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iOS 7.1.2 Review: Two Weeks Later

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Two weeks ago, Apple released its latest iOS 7 update dubbed iOS 7.1.2. The update is a small update aimed at squashing bugs and making the iOS 7.1 firmware more reliable. In the past two weeks though, we’ve heard about a series of iOS 7.1.2 problems afflecting iPhone and iPad owners including bad battery life. With that in mind, we want to revisit Apple’s latest update and offer feedback and potential fixes to users dealing with issues and those still sitting on iOS 7.1.1.

In March, after a lengthy beta period, Apple released the iOS 7.1 update to the public. The iOS 7.1 update, which had been in the works since November, was aimed at unifying iOS 7’s design, enhancing performance and tackling lingering iOS 7 problems. The update arrived with a laundry list of bug fixes and for the most part, the iOS 7.1 was seen as a crucial update to Apple’s ambitious iOS 7 operating system.

However, like all iOS updates, iOS 7.1 brought some issues of its own. In the weeks after its release, Apple has released two bug fix updates in an attempt to shore up these issues ahead of the highly anticipated iOS 8 update later on this year. iOS 8 is confirmed for the fall though no specific release date is known at this time.

iOS 7.1.2 on iPhone 5s

The first of those updates was iOS 7.1.1, a small bug fixer that rolled out in April. While iOS 7.1.1 was stable for many iPhone and iPad users, we heard about a number of iOS 7.1.1 problems affecting owners of both devices. In fact, in the buildup to July, we continued to hear about iOS 7.1.1 problems. Apple heard those complaints and two weeks ago it rolled out iOS 7.1.2, another small bug fixer with a trio of fixes housed inside of its change log. iOS 7.1.2’s biggest fix was the patch for an email attachment encryption issue.

Last week, we offered up our thoughts on the iOS 7.1.2 update and found the software to be stable on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5, iPad Air, iPad 3, and iPad mini with Retina Display. In the hours and days since, we’ve continued to hear gripes about Apple’s latest update and those gripes have prompted us to relay some more thoughts about iOS 7.1.2.

Here, we review the iOS 7.1.2 update, again, two weeks after its release.

iOS 7.1.2 Review: Two Weeks Later

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 two weeks with the iOS 7.1.2 update on the iPhone and iPad, here’s what I’ve found.

iPhone

iOS 7.1.2 update on iPhone

I’ve been using the iOS 7.1.2 update on the iPhone 5 for two weeks now and overall, the update is performing about as well as iOS 7.1.1. That is to say that it’s performing admirably.

iOS 7.1.2 battery life remains solid and I’ve yet to notice any abnormal battery drain or slow charging. Battery life on Apple’s nearly two year old iPhone remains fantastic, a testament to Apple’s hardware and software. Same goes for connectivity. 4G LTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth all maintain solid connections and all three are working as they should.

The software is still extremely fluid and fast. iOS 7.1 gave the iPhone 5 a huge boost in performance and that stellar performance has carried over with iOS 7.1.2. Folders open fast, apps open fast, it’s speedy.

I do, however, have some gripes after spending two weeks with iOS 7.1.2. While my iMessage issue hasn’t shown its face again, I have had problems with an application and with FaceTime Audio.

Spotify, an application that I use every day, now crashes for no apparent reason. It was totally fine on iOS 7.1.1 and it was actually find up until the July 9th update. So, my guess is that the latest update might be the culprit though I can’t be sure.

FaceTime Audio was working out great right after the iOS 7.1.2 update and now, it’s gone right back down the toilet. Dropped calls, poor call quality, and more plague the feature that I used constantly to communicate with co-workers and friends. On good days, the service is much better than a regular mobile phone call. And on other days, I can’t even use the feature.

The issue isn’t isolated. It happens on Wi-Fi, LTE, when I’m at home, and when I’m out on the move. It’s extremely inconsistent. My hope is that iOS 8 solves these issues but I’m not confident at this point. This is something I’ve been dealing with for months, ever since the arrival of iOS 7.1, and it doesn’t look like it’ll get fixed anytime soon.

iPad

iPad-Mini-3

The performance of iOS 7.1.2 on the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina Display has been nothing short of phenomenal. Apps are all working well, battery life remains solid after two weeks of extensive use, I haven’t noticed any bugs, connectivity is still fast and reliable across 4G LTE (AT&T), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and the devices are still extremely, extremely fast.

Both of these devices have been consistent after all of these minor updates and my biggest headaches, which are still very minor, all come from the iPhone 5. From what my colleagues tell me, iOS 7.1.2 is performing quite well on the iPhone 5s and same goes for the iPad 3, the third-generation iPad that was replaced long ago.

iOS 7.1.2 Problems & Fixes

iPad Tips and Tricks - New Users

Other than the Spotify issue and the horrible FaceTime Audio quality, iOS 7.1.2 has been solid across our iPhones and iPads. However, it’s clear that there are iOS 7.1.2 problems. iOS updates will vary across devices, across use cases, so we’re not in any way surprised that our experiences are different from other iPad and iPhone users.

iOS issues always crop up after an iOS update and fortunately, over the years, we’ve found some fixes for common iOS problems. In fact, we recently put them all together in a handy guide that details some potential iOS 7.1.2 fixes for common iOS 7.1.2 problems. Fixes include remedies for bad iOS 7.1.2 battery life, Wi-Fi issues and problems with apps.

Keep in mind, these are guaranteed fixes. In other words, there is a chance that they won’t work for you. If they don’t, a factory reset is an option and we also recommend taking the device down to see an Apple Genius.

Is iOS 7.1.2 Worth Installing?

iPad Tips and Tricks - iPad mini

As I’ve noted, several times, the mail encryption fix alone made iOS 7.1.2 worth the upgrade. It also helps that iOS 7.1.2 is performing well in key areas across our iPads and iPhones.

Battery life is still very good and we haven’t noticed any big time bugs that completely wreck havoc on the iPhone and iPad. The few major issues we’ve seen seem to be isolated problems. And the smaller issues I’ve encountered are definitely not widespread.

In other words, iOS 7.1.2 is, for most people, going to be a solid download. We do recommend backing up just in case something does go wrong during the installation process.

How’s iOS 7.1.2 treating you after two weeks?

27 Comments

27 Comments

  1. David

    07/14/2014 at 1:15 pm

    I’ve had problems with the Podcast Application on my iPad 4 (iPad with Retina display). Occasionally, the application with crash, and crash again if I try to reopen it. It may be like this for a minute or a few hours. I’ve seen multiple people on the App store talk about this issue too.

  2. megan

    07/14/2014 at 2:24 pm

    my phone has crashed and is showing a picture to plug it into the laptop and access iTunes but now my iTunes on my laptop isn’t working and I have no way of accessing iTunes or turning my phone back on is there any way around this?

  3. Arthur

    07/14/2014 at 2:46 pm

    I have an iPod 5th Gen. and iPad Air and iOS 7.1.2 is smooth,barely any crashed apps except for google search!

  4. SImon Trumble

    07/14/2014 at 3:18 pm

    Ipad 2 – crashes all the time since upgrading to 7.1.2. Very frustrating.

  5. Sagar

    07/14/2014 at 8:16 pm

    IPad 3 in reboot mode … Doesn’t repair in recovery or dfu mode. Bricked .

  6. Pat

    07/14/2014 at 8:19 pm

    The issue not covered here is the the fact that the iPhone crashed during the iOS 7.1.2 the update process. The crash makes the process NOT worth the upgrade.

  7. Christyherself

    07/15/2014 at 11:48 am

    My battery life is draining even more than before. During my lunch hour alone it dropped 10%.

  8. Marian

    07/15/2014 at 12:01 pm

    Streaming worked fine before. Now the shows I stream are constantly stopping.

  9. liz blaylock

    07/15/2014 at 12:54 pm

    My wifi will no longer connect to my phone. ever and anywhere I go or at home I am unable to connect. There is apparently no fix for this and I was told it was my fault for upgrading since its not “required” updating was the biggest mistake I ever made.

    • Jane

      07/27/2014 at 4:00 pm

      I feel for you. I have no wifi or bluetooth and personal hotspot won’t work. Ugh

  10. alanmorris

    07/15/2014 at 1:31 pm

    Did anyone note the time the upgrade takes? Mine has been over 4 hours.

  11. Sandy

    07/15/2014 at 3:15 pm

    I have an iPhone 4 and – yes – still have iOs 6.1.3, because so many people complained when 7 came out. Should I update or wait for 8 to come out? I know one generally ought to update whenever possible, but I didn’t want to lose anything critical. Thx.

  12. mom2freyboys

    07/15/2014 at 9:14 pm

    Battery life on iPad Air is, without doubt, reduced. Also, searches for WiFi connectivity and I cannot get either cellular or WiFi when that happens so I must disconnect the WiFi to surf. I regret updating.

  13. Dustin huff

    07/16/2014 at 1:37 am

    My battery life has bein dying since I updated to 7.1.1. Will 7.1.2 help with that in anyway

  14. Tribecards

    07/16/2014 at 6:53 am

    Since 7.1.1, my iPhone5 keeps app-crashing. After 7.1.2, it still app crashes – no specific apps, either. Any app at any time can either simply drop to home screen or fail to launch. It’s pretty ridiculous. But, we’re all drinking the koolaid, so how much complaining can we really do?

  15. John W

    07/16/2014 at 8:25 am

    My ipad 2 crashes time after time. I do a lot research on it. I never had this problem before. I cut it off then reboot, this gets old. I need a fix, fix, fix ?
    Is this a question of I need to upgrade to newer ipad ?

  16. Kim

    07/16/2014 at 6:16 pm

    Upgraded to 7.1.2 and now iPad won’t charge!

  17. Angela

    07/17/2014 at 7:11 pm

    I didn’t have any problems until I updated to 7.1.2 now my iMessage is buggy I can’t send many without having to restart 50 times a day. I’m very frustrated and hope they fix soon like tomorrow.

  18. Philip Howe

    07/19/2014 at 1:17 am

    I suspect that a number of people with problems are forgetting that you should backup the device to your itunes on the computer or the icloud, then when they have these awful bugs they can “restore” from the last backup, or even a previous backup.
    Also, these devices batteries benefit from a complete powerdrain – ignore the notifications to recharge, when it shuts itself down recharge to “full” before restarting. Do this weekly or fortnightly – your battery will last a lot longer.
    Pip

  19. BIPUL

    07/22/2014 at 3:39 am

    i updated ios 7.1.2 but after updating my camera software is giving lots of trouble.i can’t take photos and my flash light also gets off automatically any help.

  20. Natalie

    07/25/2014 at 4:27 am

    Myn Iphone 4 crashes on a daily basis since upgrading. Battery life was bad before but really poor now. Can not work out how to close multiple apps, therefore i know thats also not helping

  21. Jane

    07/27/2014 at 3:56 pm

    I can’t turn on wifi or bluetooth. My personal hotspot doesn’t work either. Hotspot is what I use for internet access at home, so I have none.

    I also have problems with internet connection on 4g and apps crashing. More of a hassle than it’s worth at this point. Very disappointed.

  22. Jenn

    07/30/2014 at 6:47 pm

    Crappy! I have a 4S and can no longer connect to wifi, it’s blacked out so you can’t even attempt to turn it on, I’ve tried all the ways to fix it that apple suggests. My battery rapidly drains and will go from 35% to 1% in like 2 minutes and shut down.

    • gabby

      08/09/2014 at 2:49 pm

      Thank you for sharing your bad experience. I am sorry for that, but you saved me from updating my ios! [i have an iphone 4s w/ ios 6.1.3]. Can’t complain aside from the fact that there are many apps i cannot use.

  23. Ken Packard

    08/10/2014 at 5:38 am

    I upgraded my IPhone 5 to 7.1 and tried 7.1.2 and neither work anymore with bluetooth. Before the upgrade (on 6.x) I was connected to a headset, two car speaker systems, my MacBook Pro and an external speaker system now I can’t connect to anything??? Iv’e shut it off and gone back to using my wife’s iPhone 4. Iv’e seen tons of email complaints about other users with IPhone 5’s not able to connect to bluetooth yet no fix from APPLE? If they want to ever get business users to use their phone’s they better get their act together and fix this rather than ignoring it. I travel extensively for business and need to use my phone on my car’s speaker, plus my state and many others now ticket people holding their cell phones to their ear. Time to look at other more reliable Phone Manufacturers for myself and my entire sales and engineering teams…

  24. Pierre83

    09/12/2014 at 6:55 am

    Since my upgrade to 7.1.2 my iphone 4S is running slow sometimes, poor battery life (less 1 day), battery goes from 94% to powerdown in minute sometimes, sometimes it refuse to power off with the button, WIFI is greyed and not working anymore… THANKS APPLE for this very well tested update….very good job everything is now crappy ! THANKS

  25. Ipad2luv

    04/22/2015 at 10:48 am

    I waited for iOS7.1.2 before updating from iOS 6 on my iPad2. I mainly updated due to too many apps requiring 7.x to run. I did the install through iTunes and it seemed to work just fine. I did a reset and then put my apps back. I noticed battery life drop in the first day. But then turned off the parallax effect and motion wallpaper. It’s not quite as snappy as iOS6 was, but close enough that I’m used to it now. Battery life is a little less than it was, but improves to near iOS6 levels with the new animations turned off. I’m sure all the new animations are making the gpu run full steam all the time. (Settings | General | Accessibility | Reduce Motion = OFF). For the last year iOS 7.1.2 is running just fine on my iPad2 (original, not air). I’m going to follow the “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it” philosophy and use it as-is as long as I can. When Apple announces that my iPad won’t be eligible for the next OS (aka forced obsolescence via software), I’ll update to whatever is the latest iOS to get that last year of use out of it. So far it’s been my longest lasting apple device.

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