Why most phones ‘ll stop receiving WhatsApp by January’

By Florence Kalu

Mobile phones not presently running iOS 9, or any phone not running at least Android 4.0.3 also known as Ice Cream Sandwich – will no longer be able to open or operate the Facebook-owned app( WhatsApp) with effect from 1 January 2021.

This review which a new WhatsApp update will prevent from working on such millions of phones.

Such owners of older Android and iPhone devices will no longer be supported to the latest version of the app, forcing them to either update their mobile operating system or buy a new smartphone, Yahoo News reports.

iPhone 4

By that date, all iPhone models up to the iPhone 4 will be unable to support WhatsApp, as these phones are not capable of updating to iOS 9.

The iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S were all released before iOS 9, however owners can still update to the operating system if they are yet to do so.

Android phones that will lose WhatsApp support include the Samsung Galaxy S2, HTC Desire and LG Optimus Black.

Phone owners can see what software their device is using by checking the settings section. For iPhone users, this can be found under Settings > General > Software update.

Most of the 2 billion WhatsApp users around the world will not be hit by the change, though the small fraction that are will likely comprise several million people worldwide.

A similar update at the start of 2020 saw WhatsApp make the “tough decision” of ending support for even older phones.

As 1 January 2021 thinks closer by hours, some of the phones set to lose WhatsApp support include:
Apple iPhone 1-4, Samsung Galaxy S2
HTC Desire, LG Optimus Black, Motorola Droid Razr.

Also yo be affected are any Android released before 2010 Phones that will need to update to at least iOS 9 or Android OS 4.0.3: Apple iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, Samsung Galaxy S3, and newer, Samsung Galaxy Note, HTC Sensation, HTC Thunderbolt, LG Lucid, Motorola Droid 4,
Sony Xperia Pro and newer.

The source through Gemid News has it to say that whatsApp will also be updating its Terms of Service next year, forcing users to agree to new privacy rules in order to keep subscribers afloat in usage..