iOS 9.1 Update: 11 Things to Know After 45 Days

Its been 45 days since Apple’s last iOS 9 release for iPhone, iPad and iPad. As we close in on the 50 day mark, we want to revisit the iOS 9.1 update’s performance on iPhone and iPad and take a look at some other important things iPhone and iPad users should be aware of as we push into December.

Apple released a flurry of iOS 9 updates in September and October starting with the iOS 9.1 beta and ending with the iOS 9.2 beta released that arrived a week after Apple pushed out the iOS 9.1 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

The iOS 9.1 update arrived on October 21st to great fanfare. Apple’s first milestone iOS 9 update arrived with a laundry list of bug fixes for lingering iOS 9 problems. It also delivered new features including new emojis for the iOS 9 keyboard.

November was quiet save for a few iOS 9.2 beta updates and we’ve seen no movement during the month of December. Apple’s still working on the iOS 9.2 update behind the scenes but we still don’t have a concrete release date.

With no iOS 9.1.1 update in sight, and an iOS 9.2 release date in the shadows, iOS 9.1 remains the focal point of many iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. For some, it’s because you’re experiencing of iOS 9.1 problems. For others, it’s because you just discovered iOS 9.1 lurking on your phone.

Today we want to check in with the iOS 9.1 update for iPhone and iPad. This is what you need to know about the current state of iOS 9, 45 days after the release of iOS 9.1.

iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 Update

For forty days, the iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 update was stable. But in the past week, I’ve started to notice a decline. Let’s start with the good though.

Battery life is still very solid. I haven’t run into any abnormal battery drain during my time with the update. I’m still able to milk a full day out of the update, sometimes more depending how long I keep it in Low Power Mode.

Connectivity remains strong after all this time. I’ve paired the iPhone 6s and iOS 9.1 with numerous Bluetooth devices and I haven’t had a problem with Wi-Fi speed or range. AT&T’s LTE network is still strong too.

In the 45 days since the iOS 9.1 release, developers have released numerous updates that’ve tackled problems and added features for the iPhone 6s. Google Chrome, for instance, just got support for Touch ID.

Thanks to these updates, app performance has stabilized and in some cases, improved. The early days of iOS 9.1 were a little shaky but they’re much better now.

I have run into some issues though. While I haven’t noticed the Touch ID issues that’ve plagued some iPhone users, I have started to notice an uptick in random reboots (memory leak). In the past week, I’ve encountered six. Prior to this week, I think I saw one.

I’ve also experienced some keyboard lag that simply wasn’t there a few weeks ago. I’ve been very proactive about these problems but I can’t seem to shake them and I’m not confident that Apple will include a fix with the next iOS 9 update. They appear to be isolated iPhone 6s problems.

I’m struggling a little bit but I still recommend the iOS 9.1 update to iPhone 6s users. The emojis alone make the upgrade worth it. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve used the middle finger or some of the faces in group chats with friends and family. Probably thousands.

If you’re on an older version of iOS 9, and you’re feeling leery, you can wait for the next update though you might be waiting awhile.

iPhone 6 iOS 9.1 Update

My experience with the iPhone 6 iOS 9.1 update has actually been much better.

After a slow start, the iPhone 6 iOS 9.1 update gradually started to improve and the update is still in good standing 45 days after its release.

We’ve been testing the update on two iPhone 6 variants, one AT&T and one Verizon, and neither of them have exhibited major problems with iOS 9.1 on board.

Battery life is excellent, the UI is still fast and fluid, connectivity (Bluetooth, LTE, Wi-Fi) is still very strong, apps are dependable, and we haven’t run into any major bugs. Touch ID has been solid on our two phones.

If you are already on iOS 9, iOS 9.1 is worth a download. If not for the emojis, for the bug fixes and security updates.

If you’re on iOS 8, it’s definitely worth a look and probably a download. iOS 9 looks a lot like iOS 8 but as this walkthrough will show you, it comes with some useful improvements including Low Power Mode, a feature that we use all the time.

iPhone 5 iOS 9.1 Update

If you’re having major issues on an older version of iOS 9, I highly recommend the iPhone 5 iOS 9.1 update.

Battery life is still good, I haven’t had any issues with connectivity, apps are agreeable, and bugs haven’t gotten in my way.

One area where the iPhone 5 iOS 9.1 update really shines though is speed. From iOS 8.1 to iOS 9.0.2, I dealt with speed issues. The UI was sluggish and slow. I was ready to finally sell the thing. And then iOS 9.1 arrived.

iOS 9.1 is fast and fluid on the iPhone 5. Opening folders isn’t the drag that it once was and animations and transitions look and feel faster. Apps can still take some time to open but I can live with that if everything else is firing on all cylinders.

If you’re coming from something older than iOS 9, you’ll want to make sure that iOS 9 and its features fit your needs. They fit mine and the update has extended my ownership of this aging former flagship for another year at least.

iPad iOS 9.1 Update

I haven’t used the iOS 9.1 update on every single iPad out there but I have used it on three popular variants: The iPad Air 2, the iPad Air and the iPad mini 2.

For the most part, the iOS 9.1 has been treating the trio well. I haven’t experiencing any weird battery drain, Wi-Fi is still holding up, apps are behaving, and I haven’t run into any game-changing bugs. I have run into two problems though, both on the iPad mini 2.

Keyboard lag and Control Center lag are both problems for me on the iPad mini 2. Taps on keys frequently lag and Control Center will often hang up when I swipe to bring it up on screen. These are annoyances and it could be a sign of decline.

I still recommend iOS 9.1 for all three slates. The bug fixes, security updates and emojis outweigh these minor issues in my book.

I also recommend iOS 9 to those of you on iOS 8 or below. iOS 9 comes with (among other things) some powerful multitasking features that I think many of you will enjoy and take advantage of moving forward.

iOS 9.1 Problems Continue

It’s important to remember that I am just one person. And while I’m having a great experience with iOS 9.1, others have been running into some major problems over the past 45 days.

You’ve probably heard about the Touch ID issues that continue to plague some iPhone and iPad users. Some users are still complaining about these problems and Apple still hasn’t addressed them with an update or a promised fix in a future update.

Other users are complaining about problems with Siri, Apple Music issues, and some lingering issues with the Podcasts application. Apple’s forums are swamped with complaints about iOS 9.1 and we expect the list to grow as we move further away from the iOS 9.1 release.

It’s impossible to predict how iOS 9.1 will run on your phone or tablet and that’s why we recommend doing some prep work before you install it.

iOS 9.2 Release Date

The iOS 9.2 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch is confirmed but we still don’t know when it will arrive or if its next in line.

According to 9to5Mac, AT&T’s NumberSync feature will arrive in early 2016. Apple has been testing AT&T NumberSync with the iOS 9.2 beta but it’s not clear if the feature will arrive side-by-side with iOS 9.2.

iOS 9.2 Will Fix iOS 9.1 Problems

The iOS 9.2 update is still in beta and its change log could change between now and the public release. But it’s pretty clear, at least to us, that it’s going to bring some bug fixes for lingering iOS 9 and iOS 9.1 problems.

The iOS 9.2 update is going to brings fixes for Apple Watch syncing and pairing, fixes for audio quality when a device is streaming to a stereo system, and fixes for iCloud Keychain. This, at the very least.

How to Fix iOS 9.1 Problems Right Now

If you are dealing with iOS 9.1 problems and you don’t want to wait for Apple, take a look at our list of fixes for common iOS 9 problems.

We just updated it with some fixes for iOS 9.1 Touch ID issues so it’s worth a look if you’re struggling to find a remedy.

What to Do Before the Next iOS 9 Update

An iOS 9.1.1 update or iOS 9.2 update could arrive at any moment. And you’ll want to be prepared. We’ve put together some steps to take ahead of the iOS 9.2 release date.

iOS 9.1 Jailbreak Release MIA

We’re 45 days out from the iOS 9.1 release date and there’s still no sign of a public iOS 9.1 jailbreak release.

Developers have successfully jailbroken iOS 9.1 and iOS 9.2 beta. They just haven’t released the tool to the public. At least not yet.

Jailbreak developers have been quiet in recent weeks and there’s no telling what they might have up their sleeve.

The existence of these iOS 9.1 and iOS 9.2 jailbreaks is a good sign but it doesn’t mean much for most people at this point.

You Can Downgrade to iOS 8

As a reminder, you can downgrade to the iOS 8 update if you are jailbroken. There’s no way to downgrade to anything older than iOS 9.1 without a jailbreak.

This is important to note if you’re going to be coming from something older than iOS 9.1. Once you make the move, there’s no going back.

Install iOS 9.0.2 If You're Concerned About Security

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If you're concerned with your device's security, you might want to install the iOS 9.0.2 update right now because it comes with an important security patch for a well-known passcode flaw that was discovered a few days ago.  Shortly after the iOS 9 release, iOS users discovered a passcode flaw that could allow someone to bypass the lock screen and look at contacts and photos. For some people, that could be a huge problem.  Forutnately, Apple's new iOS 9.0.2 update comes with a patch for the problem and we've been unable to replicate it with the issue on board. If you're concerned with this problem, iOS 9.0.2 might be worth a download.

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