As of January 1, WhatsApp messaging will no longer be compatible with 49 phone models, including the iPhone 5 or the Samsung Galaxy S2.
Users of some 49 phone models released more than ten years ago will not be able to wish their loved ones a happy new year via WhatsApp. The messaging app will no longer be available, starting January 1. Users of devices with a version earlier than Android 4.1 (called Jelly Bean) and iOS 12.1 will no longer be able to use WhatsApp.
“To keep pace with the latest technological advancements, we regularly stop supporting older operating systems to devote our resources to supporting the newest systems,” WhatsApp says. on its help page.
Among the phones concerned, we find in particular the iPhone 5 and 5c released in 2012 and 2013, the Samsung Galaxy S2 and S3 mini, or the HTC Desire 500.
However, most users are already running Android 4.1. Only 0.2% of smartphones work with a later version, according to an Android count dating from February 2021. For its part, iOS is at version 16.2.
Operating system update
But don’t panic, if you have one of these devices, there are still a few solutions to continue using WhatsApp. On some devices, it is possible to update the operating system to the next version. It is necessary that the phone has at least Android 4.1 and iOS 12. The update is done from the settings.
WhatsApp’s last operating system update was on October 24, 2022 with support for iOS 10 and 11 discontinued.
Here is the full list of affected devices: iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, Archos 53 Platinum, Grand S Flex ZTE, Grand X Quad V987 ZTE, HTC Desire 500, Huawei Ascend D, Huawei Ascend D1, Huawei Ascend D2, Huawei Ascend G740, Huawei Ascend Mate, Huawei Ascend P1, Quad XL, Lenovo A820, LG Enact, LG Lucid 2, LG Optimus 4X HD, LG Optimus F3, LG Optimus F3Q, LG Optimus F5, LG Optimus F6, LG Optimus F7, LG Optimus L2 II, LG Optimus L3 II, LG Optimus L3 II Dual, LG Optimus L4 II, LG Optimus L4 II Dual, LG Optimus L5, LG Optimus L5 Dual, LG Optimus L5 II, LG Optimus L7, LG Optimus L7 II, LG Optimus L7 II Dual , LG Optimus Nitro HD, Memo ZTE V956, Samsung Galaxy Ace 2, Samsung Galaxy Core, Samsung Galaxy S2, Samsung Galaxy S3 mini, Samsung Galaxy Trend II, Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite, Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2, Sony Xperia Arc S, Sony Xperia Miro, Sony Xperia Neo L, Wiko Cink Five, Wiko Darknight ZT.
