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iOS 6.0.2 for iPhone 5 Review: Impressions and Performance

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Apple released its latest iOS 6 update, iOS 6.0.2 for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini, seemingly out of no where today. The update, whose change log didn’t offer much other than a promised fix for Wi-Fi connectivity issues that users had been having since iOS 6, is by no means a large piece of software, but we wanted to offer up our first impressions of iOS 6.0.2, regardless of its size.

Read: iOS 6.0.1 on iPhone 5: Final Impressions and Performance.

Given that Apple has now released four betas for iOS 6.1, many believed iOS 6.1 to be the update that would supplant iOS 6.0.1 as the most current version of iOS 6. Turns out, Apple had some different plans and it rolled out iOS 6.0.2 to select iPhone and iPad users today. Specifically, the only iOS users who will see this update include iPhone 5 and iPad mini owners.

ios-6-logo-hi-res-460x460Other iDevice owners, for the moment, appear to be destined for iOS 6.1 and not iOS 6.0.2 though it could be that Apple rolls the update out at a later date. With Apple software updates, no one but Apple itself ever knows.

As an owner of an iPhone 5 and an iPhone 5 owner who has experienced some bugs since buying the device back in September, any and all iOS 6 updates are important to me, even the tiny iOS 6.0.2 update which rolled out today.

That being said, here now, are my first impressions of the latest iOS 6 update from Apple, iOS 6.0.2.

Update Issues

The morning started out with a bang. iOS 6.0.2 was out and ready to download and install. Only, it wasn’t. Right off the bat my iPhone 5 started giving me error after error when trying to install the update Over-the-Air. It didn’t specify what the error was, only saying that I wasn’t able to download the software update at the moment. I probably pressed Try Again five times before I realized that it was futile.

Screen Shot 2012-12-18 at 10.53.01 AM

Fortunately for me, I’m rarely separated from my laptop so I plugged my iPhone 5 into my MacBook through my USB cord and went to install manually through iTunes. Again, I was unable to download the software update and at this point, I started to feel for Samsung device owners who have to upgrade through Samsung Kies. After retrying a few times, the software finally prompted me and started downloading.

So it seems Apple still has some update kinks to work out, at least with the iPhone 5, as this has been the second strange update process that I’ve had with the phone. iOS 6.0.1 made me download a piece of software in order to download the update.

Here’s to hoping that Apple has everything worked out for when iOS 6.1 arrives or things could be ugly.

Wi-Fi Fix

The iOS 6.0.2 has a grand total of one enhancement on board and that enhancement is a fix for a Wi-Fi issue that has been plaguing many iPhone 5 and iPad mini owners in iOS 6. Owners of the iPhone 5 in particular have been complaining about the bug since September 21st, a bug that prevented many from getting data through Wi-Fi. Many users reported that data would flow and then abruptly stop. Other users reported receiving slow data through Wi-Fi, something that I have also encountered from time to time.

Prior to iOS 6.0.1, I had issues with my connectivity to my home network where my connection would just suddenly drop for no apparent reason. Fortunately, iOS 6.0.1 fixed that issue. With iOS 6.0.2, things are the same. My Wi-Fi connection is fast and reliable and I’m able to connect and stay connected.

iPhone-5-review-hero-575x495

iPhone 5 owners finally have a Wi-Fi fix it seems.

From what I am hearing though, the Wi-Fi fix has worked for those who own an IPhone 5 and iPad mini and from what I can tell, my Wi-Fi connection is as fast and as sharp as ever. So it seems like the fix worked.

Other iPad/iPhone Owners Wait

When I first installed the iOS 6.0.2 update, I thought that it was a universal update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners. Soon after, I learned that it was only for the iPhone 5 and iPad mini which means that all of those iPhone 4S and regular iPad owners I’ve heard from that are suffering from these exact same issues will have to wait. I’ve seen Wi-Fi issues with my regular iPad since installing iOS 6.0.1 and I, like many others was hoping to get a potential fix.

If there is one good thing to take from this though is that it seems like the fix worked for iPhone 5 and iPad mini owners and that should mean that a fix, even if it’s in iOS 6.1 next year, is on its way for those that were left out in the cold today.

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Already, my iPhone 5 has randomly rebooted.

Random Reboot Already

I’ve been experiencing a random reboot issues with my iPhone 5. And when I saw that the iOS 6.0.2 update only contained one fix, that for Wi-Fi, I wasn’t surprised because I don’t expect Apple to advertise a fix for this. Unfortunately, the issue is persisting in iOS 6.0.2

Backing up a bit, one of the issues I’ve been having with my iPhone 5 is a random reboot issue that strikes every once in awhile and shuts my phone off for a few seconds only to reboot back to the lock screen. It’s not as bad as the reboot problems that HTC ThunderBolt owners dealt with in 2011 but it’s a problem I want corrected nonetheless.

About an hour after installing iOS 6.0.2, I experienced a random reboot. They have been less frequent with iOS 6.0.1 but the issue still remains. I really don’t want to deal with wiping my phone and restoring it so I think I am going to wait for iOS 6.1 and hope that the issue resolves itself. If it doesn’t, it might be time for a visit to the Genius Bar.

Battery Life

So far, so good on the iPhone 5. I haven’t noticed any considerable change in the battery life which is a good thing considering how haywire battery life went after some iOS updates for the iPhone 3GS.

Of course, I’ve only been using iOS 6.0.2 for a few hours but thus far, everything appears to be normal over both a Wi-Fi connection and over AT&T’s 4G LTE network.

Should You Install iOS 6.0.2?

If you’re an iPhone 5 owner, absolutely. From here, there doesn’t appear to be any harm in doing so given that battery life remains the same. Many iPhone 5 and iPad mini owners who may not have noticed Wi-Fi issues will likely encounter stronger Wi-Fi connectivity after installing the update as well.

There also don’t seem to be any other issues that iOS 6.0.2 has brought with it which means that while iOS 6.0.2 isn’t exactly iOS 6.1, it’s definitely an update worth installing for iPhone 5 and iPad mini owners.

16 Comments

16 Comments

  1. Edward

    12/19/2012 at 1:11 am

    On my iPhone 4S it does the reboot about once every 2 minutes!!! ANNOYING!!!

  2. joe

    12/20/2012 at 1:02 am

    Did you notice anything good or bad about battery after this IOS 6.0.2 update?

    • wayne

      01/04/2013 at 10:35 am

      bad battery drain rapidley went bk to 6.0.1 now it is fine

  3. Natasha

    12/20/2012 at 1:16 pm

    I’ve had my phone drop to 92% from full charge in 15 minutes. And my wifi connection is still dropping out. If anything, this update has made the two issues I had with my iPhone 5 worse, not better.

  4. JR

    12/29/2012 at 8:55 pm

    Same shit how about 6.1???

  5. bader afghani

    01/01/2013 at 4:49 pm

    i had problems with sending text messages , my iphone5 wasnt able to send sms ,i advice u to instal ios6bet4 just donwload it from the internet and instal it on ur iphone by pressing shift and click on update on itunes .am sure that this will solve all your problems

  6. Larry

    01/03/2013 at 7:02 pm

    Ya I smashed my 64 gb iPhone 5 on the floor at the apple store and I was never more proud to walk across the street to Verizon and buy my galaxy S3!!! And damn what a better device too!! So if u update to iOS 6.0.2 ur screwed !!

    • Johnny Perera

      01/06/2013 at 9:34 am

      The wifi is not connecting, battery is draining fast, wrong maps installed..its a total failure model and complicated too..dont buy it

      • LARRY

        01/08/2013 at 3:44 pm

        EXACTLY!!! THE IP 5 WAS A JOKE ALL TOGETHER!!! I SEEN ALL MODELS SINCE 2007 THE 5 IS THE WORST ANS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BIGGEST THING OUT!!! NOTTTTTT!!! NOW THE RUMORS OF 5S OR 6 SOON??? IS THIS A APPLE TELLING THE TRUTH???

    • IPHONE4EVER

      01/08/2013 at 10:20 am

      Bla bla bla what a drama queen..lol

      • larry

        01/08/2013 at 3:40 pm

        ya you just want to pick it up off the ground right? well go for it if u can piece it together lol android4ever u i fag!!

  7. Sara

    01/15/2013 at 9:30 pm

    I had absolutely no problems w 6.0.1 and I held off updating for a long time. I accidentally updated when I absentmindedly clicked yes instead if cancell. NOW I have a terrible time with speed on all apps. I can no longer watch videos at all, txtd take forever to send and refreshes sometimes don’t happen! Now what?

  8. TSB_Paul

    01/18/2013 at 6:46 am

    Since 6.0.2 I’ve encountered three random reboots, off and on wifi slowdowns and disconnects, and the ever so annoying iPod playlist restart/ignore playing my master list of all my songs.

  9. Erin Wilson

    01/28/2013 at 6:15 pm

    Check out the CLIPCLOCK mobile app. The new social hub to discover and share the best video moments with your favorites!!! Here’s the link: http://www.clipclock.com/download/5610

  10. Erin Smith

    01/31/2013 at 4:26 pm

    Check out the CLIPCLOCK mobile app. The new hub to discover and share the best video moments with your favorites!!! Here’s the link: http://www.clipclock.com/download/6015

  11. Bob Henning

    02/19/2013 at 8:43 pm

    My iPhone after installing 6.1.2 boots up with iTunes evertime with a plug in, and now my phone won’t work at all!

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