyd 1y ago

I have the 4th gen (2020) iPad Pro with the A12X Bionic, the same chip they put in the Apple Silicon transition dev kits. With iPadOS 26 it's become barely usable, despite still being performant as ever on iPadOS 18. I'm talking huge drop in performance, stutters and slow downs everywhere. I was considering just replacing the battery and keeping it for several more years but now I feel forced to upgrade which has me considering whether I still want/need an iPad since I'd also have to buy a new magic keyboard since they redesigned it, and they bumped the price ($1299 now vs. $999 when I got the 4th gen) so I'd be looking at $1700. Trying to hold out for an iPad Air with ProMotion. I may be in the minority here, but I think 5 years is too short of a lifespan for these devices at this point. Early days when things were advancing like crazy, sure. But now? I have 8 year old computers that are still just fine, and with the M-series chips I'd expect at least 10 years of usable life at minimum (battery not withstanding)

qingcharles 1y ago
That's weird. I have an 8th Gen iPad, the slowest device that can run iPadOS 26, and everything is fine on that old thing. (except the OS takes up the majority of the storage)
- thewebguyd 1y ago
  Interesting. Might try a factory reset then and see. There's noticable lag for me, it's especially slow when switching apps or bringing up the keyboard, as well as on first unlock. Interacting within a single app is still fine, it's interacting with the OS that's really sluggish.
  - gosub100 1y ago
    Total guess but is there a tiny fan inside that got filled with dust? Maybe it's thermal throttling.
    - sgerenser 1y ago
      Apple has never made an iPad with a fan
  - NetMageSCW 1y ago
    How long have you been running on 26? Every iOS/iPadOS update takes a few days to stabilize.
    - yencabulator 1y ago
      > Every iOS/iPadOS update takes a few days to stabilize. What in the actual world of software engineering?
      - radnor 1y ago
        It's not new. With every new iOS release the device can often spend a day or two churning and indexing stuff.
- dwood_dev 1y ago
  8th Gen iPad is about the same on iPadOS 26 as 18 for me, which is slow. The 32GB really handicapped it for even being usable as to even upgrade it, I have to factory reset it first. I'm replacing it with a Mini. The iPad Air 13 with a M3 is a really nice experience. Very fast device.
- techstrategist 1y ago
  weird, my iPaid Air 3 which should have the same specs has been really for at least a year. Plenty of free storage, not so many apps, all visual enhancements turned off.
  - qingcharles 1y ago
    I think you accidentally a word?
cgh 1y ago
I have a 3rd Gen iPad Pro from 2018 and iPadOS 26 runs fine.
misiek08 1y ago
I have perfectly fine Mini 2 Retina, but because they blocked Safari updates and faked AppStore connectivity issues - I have just perfect display with still good battery than can be used as bread cutting board :(

trinix912 1y ago

Plus they don't let you downgrade to previous iOS versions on iPhones and iPads (unless you've been smart to save SHSH blobs and all that) so the only option to revert to a smooth version now is to download a sketchy jailbreak.

05 1y ago
> A12 devices and newer > You cannot restore to any iOS versions other than signed ones. All SHSH blobs are currently useless. So, anything newer than iPhone X can’t be downgraded

osn9363739 1y ago

At some point you have to use the new features available to you. That's not really tinfoil, just progress, and how all tech works no.

setopt 1y ago
They could choose to not offer the new feature to users on old hardware, but still provide those platforms with e.g. security updates and key features like Safari upgrades.
behnamoh 1y ago
this couldn't be farther from the truth. people still use vim and it's better than most new tech that was made post 2000s.

seec 1y ago

Yep, this is pretty much how they operate. Apple has always done that to some extent. Sometimes they are even quite clear about it and use it as a marketing point to push upgrading.