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5 Things to Know About the iPad mini iOS 8.3 Update

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9 years ago

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Last Wednesday, Apple finally released its iOS 8.3 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch bringing new features and a number of bug fixes for iOS 8 problems to iOS 8 users. With that in mind, we want to take an updated look at the iPad mini iOS 8.3 update and tell you about five things we think all iPad mini users need to know, right now, about their latest update.

In early February, Apple released the iOS 8.3 update into its beta program for developers confirming a release for the general public. The iOS 8.3 beta did not confirm a specific iOS 8.3 release date. Last week, Apple confirmed the iOS 8.3 release date with an iOS 8.3 release for iOS 8 users, and the update is as big as many people expected it to be.

Apple’s iOS 8.3 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, is much larger than your standard incremental iOS update. It delivers a number of different features to iPhone and iPad users including a new Emoji keyboard, enhancements for Messages, and a ton of bug fixes for iOS 8 problems. It’s a significant release and one that many people are fixated on.

iPad-mini

We’ve been getting tons of questions since Wednesday’s release and many iPad mini users are curious about the new update. That doesn’t come as too much of a surprise. Apple’s three versions of the iPad mini (iPad mini, iPad mini 2, and iPad mini 3) are three of the most popular slates on the planet and iOS 8.3 is a big update for the trio.

With current and prospective iPad mini iOS 8.3 users in mind, we want to take a look at what we think are the five most important things to know now about the iPad mini iOS 8.3 update. This will serve as the bridge between our initial iOS 8.3 impressions and our full iOS 8.3 review which will come sometime in the near future.

iPad mini 2 iOS 8.3 Update…Update

Since Wednesday, I’ve been using the iOS 8.3 update on the iPad mini 2. That’s the second-generation iPad mini or iPad mini with Retina Display. It goes by many names.

In the days since the iOS 8.3 release, my iOS 8.3 experience on the iPad mini 2 has been excellent. I haven’t noticed any battery drain which is huge because this is the tablet that I take out of the house. Nor have I run into any issues with connectivity, also essential because Wi-Fi and LTE are both very necessary. I should note that Bluetooth is also working just fine.

iPad-mini-Retina

Thus far, I haven’t noticed any weird lag or sluggishness, my apps are all running fine, and I still haven’t encountered any bugs. Again, performance on the iPad mini 2 is extremely solid and I expect that performance to continue given that I haven’t had a lot of issues with iOS 8. Most of the problems I’ve had have been on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5.

At this point, it’s probably worth an upgrade for most of you. The new Emoji keyboard is outstanding and the large amount of iOS 8 bug fixes on board have helped to improve Apple’s mobile software. If you’re still unsure, wait a few days for my full review.

What Other iPad mini Users Are Saying

While there’s a ton of feedback out there about iPhone iOS 8.3 updates, iPad users are apparently shy about sharing their experiences with the software. I’ve managed to track down a few different opinions about iOS 8.3 and most of them are positive.

iPad mini 1, iPad mini 2 and iPad mini 3 users say that the software has improved the experience on their slates. In particular, I’ve seen a lot of positive feedback from iPad mini 1 users. Here’s what some iPad mini users are saying  about iOS 8.3:

You Can Downgrade to iOS 8.2 Right Now

If you’re already on iOS 8.2 and you’re curious about iOS 8.3, know that you can trial the update right now if you want. That’s because there is a loophole that will allow you to downgrade back down to iOS 8.2 if you’re not feeling what iOS 8.3 has to offer.

We’ve put together a step-by-step guide that will take you through the downgrade process if you want to try out iOS 8.3 right now. Apple will probably plug the loophole up this week so you’ll definitely want to try it out sooner rather than later.

iOS 8.3 Problems

While the iOS 8.3 experience for many iPad mini users has been good, I’ve also heard and see complaints about iOS 8.3 problems.

Apple’s discussion forums are filling up with complaints about iOS 8.3 and we’ve pointed out a number of different iOS 8.3 problems affecting owners of the iPad mini and other iOS 8.3 powered devices. Most of the iPad mini iOS 8.3 problems that we’re seeing are small, isolated issues impacting just a few users. We haven’t seen anything major pop up just yet.

iPad-Mini

If you haven’t installed iOS 8.3 on your iPad mini 1, iPad mini 2 or iPad mini 3, you’ll want to dig through user feedback before making your move. As of right now though, we haven’t seen anything significant emerge.

Fixes for iOS 8.3 Problems

If you are already on iOS 8.3 and you’re experiencing iOS 8.3 problems on your iPad mini, note that there are some ways to get around many of these issues.

We’ve put together a list of potential fixes for some of the more common iOS 8.3 issues and we suggest keeping an eye on Apple’s forums for other possible solutions. Apple’s iOS updates are never perfect. Remember, you’re always taking a risk when you move to a new piece of iOS software, especially on an older device like the iPad mini 1. That’s why we recommend preparing ahead of your iOS 8.3 installation.

With no iOS 8.3.1 update in sight and an iOS 8.4 currently rumored for the summer, those of you dealing with problems will have to rely on third-party fixes for your troubles.

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