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iOS 8.0.2 on iPad 3: Impressions & Performance

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Here is a look at how the iOS 8.0.2 update performs on the iPad 3. This is an older iPad that doesn’t offer as many new features as iOS 8 on the iPad 4 or iPad Air. With older devices it’s easy for a major iOS 8 update to slow the device down. Small updates like iOS 8.0.2 offers the hope of small speed improvements and the danger of new bugs and performance issues.

The iOS 8.0.2 release arrives soon after the iOS 8 release last month and after a broken iOS 8.0.1 update. There are important fixes in this like better support for third-party keyboards and more, but overall this is a small update and rumors point to an iOS 8.1 release later this month. The biggest reason to install IOS 8.0.2 is to fix iOS 8 problems.

After the iOS 8.0.1 update broke cellular service on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users saw first hand how a small update can bring new problems to the mix. After installing the iOS 8.0.2 update on the iPad 3 there are no showstopping problems so far.

Here’s a closer look at how iOS 8.0.2 performs on the iPad 3 so that you can decide if it is OK to install or if you should wait a few weeks for the iOS 8.1 update.

Installing iOS 8.0.2

Installing iOS 8.0.2 on the iPad 3 is a painless process. This is a small update that does not need much room to complete the installation.

After pressing download the iOS 8.0.2 update was ready to install on the iPad in a matter of minutes. After about five minutes the installation completed with no hassles.

Here's a look at the iOS 8.0.2 performance on the iPad 3.

Here’s a look at the iOS 8.0.2 performance on the iPad 3.

iOS 8.0.2 Performance

Heres’ where I take a closer look at how the iOS 8.0.2 update performs on the iPad 3. I’ll look at apps, connectivity, speed, any bugs and battery life to help you decide if it is OK to install iOS 8.0.2 on the older iPad. Thankfully this small update does not appear to cause any issues on my iPad 3.

Apps

My wife is the primary user of this iPad 3, but I check the speed and app behavior every week or two to remember how things work on this older device.

Apps like Pinterest, Facebook and Netflix all work well after the iOS 8.0.2 update. There are no odd crashes or freezes, like I see on the iPhone 6 Plus.

iOS 8.0.2 Battery Life

It’s always tough to make a call on the iPad battery life after a small update. The iPad 3 is two year’s old but it still delivers long battery life that is close tot he promised 10 hours. After installing the update I did not experience any odd drained battery that would indicate any problems. The battery is still on the first charge after installing iOS 8.0.2.

iOS 8.0.2 WiFi Problems

I am lucky that this iPad 3 is not experiencing any iOS 8.0.2 WiFi problems. Small updates like this are notorious for breaking WiFi with odd errors and time outs. The iPad 3 performs just as it did on iOS 8.0, which was very well. There is no cellular connectivity on this model so i cannot test that. We are not seeing widespread reports of problems with WiFi on the iPad 3 after installing iOS 8.0.2.

iOS 8.0.2 Bugs

Although the iOS 8.0.2 experience is not perfect on many of the other test devices I own there aren’t any major problems with iOS 8.0.2 bugs on the iPad 3. This is very good news as bugs on older devices are quite frustrating.

Most users can install iOS 8.0.2 on the iPad 3 without any worries.

Most users can install iOS 8.0.2 on the iPad 3 without any worries.

Speed

In my early iOS 8 review for the iPad 3 I noted that the iPad felt slightly slower with iOS 8 installed. I did not notice any type of speed improvement with iOS 8.0.2. If Apple is working on performance upgrades they will more likely come with iOS 8.1 or iOS 8.2 later. The iPad 3 remains usable after installing iOS 8 and iOS 8.0.2, but it’s just not as snappy.

Should You Install iOS 8.0.2 on the iPad 3?

Although there are a number of bug fixes in iOS 8.0.2, there is no Health app for the iPad and many of the other fixes are focused on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. There is no big reason to avoid installing iOS 8.0.2 on the iPad 3, but there is also no pressing need if you prefer to wait and see what iOS 8.1 delivers.

What’s New in iOS 8

iOS 8 vs iOS 7 Walkthrough - Home Screen

iOS 8 vs iOS 7 Walkthrough - Home Screen

We start our iOS 8 vs iOS 7 walkthrough with the iPhone home screen, which is where you'll start your iOS 8 experience after an update this fall. 

These screens are incredibly important as you see them anytime you turn on the iPhone or need to choose an app to launch. There is no way around using them, so Apple needs to make sure they work just right. 

As you can see in the iOS 8 vs iOS 7 comparison above, there is no change between the home screen in the new iPhone software. Apple changed the status bar and some other small visual changes in iOS 7, but there are no updates for iOS 8.  

We could see Apple change the home screen slightly for iOS 8 for the iPhone 6. The new iPhone will feature a larger 4.7-inch display with a higher resolution. This is something Apple may use to add more icons to the screen. Or they could stick with the current layout, it's tough to tell.  

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