iOS 8.1.3 on iPhone 6 Plus: Impressions & Performance

This is our early iOS 8.1.3 review on the iPhone 6 Plus, which will help you decide if you should install iOS 8.1.3 today or if it is better to wait and see how this performs and what is coming in iOS 8.2.

Apple’s iOS 8.1.3 update arrived after a week of added testing with fixes for several iPhone and iPad issues and a surprise that makes it easier for users to update on devices with limited storage. The iOS 8.1.3 release arrives as Apple continues to work on iOS 8.2 which we expect will arrive in about a month ahead of an Apple Watch release.

After months of waiting for Apple to deliver fixes for common iPhone problems like the continual iOS 8 landscape issues we finally have a new update that could fix our problems. Although Apple only highlighted five fixes in the iOS 8.1.3 release notes the company also includes the standard, “This release includes bug fixes, increased stability and performance improvements listing that could cover smaller fixes.

This is not a small update like we saw with iOS 8.1.2 in December, but a large update that can take some time to download. While it is still possible to downgrade to iOS 8.1.2, many users who upgrade will be on this software for at least a month or until the iOS 8.2 update comes out of the beta.

Read: iPhone 6 Plus Tips & Tricks

After spending several hours stress testing the iOS 8.1.3 update on the iPhone 6 Plus we can share our early review of this software update to help users who want to install right now decide if this is an update worth downloading and installing on the iPhone 6 Plus.

Here are our early impressions of the iOS 8.1.3 update on the iPhone 6 Plus.

iOS 8.1.3 Installation

You can follow this iOS 8.1.3 update guide to learn how to install the update without connecting to a computer. The process took about 25 minutes on the iPhone 6 Plus, including a lengthy download of the fairly large update. After using out iOS 8.1.3 release tips to get ready I installed the update on my iPhone 6 Plus.

The iOS 8.1.3 installation was quick and painless. All of my apps were still there when I finished the update and I did not need to re-login to anything to make the iPhone 6 Plus work.

The only sticking point was the need to stop an iCloud restore that was stuck after unjailbreaking iOS 8. Most users will not experience this problem.

iOS 8.1.3 on iPhone 6 Plus Performance

After using the iPhone 6 Plus with iOS 8.1.3 for several hours I have a good idea how the update performs. On a new device like the iPhone 6 Plus the odds are good that the update will not slow things down, but we like to test and check just in case.

Keep in mind that there is a very low chance that you use the same apps as I do, so this early iOS 8.1.3 review may not apply directly to your device. Sometimes problems appear when there is a specific combination of use, apps and hardware.

Apps

After installing iOS 8.1.3 I spent time testing some of the best iPhone 6 Plus apps. I did not use all 69 apps that I keep on my iPhone 6 Plus, but after checking Facebook, Netflix, Messages, Google Maps and others I did not run into any apps that failed to open or were sluggish.

If any of your apps crash on iOS 8.1.3 it is a good idea to make sure your apps are updated to the latest versions. These updates, even small ones, can make the difference between a great experience and constant crashes.

iOS 8.1.3 Battery Life

The good news after installing the iOS 8.1.3 update on the iPhone 6 Plus is that the battery life is not dramatically falling as it would if there was some major iOS 8.1.3 battery life problem. This is an area that I monitor closely after an update like this and I will take a detailed look at it in our iOS 8.1.3 review on the iPhone 6 Plus later this week.

WiFi, Cellular Data & Bluetooth

Connectivity is another major area where updates can cause problems. After installing iOS 8.1.3 on the iPhone 6 Plus WiFi and LTE worked fine right after the update. The iPhone 6 Plus would not reconnect to a Bluetooth headset. After removing the Bluetooth device, powering Bluetooth off and power cycling the headphones I was able to pair as a new device and use the Bluetooth headphones. This is a pain, but is was easy enough to fix.

Bugs & Issues

It is too early to tell if the iOS 8.1.3 update adds new bugs or problems other than the issue connecting to Bluetooth.

The iOS 8 landscape issues that are a major problem on the iPhone 6 are not as bad on the iPhone 6 Plus and every update so far minimizes landscape orientation issues for a while, before they make their way back.

Many small iOS 8.1.3 bugs or issues may appear after a week or longer of use, but at this time there are no major problems on the iPhone 6 Plus.

Speed

The iPhone 6 Plus iOS 8.1.3 performance is solid. There is no slowdown from iOS 8.1.2 or even from the day I bought the phone last year. This is a new iPhone and it continues to deliver snappy performance that you expect from something that is only four months old.

Should You Install iOS iOS 8.1.3?

iPhone 6 Plus users are already on iOS 8 and that makes this a simple answer. Most users can install iOS 8.1.3 on the iPhone 6 Plus.

If you are not experiencing any iOS 8.1.2 problems, it is a good idea to wait a few days to see if any major problems surface. You’ll also be able to read our full iPhone 6 Plus iOS 8.1.3 review to see if any surprises change the early impressions.

Spigen iPhone 6 Plus Cases

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If you need an affordable iPhone 6 Plus case, Spigen is one of the best options you will find. Spigen offers a wide variety of iPhone 6 Plus cases from super thin to protective options and even a few iPhone 6 Plus wallet cases.  The company also offers an iPhone 6 Plus case with a kickstand, which is an excellent way to easily use that big screen for movies, videos and FaceTime.  Check out all of the Spigen iPhone 6 Plus Cases on Amazon starting at $7.99.

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