Older Android devices, including the Galaxy S3, will no longer support WhatsApp from January 1st.
Starting January 1, 2025, WhatsApp will discontinue support for a number of older devices, including the Motorola Moto G (1st Gen), Razr HD, Samsung Galaxy S3, and several others. This decision is driven by the need to implement more advanced features and AI functionalities that require modern hardware.
The specific details about the new features and functionalities that WhatsApp is planning to introduce are not yet available, but they are anticipated to offer improved security, performance, and user experience by leveraging the latest capabilities of Android and iOS operating systems.
As a result of this update, devices over 10 years old, such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, will lose access to WhatsApp. Similarly, iPhones running iOS older than version 15.1 will also lose WhatsApp support, with the discontinuation taking effect in May 2025.
Users are advised to back up their WhatsApp data on a new device before the support ends to avoid losing media and chat history. After January 1, 2025, a new device will be necessary to continue using WhatsApp.
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has announced similar support discontinuation for iPhones running iOS older than version 15.1. Other devices losing WhatsApp support include the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Ace 3, Galaxy S4 Mini, Motorola Moto G (1st Gen), Razr HD, Moto E 2014, HTC One X, One X+, Desire 500, Desire 601, LG Optimus G, Nexus 4, G2 Mini, L90, Sony Xperia Z, Xperia SP, Xperia T, Xperia V, and several others.
This move aligns with WhatsApp's commitment to stay compatible with operating systems capable of supporting its evolving feature set and security standards. As Android KitKat, released in 2013, no longer receives security patches or updates from Google, it lacks the necessary security updates and technical capabilities to support modern app features securely and efficiently.
As the discontinuation of WhatsApp support for older Android devices is less than a week away, users who own these devices may need to consider upgrading to a newer smartphone to continue using WhatsApp. If you don't have a new smartphone on your Christmas shopping list, you'll need to switch to SMS starting January 1, 2025.
- due to the upcoming WhatsApp update, those still using older smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S3 might need to consider purchasing a new device that supports the latest technology, such as smartphones running Android KitKat or later versions, to continue using the app.
- in light of the anticipated advanced features and AI functionalities being rolled out by WhatsApp, users may find it beneficial to upgrade to modern gadgets, such as newer smartphones, by the end of January 2025, to fully experience the improved security, performance, and user experience offered by these updates.
