iOS 7.1.2 on iPad mini with Retina Review

Last week, Apple rolled out a brand new iOS 7.1 update in the form of iOS 7.1.2, a small bug fix update aimed at alleviating iOS 7.1 problems. Of course, small incremental updates like iOS 7.1.2 have been known to deliver problems of their own and that’s why we want to take another look at iOS 7.1.2 and its performance on the iPad mini with Retina Display.

In the buildup to July, we had heard that Apple was in the lab working on a brand new iOS 7.1.2 update to replace the iOS 7.1.1 update that had rolled out in April. iOS 7.1.1, a small incremental iOS 7 update, had been pushed out to tackle lingering iOS 7.1 problems. iOS 7.1.2 rumors suggested that the update would also be a bug fixer with a couple of different iOS 7.1 issues in mind.

Last Monday, Apple surprised iPhone and iPad owners with a brand new iOS 7.1.2 update that delivered three fixes including one for an encryption issue for mail attachments.

As we’ve pointed out, smaller incremental updates always center around bug fixes for lingering issues. However, smaller updates tend to bring some problems of their own. iOS 6.1, for example, brought a nasty battery drain issue along with it. iOS 7.1.1 also brought some problems to owners of the iPhone, iPod touhc and the iPad.

The purpose of iOS 7.1.2 is to solve issues but we’re hearing that the update is causing trouble for some iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners. With those issues in mind, we have given iOS 7.1.2 a close look, first with our initial impressions and now, with our updated reviews a week after its release.

We’ve already taken a look at how the update is performing on the iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and iPad Air and now, it’s time to take a look at the iOS 7.1.2 update’s performance on the iPad mini with Retina Display.

iOS 7.1.2 Installation Issues

A week ago, I installed iOS 7.1.2 on the iPad mini with Retina Display. I used the Over-the-Air method as opposed to iTunes. I noted back then that I didn’t run into any installation issues when installing the 20MB update. It was a smooth process that took around 1o to 15 minutes to complete. However, it does appear as though some iPad owners have had some issues during the iOS 7.1.2 installation process.

The iOS 7.1.2 update process, for some users, won’t complete. It’s a frustrating issues but forunately, there is a very quick fix that will get you on your way. As we’ve pointed out, there is an easy way to circumvent these installation problems. If you’re dealing with iOS 7.1.2 installation problems, simply perform a hard reset on the device.

To do that, hold down the power button and the home button at the same time. That should help to get the iOS 7.1.2 installation process moving again should it lock up.

This is a fix to keep handy for the future because there is always a chance that this could happen again. I had it happen with an earlier iOS 7 update and a hard reset did the trick. Moving on.

iOS 7.1.2 Performance

Remember, when it comes to the performance of incremental iOS updates like iOS 7.1.2, I like to look at five different areas in particular. Those areas include applications and how they’re performing post update, battery life and whether there is abnormal drain, bugs or hiccups, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth performance, and overall speed. After spending a full week with the iOS 7.1.2 update for iPad Air, here is what I’ve found.

Apps

Throughout the week, I’ve put various applications through testing. Now, I realize that our applications are going to differ from one another so I’ll focus on a few apps that are common amongst iPad owners.

Facebook, Spotify, Soundcloud, Twitter, Instagram, Dark Sky, Weather Channel, Google Hangouts, and Google Chrome are all performing well after the iOS 7.1.2 update. So are applications like Open Table and Yelp. In fact, I haven’t run into any app issues on the iPad mini. I noted in my iPad Air review that Google Hangouts crashed during my week with iOS 7.1.2 but it hasn’t crashed on the iPad mini with Retina.

If you are experiencing issues with an application, get in contact with the developer or search for quick fixes on product forums. Communicating an issue with a developer will often lead to a fix down the road.

iOS 7.1.2 Battery Life

I haven’t noticed any abnormal iOS 7.1.2 battery drain, any charging problems, or any issues with the battery when in standby mode. The iPad mini with Retina Display is still holding a fantastic charge, even when used on AT&T’s 4G LTE network.

I’ve heard complaints about iOS 7.1.2 battery life on the iPhone and iPad but to be honest, they aren’t as loud as past iOS updates. So, my gut feeling is that iOS 7.1.2 is actually performing quite well.

Those that are experiencing poor battery life after the upgrade to iOS 7.1.2 have a few options available though none are guaranteed to work. Nailing down the battery life issue, if there is one, is a difficult process and ultimately, you might simply want to opt for a factory reset. Often times, this will kill off lingering iOS issues.

Bugs

I haven’t noticed any issues on board the iOS 7.1.2 update for iPad Air and the same goes for the iPad mini with Retina Display. After using the iOS 7.1.2 update for a week, I have yet to run into any significant bugs that hamper the overall experience. The iOS 7 experience on the smaller iPad is still extremely stable and I haven’t run into random reboots or any other problems that often pop up after these smaller updates.

I noted in my iOS 7.1.2 for iPhone review that I have run into some iMessage problems with iOS 7.1.2 but for whatever reason, those remain limited to my iPhone and have not plagued the two iPads.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 4G LTE data are all up to snuff after iOS 7.1.2. Speeds are stable and reliable and I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. That experience could change in the weeks ahead but I’m not expecting any significant changes to occur. Connectivity have remained consistent throughout my iOS 7 experience.

Speed

iOS 7 was fast on the iPad mini with Retina. I saw a bit of a performance boost after the arrival of iOS 7.1 and the changes to the animations and transitions but it wasn’t on the same level as the iPhone 5. This is likely because of the difference in processors. The iPad mini with Retina utilizes a much newer A7 64-bit processor.

iOS 7.1.2 is also fast. iOS 7.1.2 is fluid, fast and efficient and I have not see any abnormal lag or slow down since I installed the update on the 7.9-inch iPad more than a week ago.

Should You Install iOS 7.1.2?

It’s hard not to recommend iOS 7.1.2. It comes with some crucial bug fixes and it doesn’t appear to harm the overall iOS 7 experience. At least not on my iPad mini with Retina Display. It’s about as stable as iOS updates come.

That said, if you’re worried about potential iOS 7.1.2 issues, my advice is to wait it out. Keep in mind, you might be waiting awhile. iOS 7.1.3 isn’t guaranteed and the next update for the iPad Air could very well be the iOS 8 update this fall.