• So while it's true Whatsapp will disconnect its services on a number of devices in November deadline– it does not affect nearly as many phones as has been reported.
• For example, the shutdown will not affect older iPhones and a range of Samsung Galaxy devices as suggested.
A post doing rounds on WhatsApp, a social media platform, suggesting that the messaging app will stop working on “53 smartphones” is partly FALSE.
The post indicates that WhatsApp is about to stop working on older phones beginning November 1.
"WhatsApp has shared a list of devices that will no longer support WhatsApp messaging app from November 1
In general, these will be Android phones that are running on Android 4.0.3 or lower, and Apple iPhones that are running on iOS 9 or older," the post reads.
A list of Android smartphones that were released from WhatsApp support includes smartphones from brands such as Apple, Samsung, LG, ZTE, Huawei, Sony and Alcatel.
Among the notable brands, the post lists phones of Apple make of models iPhone6, iPhone SE, iPhone 6S Plus as those set to be affected.
In Samsung those to be affected include Galaxy Trend Lite, Galaxy Trend II, Galaxy SII, Galaxy S3 mini, Galaxy X cover 2, Galaxy Core, Galaxy Ace 2.
In LG the post claims devices of model Lucid 2, Optimus F7, Optimus F5, Optimus L3 II Dual, Optimus F5 will be locked out.
The Star sought to establish authenticity of the post.
On WhatsApp’s support page, there is a note specifically saying that older devices will lose their access to the service, because “WhatsApp will no longer support Android phones running OS 4.0.4 and older”.
So while its true WhatsApp will disconnect its services on a number of devices in November deadline– it does not affect nearly as many phones as has been reported.
Important to note is that despite of these devices running on the operating system in question, the manufacturers have allowed the upgrade of the operating system to include more recent versions.
The November 1 deadline seemingly will only apply to Android devices that cannot upgrade further than the Android 4.0.4 operating system.
The trouble is that the list of phones appears to be wrong.
For example, it lists three iPhones that will supposedly be no longer able to access WhatsApp: the iPhone 6, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone SE.
However, it is unusual that the iPhone 6s Plus is supposedly losing access, but the iPhone 5, 5S and 6s is not listed.
This is despite being older versions; that seems not to be accurately correct.
The list of iPhones in question can be updated to the latest iOS 15 while iPhone 5 can accommodate up to iOS 10 meaning it still will be in a position to support WhatsApp.
The quickest and most reliable way to know whether you will be affected is to see what operating system you have.
To do that, click through to settings and find the version number; if it is lower than the required update, and there’s no option to download a new one, then you are most likely affected by the change.
If that is the case, then it might be time to either get a new device or save your chats in case you lose them, or both.
The Star therefore, finds the claim that WhatsApp will shutdown services to a host of devices to be partly FALSE.