Waze Ends Support for Older Android Versions: What You Need to Know
It isn't shocking when Google has a bunch of apps that do pretty much the same thing. However, what's kinda weird is that they let all these apps stick around! Take Waze, for example. Google not only lets it keep going, but they also keep adding new stuff to it every few months. I think it's because Waze has a loyal user base and offers some unique features that Google Maps doesn't quite nail.
But as Waze gets fancier, it needs newer Android versions to run. This means older devices are getting left behind. Recently, some users have started seeing messages saying Waze will stop getting updates on their older gadgets. One Reddit user noticed this on their car's head unit, which was running Android 9 Pie. It seems that the newest Waze beta needs at least Android 10 to work. The older version was fine with Android 8 and 9. I imagine this change will hit the regular version of the app soon, too.
Who will this affect? Well, probably folks using old tablets for navigation or those with cheap Android car systems that are running older Android versions. Also, if you're still rocking a really old phone that hasn't been updated to Android 10, this might be the push you need to finally get a new one. It's like when your favorite old chair finally falls apart – you know it's time for an upgrade!
The good news is, even if Waze stops getting updates on your device, it'll still work. You just won't get any of the new features. But things like traffic updates and user reports should keep working. You should also still get updated maps, which is pretty important. It's not ideal, but at least you won't be completely lost.
If upgrading your device isn't possible, you could always switch to Google Maps. Right now, it works on anything newer than Android 8. So, you've got options! I think it's a bummer when apps drop support for older devices, but I also understand that developers need to focus on newer technology to keep moving forward.
Source: AndroidAuthority