Pokémon Go will no longer work on old Androids and iPhones

In the next update of Pokémon Go, which should take place in mid-October, Niantic confirmed that some smartphones will no longer support the game: devices with Android 5, iOS 10 and iOS 11, also iPhones 6 and 5s. Devices will still be able to run the game, but without technical support. In the worst case, the player will no longer have access to the account unless they change their phone.

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The iPhone 6 and 5s are compatible with iOS 12. Niantic hasn't said anything related to these two devices, but I believe it has to do with the technical limitations of each. The iPhone 6 has an A8 processor, while the 5s has an A7, both with 1GB of RAM.

In justification, Niantic said that "removing support for older devices helps us streamline the development process and focus resources on supporting newer operating systems and technologies such as iOS 14." 

Also remembering that Niantic develops augmented reality technologies, even in Pokémon Go, in which it intends to create a more interactive 3D map for players. In this process, old devices are more of a barrier than an environment for testing.

What's the recommendation?

Niantic says that with update 0.189, the aforementioned devices may still be able to install and run Pokémon Go, however they will no longer be supported in case of technical issues.

In another scenario, smartphones will not be able to access the game. In this case, the company recommends updating the device if they want to continue with access to Pokémon Go. Otherwise, PokéCoins and other accumulated items will be lost.

Most gamers, according to Niantic, have already migrated to newer operating system versions. As that user base changes their smartphones, the company also says it periodically updates the requirements for compatible devices to focus on the majority used by the player base.