Legacy Scanner: End-of-Life and Deprecation

Legacy Scanner: End-of-Life and Deprecation

At Dex, we’re dedicated to delivering powerful and precise tools for collectors and players. To enhance your experience, we’ve developed two different scanners: a newer scanner optimized for modern devices and an older scanner, called the Legacy Scanner, which supports older hardware. We will officially retire the Legacy Scanner on December 15th - this update affects only the Legacy Scanner; our newer scanner will continue to be available on supported devices.

Why Are We Retiring the Legacy Scanner?

Our Legacy Scanner was initially developed to support a broad range of devices, however, as technology has advanced, the performance gap between the Legacy Scanner and our latest version has grown considerably. The latest scanner is optimized for modern processors and iOS versions, requiring an A12 processor (introduced with the iPhone XR) and iOS 16 or newer. These hardware and software advancements allow the new scanner to work entirely offline, providing faster processing speeds and significantly greater accuracy.

Devices without the A12 chip or the latest iOS version are limited by the older scanner’s reduced accuracy and speed, which doesn’t align with the high standards we aim to deliver. Furthermore, our Legacy Scanner was not developed or maintained in-house but is instead a paid, third-party service. This not only increases costs but also limits our ability to improve it due to lack of ownership.

What Does This Mean for Current Users?

For users on older devices or iOS versions, the Legacy Scanner will remain accessible until December 15th. After this date, it will be removed from the app. If scanning is a primary reason for considering a Dex+ subscription, please be aware that the latest scanner requires both iOS 16 and an A12 processor or newer. To continue enjoying the full capabilities of Dex’s latest scanning features, we recommend upgrading to a compatible device.

Identifying Which Scanner You’re Using

For those less familiar with the technical details, here’s a simple way to determine which scanner version you’re currently using. Visually, the two scanners are quite distinct, making it easy to identify. On the left side, you’ll see the Legacy Scanner, and on the right side is our Modern Scanner.

Legacy Scanner vs Modern Scanner

If you’re looking for a list of devices that will no longer support the scanning feature, here it is:

  • iPhone SE (1st Gen)
  • iPhone 7 / 7 Plus
  • iPhone 8 / 8 Plus
  • iPhone X

All other iPhone models simply need to be updated to iOS 16 to access our latest scanner.

Preparing for the Change

As we approach the December 15th phase-out date, here’s what you can expect:

  1. Notifications: We’ll provide in-app reminders to notify users of the upcoming deprecation date, helping ensure there are no surprises.
  2. Transition Support: If you have questions about device compatibility or Dex+ features, our team is ready to assist.
  3. Subscription Considerations: If scanning is central to your Dex+ subscription needs, we encourage you to verify your device compatibility with our latest scanner to ensure an optimal experience.

Looking Ahead: A Commitment to Innovation

We’re excited about the future of Dex and the enhanced experiences we’re developing for the community. Phasing out the Legacy Scanner allows us to focus resources on creating new features and refining current ones for today’s devices. We are committed to making Dex the go-to app for collectors, with high-performance tools and new ways to connect with your collection.

In less than a month, we’ll also be rolling out one of our most anticipated features of the year — a complete new database as detailed here. This update will unlock even more powerful features and expand what’s possible with Dex.

Thank you for your understanding and for being a valued part of our community. We look forward to bringing you an even better experience in the years ahead!