Your Galaxy S3 and these other older Androids losing WhatsApp support on 1 Jan

WhatsApp will discontinue support for older Android devices running Android KitKat or older starting January 1, 2025.

KitKat came out way back in 2013. So if you got your phone around thereabouts and don’t remember getting any software updates, you might be affected. 

In terms of devices, those over 10 years old, including models like Samsung Galaxy S3, Motorola Moto G (1st Gen), and HTC One X, will lose access to WhatsApp. Here are others losing support:

• 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

Unfortunately, that means you have about a week to do something about it. It will require a new device and if you didn’t have a new smartphone on your Christmas shopping list then you’ll be on SMS to start the year. 

If you get the newer phone, you back up your WhatsApp data on it before the support ends to avoid losing media and chat history.

Why are they dropping support for these devices? The decision is driven by WhatsApp’s need to implement more advanced features and AI functionalities that require modern hardware. 

It’s not just Android folk that are affected. We talked about older iPhones losing support too. Meta previously announced similar support discontinuation for iPhones running iOS older than version 15.1, with support ending in May 2025.

I can’t wait to see the features WhatsApp is going to get that these older devices could not handle. Time will reveal all.