Grand Maestro

So which iOS device should I buy to run TruePlay?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
July 21, 2022
27 replies
4100 views

Since my iPod Touch is no longer supported, which iOS device should I buy to run TruePlay?

I don’t use Apple and got the Touch just to run TruePlay and it served me well but once again I’m back asking Apple folks what I should be looking for. I’ve looked at the Sonos pages and with my limited Apple knowledge I could use a hand in turning them into a suggestion.

Supported: https://support.sonos.com/s/article/3222?language=en_US

OS Requirements: https://support.sonos.com/s/article/4875?language=en_US

So it looks like I’d be served for the longest time by an IOS v 15 compatible device. Since it only needs to run the Sonos Controller and that rarely, my goal is the least expensive device (cost per year of use) I could get away with buying?

Looking at Apple’s list it seems the iPad, iPad Mini or iPad Air all are supported in several generations.

IOS 15: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211348

The list price on the iPad looks to be lowest at $329, with the Mini at $499 and the Air at $599. So unless I’m missing something the iPad is likely the device I should pick.

Mini, Air, iPad: https://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/?modelList=ipad-mini-6th-gen,ipad-air-5th-gen,ipad-9th-gen

I’d like to get several years use out of whatever I buy so I’d likely want to avoid the oldest generations so the 5th is likely out, maybe the 6th too. This is helpful but it doesn’t have the “last sold date” I’m looking for.

iPad 7, 8 ,9 gen: https://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/?modelList=ipad-7th-gen,ipad-8th-gen,ipad-9th-gen

I did find this:

About vintage products
Products are considered vintage when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than 5 and less than 7 years ago.

Vintage and Obsolete: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201624#ipadvintage

If I understand that correctly I should be able to keep the iOS current on a device for five years after it was last sold.

I found this list of dates: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250001726

Pad | Fifth | 9.7" | A9 | 2017 | 15.5 | Discontinued March 2018
iPad | Sixth | 9.7" | A10 | 2018 | 15.5 | Discontinued September 2019
iPad | Seventh | 10.2" | A10 | 2019 | 15.5 | Discontinued September 2020
iPad | Eighth | 10.2" | A12 | 2020 | 15.5 | Discontinued September 2021
iPad | Ninth | 10.2" | A13 | 2021 | 15.5 | Currently sold

So if I’m reading this right the 5th goes out of support in 23, the 6th in 24, 7th in 25, 8th in 26 and the 9th sometime after 27.

A quick look at Amazon prices seems odd.

A 7th gen for $300: https://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPad-10-2-Inch-Wi-Fi-Cellular/dp/B084BVYZFN/ref=sr_1_9

A 8th gen for $242: https://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPad-10-2-Inch-Wi-Fi-32GB/dp/B08264XHCZ/ref=sr_1_3

A 9th gen for $309: https://www.amazon.com/2021-Apple-10-2-inch-iPad-Wi-Fi-dp-B09G9FPHY6/dp/B09G9FPHY6/ref=dp_ob_title_def

eBay prices look better and make more sense although Amazon is cheaper for the 9th gen.

7th $130: https://www.ebay.com/itm/184511573434

8th $155: https://www.ebay.com/itm/174941007679

9th $345: https://www.ebay.com/itm/383791923777

So is the sweet spot going to be eBay and the $155 8th gen iPad good until Sep. of 26?

Any suggestions appreciated!

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Show previous replies

Airgetlam

It’s not clear in the FAQ whose software they are talking about, when they say ‘Make sure you’re on the latest software version before following the steps below.’, but I’d think it’s safe to say both Sonos and Apple’s.

Bruce

Ken_Griffiths

Hi @Stanley_4 . I recently bought the same thing - iPad 8th gen 32gb and it doesn’t support Trueplay. What am I missing? What iPad os are you running? 14.6 or 15.6?

Sonos Trueplay usually uses the most current iOS ‘general release’ software, which is now at v15.6. That’s what I use with my iPhone to Trueplay the rooms here. So you likely just need to update your iPad.

Stanley_4Author

Grand Maestro

Yep, had to update the iPad to Apple’s latest to get TruePlay to work.

T

tonyvan

Trending Lyricist I

Two years ago I bought a cheap iphone 5 just for trueplay. It worked perfectly until this week when I needed to re-install my surround speakers And yep I got the “this device no longer has the OS to support this function. I am positive that a large company like Sonos could if it really wanted to, sort this problem out for all its customers. After all these speakers are not cheap. So now I am looking for a cheap!! iphone device Simply so I can use it maybe once or twice a year. It is a bloody joke. And no I do not know anyone that owns a new apple product so I cannot invite anyone over or lend me their iphone. Come on Sonos sort this out.

B

bac-canada

Enthusiast I

I would be interested to know what an official “Sonos Trueplay Device” would cost, what a great ad on accessory. Team up with a manufacturer (SONY, Teac, etc) who know how to make handheld sound units and bypass Apple/Android altogether. Must be a nightmare dealing with Apple/Android updates. My real interest in something like this is because all microphones in phones/tablets are poor quality at best. They have very limited frequency range and sure aren’t linear when dealing with the full frequency range we can hear. As for the best microphone in a Apple device, I would think buying the cheapest working unit and pairing it to a plug in microphone (sennheiser, etc.) would yield far more accurate tuning results. Dialing in sound to room acoustics is incredibly complicated and a very expensive thing to do properly.

Airgetlam

The development cost versus sales opportunities would be the first question I’d be asking, if I was a product manager at Sonos.

Bruce

Airgetlam

And even more so, now that it appears that the Era speakers are doing some sort of TruePlay tuning for the room using their own microphones.

Bruce

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