Meta has officially announced that starting January 1, 2024, WhatsApp will no longer support smartphones running Android KitKat or earlier versions. That means some of the oldest Android devices out there are about to lose access to one of the most popular messaging platforms.
These smartphones, launched over a decade ago, simply don’t have the hardware muscle to keep up with WhatsApp’s evolving features. With plans to integrate AI capabilities and other advanced tools, Meta claims these older devices can no longer handle the app’s modern requirements.
Here’s the lineup of devices saying goodbye to WhatsApp:
- Samsung: Galaxy S3, 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
If you’re still holding on to one of these classics, you might want to sacrifice nostalgia in exchange for messaging. Make sure to back up all your chats and media to a newer device before the deadline, or you risk losing access to your entire WhatsApp history by 2025.
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iPhone users aren’t entirely off the hook either. Earlier this month, Meta revealed that it will drop support for older iPhones running iOS versions older than 15.1. This impacts three legacy models: the iPhone 5, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. However, Apple fans get a bit more breathing room—support for these devices will continue until May 2025.