iOS 9.2.1 Review: Should You Install?

iPhone 5 iOS 9.2.1 Review

New iOS updates can wreck havoc on older devices like the iPhone 5. Even small ones like the iOS 9.2.1 update. Fortunately, that's not the case here. The iOS 9.2.1 update is an outstanding release for the iPhone 5.

We haven't seen a dip in battery life. We're still able to get a full day of use out of the aging battery when using both Wi-Fi and LTE. Apps are still performing well. Connectivity is very strong on the iPhone 5 and we were able to get through a couple of plane rides without any problem. 

Most importantly, iOS 9.2.1 is fast. The only time we've encountered serious lag is when we open apps from the home screen. This is tolerable because the rest of the operating system is performing at a high level for a phone that's going on four years old. 

We haven't seen any lag in Control Center. We haven't had any problems with the keyboard. Spotlight is fluid. And we haven't noticed any speed issues with Notifications. This is, in our opinion, the best version of iOS 9 for the iPhone 5. 

If you're already on iOS 9 and you've prepared, iOS 9.2.1 is a no-brainer. If something does go wrong, you can always drop back to iOS 9.2.

If you're on something older, now might be the time to finally make a move to the iOS 9 update. You'll want to dig into a ton of feedback before you do but this is an excellent version of iOS 9 and one that we highly recommend.