iOS 7.1.2 on iPad 3 Review

The iOS 7.1.2 update is a small, but handy free update that arrived on the iPad 3 in early July. This is the first update since the iOS 8 announcement and it focuses on bug fixes and security updates.

After a number of users reported growing iOS 7.1.2 problems, some users decided to hold off on installing the free update to make sure that the iOS 7.1.2 update would install and would not bring new bugs. Although some users still report problems our test devices continue to work very well on iOS 7.1.2.

This iOS 7.1.2 review focuses on the iPad 3, an older device that Apple continues to support with small and large fixes. After installing iOS 7.1.2 on the iPad 3 I tested a variety of tasks and activities that represent the most common usage of this device, looking for any of the iOS 7.1.2 problems that users complained about in July.

Read: 101 iPad 3 Tips and Tricks

Apple pushed out iOS 7.1.2 to fix issues with the iOS 7.1.1 update that they rolled out in April. All of these small updates arrive with targeted fixes, and the hope that there are no new bugs. But as some users find out, even the smallest update is not always trouble-free.

After taking a look at iOS 7.1.2 reviews for the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5, iPad Air and iPad mini Retina, it’s time to visit an older iPad that many users till own and use.

iOS 7.1.2 Installation

Some users ran into iOS 7.1.2 problems during the installation, but that was not an issue on my iPad 3. I installed iOS 7.1.2 over the air, using the iPad to download the update from Apple over WiFi without connecting to a computer.

I didn’t need to babysit the installation, and within 15 minutes the iPad 3 rebooted running iOS 7.1.2. If you run into any problems installing iOS 7.1.2 on the iPad 3 or any other device you can plug into a computer for less chance of something going wrong.

iOS 7.1.2 Performance

After installing iOS 7.1.2 on the iPad 3 there are five areas to test. By looking at apps, battery life, speed, connectivity and iOS 7.1.2 problems I can figure out if there are any major issues that are worth skipping the iOS 7.1.2 update on the iPad 3. After using iOS 7.1.2 on the iPad 3 for a week it is easy to  spot any potential showstoppers introduced by this small update.

Apps

There is always a small chance that an update like iOS 7.1.2 will break some apps. Although not common, sometimes a minor change can break something until the developer is able to issue an update.

After spending a week trying out various apps like Facebook, Dark Sky, Dropbox and Netflix as well as many others, I did not find any apps that did not work on iOS 7.1.2.

Battery Life

iPad battery life is great by most measurements, which is one reason I pay close attention to what an update can do. The most common complaint after a small update is bad battery life. We share how to fix iOS 7.1.2 battery life problems if they arise, but I did not experience any on the iPad 3.

Before the update this old iPad delivered nearly 10 hours of battery life and after the update the number is the same.

iOS 7.1.2 Problems

Although there are still a number of iOS 7.1.2 problems and bugs on other devices, the iPad 3 review device remains problem free. This means no random reboots or app crashes which would otherwise hinder use.

Connectivity

This is a WiFi only iPad 3, which limits what I can test, but there is no WiFi problem on this iPad. I connected it to the iPhone 5s as a personal hotspot and to a home router without any issues. Bluetooth is available and working as well. A speed test maxed out my home internet speed from multiple locations in the house.

Speed

The iPad 3 performance improved with iOS 7.1 in early 2013, and it remains good after the iOS 7.1.2 update. Switching apps, using multitasking and using apps is just as fast as on iOS 7.1.1, with no new slow downs on my iPad 3 review device.

Should You Install iOS 7.1.2?

The iOS 7.1.2 update is one that most iPad 3 owners should install. Although there are some reports of iOS 7.1.2 problems, this is a good update in my experience. If you are suffering from iOS 7.1.1 problems or iOS 7.1 problems this update may fix the issue, which makes it worth installing.

If the potential iOS 7.1.2 problems are daunting, you can wait for a possible iOS 7.1.3 update or to see if other problems appear before you update the iPad 3.