Apple
iOS 9.1 on iPhone 6 Plus: Impressions and Performance
The iOS 9.1 update is here and ready for you to install on the iPhone 6 Plus. Just over a month since the iOS 9 release we have a major upgrade for Apple devices. Here is a look at the iPhone 6 Plus iOS 9.1 update to see how it performs, what it fixes and what if anything it breaks on the aging iPhone.
Unlike iOS 9.0.1 and iOS 9.0.2, this is a pretty substantial update that focuses on fixing a number of iOS 9 problems and adds in support for viewing Live Photos on the iPhone 6 Plus, although you still cannot record them with this iPhone.
If you are experiencing problems with your iPhone 6 Plus on iOS 9 or one of the small bug fix updates that came after it, the iOS 9.1 update looks like a good solution so far.
The iOS 9.1 update is available for the iPhone 6 Plus and for all other devices capable of running iOS 9. There are over a dozen bug fixes and security fixes in this major update. Unlike the smaller updates, this is a pretty significant upgrade.
With fixes and upgrades an update can also bring new problems and issues. With this in mind, we test the new iPhone updates on a range of devices as soon as the update goes live. In this early look at the iPhone 6 Plus iOS 9.1 performance we test to see what you need to know before you install iOS 9.1.
iOS 9.1 Installation
The iOS 9.1 installation is easy to perform on your iPhone 6 Plus or using iTunes. The whole process takes about 10 minutes, maybe a little longer if you are on a slow Internet connection.
The iPhone 6 Plus iOS 9.1 update file isn’t small, but we downloaded it in under 5 minutes on a home WiFi network. After the download completed the iPhone prompted to restart and we did need to enter our iCloud password.
Make sure you do these things before you install iOS 9.1 on your iPhone 6 Plus.
iOS 9.1 on iPhone 6 Plus Performance
The iOS 9.1 iPhone 6 Plus performance will vary depending on the apps you use, your home network and the tasks that you require from your iPhone on a daily basis. The mix of apps and tasks as well as the last time you set the iPhone up as a new device can all factor into the overall performance. Here’s a breakdown of five key areas.
Apps on iOS 9.1
After upgrading to iOS 9.1 on the iPhone 6 Plus I tested some of my favorite iPhone app.
It is still early, but there are no problems with apps I use daily like Facebook, Instagram, Slack, Tweetbot, MyFitnessPal and Netflix. I was even able to use Amazon Instant Video to watch Back to the Future II on my iPhone 6 Plus today after updating.
If you rely on an app for work or school, check with the developer before upgrading, but there should be very few problems.
iOS 9.1 Battery Life
It is still very early to make a proclamation about the iPhone 6 Plus iOS 9.1 battery life, but the good news is that it is not draining abnormally fast.
The biggest concern I have after installing an update is that the battery life of the iPhone might drop fast due to a major issue. That is not the case with iOS 9.1 on the iPhone 6 Plus. If you do run into any issues, check out this guide to fix bad iPhone Battery life.
WiFi, Cellular Data & Bluetooth
Connectivity is essential for a good iPhone experience and so far iOS 9.1 delivers on all counts. AirDrop even seems more reliable since the upgrade to iOS 9.1.
A speedtest of AT&T LTE on the iPhone 6 Plus delivered good speeds, consistent with those I observed on iOS 9 and on iOS 8 at this location.
WiFi connects quickly and works well after upgrading and Bluetooth is working good at this time. I have not been able to test in car connectivity yet. The personal hotspot also functions.
Bugs & Issues
After a few hours of use I have yet to find any major iOS 9.1 bugs or issues on the iPhone 6 Plus. This isn’t to say that there is nothing wrong with the update, but after initial testing nothing jumped out and broke the experience.
iOS 9.1 Speed on the iPhone 6 Plus
I have not had any speed or performance issues on my iPhone 6 Plus with iOS 9 or the smaller updates that came after it. Some users reported lag on the iPhone 6 Plus and older devices.
After upgrading the iPhone 6 Plus performs well. In side by side tests the iPhone 6s Plus is still faster, but it is newer and it features a faster processor and more RAM.
The overall iPhone 6 Plus iOS 9.1 performance is solid during my initial tests.
Should You Install iOS 9.1 Today?
The biggest question we hope to answer is, “Should I Install iOS 9.1 today?” Right now it is possible to downgrade from iOS 9.1 to iOS 9.0.2, so if you upgrade and run into issues you can go back to the last version, but Apple can close that at any time.
After a day of using the iOS 9.1 iPhone 6 Plus update, this feels like a very solid upgrade that offers important fixes and a few interesting new features like 150 new emoji.
If you have any problems on iOS 9 or iOS 9.0.2 it’s very likely that this will fix it, and you should upgrade to iOS 9.1 today.
If you are on iOS 8, iOS 9 is perfect on your device or you are using the iOS 9 jailbreak you should wait. Check out more reasons you should wait and reason you should install iOS 9.1 now.
The slides below show you what is new in iOS 9.1 on the iPhone and iPad.
.jay (@_jhsn)
10/23/2015 at 4:39 am
My switcher is still laggy.