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iOS 9.2 on iPhone 6s: Impressions & Performance

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Earlier today, Apple released its new iPhone 6s iOS 9.2 update, the four iOS 9 update for Apple’s latest device. Now that we’ve spent a few hours with the upgrade, we want to relay our early impressions of the iPhone 6s iOS 9.2 update.

The iOS 9.2 update was originally confirmed for the iPhone 6s back in October, shortly after the company’s iOS 9.1 release. The iOS 9.2 beta didn’t confirm a release date but it did confirm some of the update’s features and fixes.

Over time, we learned more about the iOS 9.2 update and today Apple finally deemed it worthy for public consumption. The iPhone 6s iOS 9.2 update is out alongside many others and it takes the phone from iOS 9.1 to iOS 9.2.iPhone-6s 3.06.31 PM

The iPhone 6s has been my daily driver since September and I’ve used every iOS 9 update Apple’s thrown at the device. Over the last week and a half, iOS 9.1’s performance started to deteriorate on my phone so the iOS 9.2 release couldn’t have come at a better time.

iOS 9.2 is the second milestone upgrade for iOS 9 users and the iPhone 6s and today I want to run down some initial thoughts about the installation process, the iOS 9.2 update’s performance and more.

iOS 9.2 Installation

iOS 9.2 is a large update. The iPhone 6s version, if you’re moving from iOS 9.1, should be around 270MB. That’s pretty big for an iOS update though it’s not surprising given the amount of changes featured on board.

The update took only a few minutes to download but the installation process on my device took around 10-12 minutes. Overall, the entire process took nearly 20 minutes to complete. I’d set aside a little time to make sure the download and installation go smoothly.

I haven’t seen or heard about any widespread installation issues so your update should go smoothly if you decide to download it today. If you do run into iOS 9.2 installation problems, look at our fixes.

iPhone 6s iOS 9.2 Performance

iOS 9.2 comes with several new features though I’m not going to focus on them here in these impressions. If you are looking for details about iOS 9.2 features like Siri for Arabic and NumberSync, take a look at our iOS 9.2 vs. iOS 9 comparison.

Instead, this is going to focus on the iPhone 6s iOS 9.2 update’s performance in several key areas including app performance, battery life and Wi-Fi connectivity.

I want this early look at performance to help you make a decision about the iOS 9.2 update. Seek out additional feedback if you’re still unsure about whether you want to install it or not.

Apps

App performance is strong with iOS 9.2 on board. I’ve been using all of my core applications and none of them have exhibited any major problems in the hours since the iOS 9.2 release. It’s a good start.

For reference, my core apps include Asana, Slack, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Gmail, Hangouts, Chrome, Dark Sky, Amazon, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Xbox One Smartglass.

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I’ve also been using Safari and the Podcasts application. Apple included stability fixes for both of these apps and so far, both are holding up. I saw the occasional Podcast crash with iOS 9.1 on board so I’m hoping this resolves those issues.

I obviously can’t speak for every single app on the App Store so if you aren’t using any of these apps, my advice is to read App Store reviews and dig for feedback on social media (Twitter, Facebook) and Apple’s discussion forums.

iOS 9.2 Battery Life

I’ve been using iOS 9.2 for about three hours straight on the iPhone 6s and thus far, I haven’t noticed anything wrong with battery life.

I haven’t encountered any weird battery drain when using Wi-Fi or LTE and standby battery is still excellent.

While it would be great to get a battery boost out of iOS 9.2, I’m not noticing much of a difference between it and iOS 9.1. I can’t speak to long-term results yet but I haven’t seen any kind of uptick on day one.

Battery life issues are among the most common iOS problems and you’ll want to take a look at our list of fixes for battery life issues if you’re nervous or if you’re already seeing battery drain with iOS 9.2 on board.

Wi-Fi, Cellular Data & Bluetooth

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AT&T’s LTE network are working fine with iOS 9.2 on board.

I’ve been able to pull down solid, reliable speeds using AT&T’s LTE and 4G networks. I’ve been able to pair the iPhone 6s with a number of Bluetooth devices. And I’ve tested several different routers to ensure that the update hasn’t caused friction with Wi-Fi. So far, so good.

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Connectivity problems can emerge at any time so you’ll want to have a list of fixes on hand. Take a look at our list to get started.

iOS 9.2 Problems on iPhone 6s

In the days leading up to the iOS 9.2 release, I ran into some annoying problems on my iPhone 6s. One was keyboard lag. The other was random reboots. Both are actually fairly common. Other than those iOS 9.1 was stellar.

Now that iOS 9.2 is on board, I haven’t noticed any lag or experienced any random reboots (memory leaks). So far, I haven’t run into any bugs or problems of note. There are iOS 9.2 problems, I just haven’t noticed any.

I haven’t seen any complaints about widespread iOS 9.2 issues so I’m confident that Apple’s beta wiped out the biggest issues with iOS 9.2.

Smaller issues may have slipped through the cracks though. I’ll keep poking around this week and see what I find. Nothing major to report so far though.

Speed

I haven’t noticed any lag, stuttering or freezes. At least not yet. Everything has been smooth and fluid. To be expected from a phone that’s only been on shelves since September.

Should You Install iOS 9.2 Right Now?

The iOS 9.2 update is, as of right now, performing at a high level the iPhone 6s. I haven’t noticed any major problems with the update and all of the early iOS 9.2 issues appear to be isolated.

iOS 9.2 comes with a ton of bug fixes, new features and security patches that will help protect your device and files. For most of you, I think installing the iOS 9.2 update will be the right choice.

If you’re feeling leery, wait a few days and see how things shake out. Bigger problems typically emerge within a few days of an update’s release so we should have a much clearer picture later this week.

4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 9.2 & 5 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 9.2 If You Value Security

Install iOS 9.2 If You Value Security

One thing that iPhone and iPad users often overlook are the security enhancements that Apple delivers with each iOS update. 

The iOS 9.2 update delivers 30 patches for potential exploits and malware. The list of patches includes updates for Safari (including new third-party extensions for the View Controller), Photos,and iBooks among others. 

These are going to be extremely important for most Phone and iPad users and they're one of the big reasons why you might want to install the iOS 9.2 update right now. 

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Frankdwalker

    12/10/2015 at 7:24 am

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  2. Paul

    12/21/2015 at 9:41 am

    Mega glitchy iOS 9.2 is on my brand new iphone 6s 128gb. Put a mirror of my iPhone 5s straight from iTunes so all apps exectly the same. You would think that the experience would be much better. Think again!

    I suppose it would be if I also updated the iOS on my iPhone 5s but I haven’t and so apps are way smoother on that phone, the same apps I’m talking about. The 5s has iOS 7.1.2 vs the 6s iOS 9.2 is way better much smoother scrolling experience. Why didn’t I upgrade the 5s? I did initially but found the phone slower and battery running down faster on iOS 8… But luckily for me there was a problem with the camera so I had a brand new replacement from Apple. This is why I never updated from a perfectly good iOS. 5s iphone runs fast and smooth and everything works no reason to update.

    I do like the features that the 6s brings’ better video recorder 4k wow :-) and 12mp camera, the iOS scrolling is so glitchy it’s really bugging me especially since the phone is brand new.

    Gone are the days where Apple products are a premium brand’ I don’t think so anymore. Too many rushed deadlines and rubbish experience.

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