Starting today, some owners of certain smartphone models may no longer be able to use them WhatsApp. It’s mostly about obsolete devicesfor which Meta has stopped providing support, as they do not meet the minimum requirements required by the app.
Mark Zuckerberg’s company, owner of the popular messaging app, explained that this choice is motivated by the need to guarantee the security and functionality of the service, which requires more up-to-date technologies.
Let’s see which smartphones are affected by this news.
Android: WhatsApp does not work on all devices older than Android 5.0
As for Google’s operating system, WhatsApp has announced that it will only support devices running Android 5.0 or later. This means that 0.4% of Android smartphones currently in use will no longer be able to access the app. Among these are some models of Samsung Galaxy, LG Optimus, HTC Desire, Sony Xperia and Huawei Ascend. These are smartphones launched on the market at least seven years agowhich therefore have a very limited diffusion.
The list includes:
- Samsung Galaxy Core
- Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite
- Samsung Galaxy Ace2
- Samsung Galaxy s3 Mini
- Samsung Galaxy Trend II
- LG Optimus L2 II
- LG Optimus L3 II
- LG Optimus L3 II Dual
- LG Optimus L4 II
- LG Optimus L5 II
- LG Optimus L5 Dual
- LG Optimus L7 II
- LG Optimus L7 Dual
- LG Optimus F3
- LG Optimus F3Q
- LG Optimus F5
- LG Optimus F6
- LG Optimus F7
- Lucid 2
- LG Enlighten
- HTC Desire 500
- Sony Xperia M
- Huawei Ascend Mate
- Huawei Ascend G740
- Huawei Ascend D2
Apple: minimum iOS 12 to use WhatsApp
As for Apple devices the minimum operating system is iOS 12. All iPhones up to iOS 11 will no longer be able to use WhatsApp.
The estimate here is a little more complex, because it’s not easy to know how many people are still using iOS 11 or earlier. However, it is estimated that 11% of iPhones in circulation have an operating system lower than iOS 12, which is the minimum required by WhatsApp.
The list includes:
- iPhone 6S
- iPhone 6S Plus
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 5
- iPhone 5C
Furthermore, the latter two had already been excluded from WhatsApp support previously.
This is why WhatsApp no longer works on older smartphones
WhatsApp justified its choice to stop supporting older smartphones with two main reasons: functionality and security. In fact, the app stated that to offer new functions and improve the service, it needs to use the latest technologies, which are not supported by older operating systems.
Furthermore, Meta pointed out that To protect the privacy and security of its users, it needs to use protocols and standards that are not compatible with older devices. Support for these models would involve an economic outlay that WhatsApp does not consider sustainable, given that it would only benefit a minority of users.