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Fudgeletta
User level: Level 1 (6 points)

iPad 8th Generation slow with app crashes, when to upgrade?

I had asked and has been given an iPad 8th Generation alongside an Apple Pencil 1 to upgrade from my iPad Mini 5 due to its small display. I got the iPad and pencil many months ago, but I can’t say a year…


now that I look back at its capabilities, I notice it being slow and sometimes applications even crashing.


There were many better options for my creative drawing and editing, and maybe I should’ve done more research prior before asking.


I wrote about my reasons to upgrade if I really wanted this decision, and already have a new device wishlist and accessories to ask for again, that including an iPad Air M2 with an Apple Pencil Pro and case. However, I don’t think I’m quite sure to give away the device and accessories I currently have yet. When do you think I should ask for an upgrade?


I, personally, was thinking to ask when it was no longer getting security updates and it’s 128gb of storage being full or just little to be full, but I think there’s more to it.

Posted on Nov 3, 2026 7:38 AM

3 replies

LotusPilot
User level: Level 10 (334,506 points)

Nov 3, 2026 10:45 AM in response to Fudgeletta

Your iPad8, released in 2020, is perhaps within its twilight of software support. Your iPad8 supports iPadOS 26, but fundamentally does not support iPadOS 27 or later.


While Apple does not preannounce end-of-support, history demonstrates that iPad models typically maintain update support for five to seven years - later years being limited to point security updates.


Your iPad8 obviously cannot perform as well as more recent models, in particular as Apps and OS-updates make increasingly great demands upon the system hardware. An iPad Air M2, released in 2024, will represent a significant step-up in performance.


As to the timing of your potential upgrade to a more recent model, only you can decide.

Fudgeletta Author
User level: Level 1 (6 points)

Nov 3, 2026 12:59 PM in response to LotusPilot

Thank you for the information! It helps a lot, especially with you stating only I can decide when to upgrade to a more recent model.

LotusPilot
User level: Level 10 (334,506 points)

Nov 3, 2026 3:09 PM in response to Fudgeletta

You're very welcome.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256388199