Earlier this week, Apple rolled out its brand new iOS 8.1.2 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The company’s new iOS 8 update is a bug fixer, aimed at squashing iOS 8 problems. Over the past five days, we’ve spent some quality time with Apple’s new software and today we want to share our full iPhone 6 iOS 8.1.2 review.
It has been a long road from September’s iOS 8.0 update to this month’s iOS 8.1.2 update. Apple’s iOS 8 update pushed out with new features and enhancements in mid-September and almost immediately, iOS 8 problems started plaguing owners of the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This is typical of a major iOS update and we, and many others, expected Apple to push out an iOS 8.0.1 update shortly after its arrival.
Sure enough, Apple pushed out an iOS 8.0.1 update with assorted bug fixes on board though it did not have the intended results. While it did deliver some fixes, it also broke cellular connectivity and Touch ID for some users. These issues forced Apple to quickly go back to the drawing board and a day later, the company conjured up an iOS 8.0.2 update that tackled those problems and delivered the rest of the fixes to those that did not upgrade to iOS 8.0.1.
Unsurprisingly, complaints about iOS 8 continued and over the couple of months, Apple’s worked hard to squash many iOS 8 problems. First, the company pushed out a massive iOS 8.1 bug fixer. Then, the company followed that up with an iOS 8.1.1 update that, unlike most smaller updates, went through the beta program. As we noted iOS 8.1.1 was the most stable iOS 8 yet, a sign that Apple finally started to get a grip on the issues plaguing its new software.
Speck MightyShell iPhone 6 Case Review - 5
This week, Apple pushed out an iOS 8.1.2 update with even more bug fixes on board. iOS 8.1.2 is a tiny update but as many of you know, even the tiniest iOS updates can make a huge impact on performance. In fact, we’ve been hearing about iOS 8.1.2 problems all week.
With those in mind, I’ve been taking a look at Apple’s iOS 8.1.2 update on a number of devices including the iPhone 6, Apple’s 4.7-inch model. And today, I want to offer some feedback to those that might be leery of the update and to those that are already on iOS 8.1.2. This is my full iOS 8.1.2 on iPhone 6 review and it will attempt to answer the question that we’ve received many times over in the past week: Is iOS 8.1.1 worth installing? Let’s find out.
iPhone 6 iOS 8.1.2 Review
From Tuesday up until today, I’ve spent a ton of time with iOS 8.1.2 on iPhone 6. The iPhone 6, after all, is my daily driver. Before getting into this detailed review and my impressions, I should note that mileage is going to vary from device to device, person to person.
That is to say, I probably don’t have the same apps installed and there’s a chance that I use Google Chrome, play more games, and use my home screen more than you do. So, consider this a general guide as you try to decide whether iOS 8.1.2 is worth installing on your iPhone 6.
Apps
Over the past five days I’ve tried to use as many of my 50+ applications as possible, as frequently as possible, to get a good idea about performance. So far, the only real issue that I’ve run into, and it’s a reoccurring one, is with Google Chrome. The browser continues to crash on a fairly frequent basis but as I’ve said before, it’s probably a Google problem not an iOS 8 problem.
Everything else on the iPhone 6 is up to snuff. While there are still some apps that don’t support the iPhone 6’s display, I’ll take stability over that compatibility any day. No one wants an app that crashes all the time so I hope that developers continue to take their time developing for Apple’s brand new Retina HD displays.
Sam's Club iPhone 6 Black Friday Deal
I won’t name them all but key apps like Instagram, Slack, Asana, Google Hangouts, Twitter, Dark Sky, Amazon, Netflix, and more all are working properly with iOS 8.1.2 on board. Performance is solid and my hope is that my current experience continues.
If you are having issues with applications right now, with iOS 8.1.2 or something else on board, my suggestion is to go ahead and install as many bug fix updates as you can. Most of the time, they are going to help. You would also be wise to switch automatic updates on. In the past, I used to forget to install bug fixers. Now, I don’t even have to think about it.
iOS 8.1.2 Battery Life
iOS 8.1.2 battery life is very solid on the iPhone 6. I’ve been able to get a full day of use or more out of the device when using a combination of Wi-Fi and LTE. If I’m primarily LTE, and that happens on occasion, battery drains much faster. That’s not iOS 8’s fault.
The iPhone 6 still holds a solid overall charge and I haven’t noticed any abnormal battery drain, slow charging issues or problems with the standby charge. I don’t anticipate encountering any problems down the road but you never know. Major battery life issues typically jump out in the first couple of days so the fact that I haven’t seen anything horrendous is a good sign.
iPhone 6 Review - 4
Remember, iOS updates like iOS 8.1.2 aren’t supposed to bring battery life problems along with them. Typically, bad battery life is caused by third-party apps or by users themselves. I’ve outlined a number of strategies to get better battery life inside iOS 8 and the same advice applies to Apple’s latest iOS 8.1.2 update. Have a look at those if you install iOS 8.1.2 and you start noticing something suspicious.
There’s no guarantee that those fixes will work but at the very least, you’ll want to start monitoring your applications to see if they’re the problem. Apps like Facebook have been known so burn a ton of battery life while in use.
Wi-Fi, LTE & Bluetooth
I’ve been hearing, and seeing, a ton of complaints about Wi-Fi, LTE and Bluetooth in the aftermath of the iOS 8.1.2 release. This doesn’t surprise me because iPhone users always have issues with these connections after installing new software. I just haven’t seen any of these problems myself, at least not yet.
AT&T’s 4G LTE network is still delivering extremely fast data speeds. Even the carrier’s 4G network is performing well with iOS 8.1.2 on board. Same goes for Wi-Fi and same goes for Bluetooth. I’ve used Bluetooth on a myriad of devices and I’ve yet to experience an issue. Granted, they’re all newer Bluetooth devices but they’re working nonetheless.
iPhone 6 Review - 6
If you do encounter problems with these connections, in iOS 8.1.2 or something else, be sure to check out our list of possible fixes before throwing the device against the wall.
You also might want to consider upgrading your router if you’re consistently having problems with Wi-Fi. Newer devices and new iOS updates have been known to present difficulties for those with older routers and modems. And if you’re having problems with Bluetooth in the car, you might want to check in with your local dealership before putting all of the blame on Apple. I’m not apologizing for the company but it would be smart to cover all of your bases before losing your cool.
Bugs & Issues
My iOS 8 problems are well documented. On my iPhone 6, I’ve run into issues with Messages, issues with landscape mode, and I’ve seen a couple of random reboots. That said, iOS 8.1.1 and iOS 8.1.2 both treated my iPhone 6 well.
So far, I haven’t run into any noticeable bugs in iOS 8.1.2. Nothing has caught my eye over the past five days and that’s a good sign moving forward. I typically catch issues, if there are issues, within the first three days or so. This is a device that I use all day every day so if there was something major on board, I think I would have discovered it by now.
iPhone 6 Review - 11
Now, there could be a ton of small bugs lurking about. Smaller bugs are harder to catch and they might only pop up when doing something very specific. I haven’t noticed any but it’s possible that I’ll notice something in the days, weeks and perhaps months ahead. For now, iOS 8.1.2 is extremely stable on the iPhone 6 and you can’t ask for much more from an incremental iOS update.
If you do stumble into problems, have a look at our rundown of bug fixes for iOS 8.1.2 problems. These are a good starting point but you’ll probably also want to gather fixes from other places as well. Fixes are never guaranteed to work.
Speed
The iPhone 6 is still very fast with iOS 8.1.2 on board. As I’ve noted many times, I’ve never had a problem with speed. iOS 8 has always been extremely fast on the iPhone 6 and the iOS 8.1.2 update is no different.
Animations and transitions are smooth and fluid and I’m able to zip around the home screens without any abnormal sluggishness or slowdown. That’s a big deal for me because I use this phone both for work and in my personal life so I need it to be efficient during the day and at night.
Is iOS 8.1.2 for iPhone 6 Worth Installing?
As far as I can tell, there isn’t much of a difference between iOS 8.1.2 and iOS 8.1.1. The iOS 8.1.2 update does not appear to have any major issues on board though I am just one man with an iPhone 6. There’s always a potential for something to go wrong so it’s going to up to you to do your homework and gather as much feedback as possible.
iPhone 6 Review - Colors
Here’s my feedback. If you’re struggling on iOS 8.1.1 or another version of iOS 8, go ahead and update. I can’t find any major problems on board and the iOS 8.1.2 update has a chance to fix at least some of the iOS 8 problems you’re dealing with. I doubt that it will make things worse.
iOS 8.1.2 doesn’t bring any new features to the table so if you’re having a good experience on iOS 8.1.1 or below, there’s no rush. Take your time and be patient. It’s always smart to get the latest software on board, security updates and all that, but there really isn’t a need to move quickly to iOS 8.1.2, especially if you’re on iOS 8.1.1 already.
It has been a long road from September’s iOS 8.0 update to this month’s iOS 8.1.2 update. Apple’s iOS 8 update pushed out with new features and enhancements in mid-September and almost immediately, iOS 8 problems started plaguing owners of the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This is typical of a major iOS update and we, and many others, expected Apple to push out an iOS 8.0.1 update shortly after its arrival.
Sure enough, Apple pushed out an iOS 8.0.1 update with assorted bug fixes on board though it did not have the intended results. While it did deliver some fixes, it also broke cellular connectivity and Touch ID for some users. These issues forced Apple to quickly go back to the drawing board and a day later, the company conjured up an iOS 8.0.2 update that tackled those problems and delivered the rest of the fixes to those that did not upgrade to iOS 8.0.1.
Unsurprisingly, complaints about iOS 8 continued and over the couple of months, Apple’s worked hard to squash many iOS 8 problems. First, the company pushed out a massive iOS 8.1 bug fixer. Then, the company followed that up with an iOS 8.1.1 update that, unlike most smaller updates, went through the beta program. As we noted iOS 8.1.1 was the most stable iOS 8 yet, a sign that Apple finally started to get a grip on the issues plaguing its new software.
Speck MightyShell iPhone 6 Case Review - 5
This week, Apple pushed out an iOS 8.1.2 update with even more bug fixes on board. iOS 8.1.2 is a tiny update but as many of you know, even the tiniest iOS updates can make a huge impact on performance. In fact, we’ve been hearing about iOS 8.1.2 problems all week.
With those in mind, I’ve been taking a look at Apple’s iOS 8.1.2 update on a number of devices including the iPhone 6, Apple’s 4.7-inch model. And today, I want to offer some feedback to those that might be leery of the update and to those that are already on iOS 8.1.2. This is my full iOS 8.1.2 on iPhone 6 review and it will attempt to answer the question that we’ve received many times over in the past week: Is iOS 8.1.1 worth installing? Let’s find out.
iPhone 6 iOS 8.1.2 Review
From Tuesday up until today, I’ve spent a ton of time with iOS 8.1.2 on iPhone 6. The iPhone 6, after all, is my daily driver. Before getting into this detailed review and my impressions, I should note that mileage is going to vary from device to device, person to person.
That is to say, I probably don’t have the same apps installed and there’s a chance that I use Google Chrome, play more games, and use my home screen more than you do. So, consider this a general guide as you try to decide whether iOS 8.1.2 is worth installing on your iPhone 6.
Apps
Over the past five days I’ve tried to use as many of my 50+ applications as possible, as frequently as possible, to get a good idea about performance. So far, the only real issue that I’ve run into, and it’s a reoccurring one, is with Google Chrome. The browser continues to crash on a fairly frequent basis but as I’ve said before, it’s probably a Google problem not an iOS 8 problem.
Everything else on the iPhone 6 is up to snuff. While there are still some apps that don’t support the iPhone 6’s display, I’ll take stability over that compatibility any day. No one wants an app that crashes all the time so I hope that developers continue to take their time developing for Apple’s brand new Retina HD displays.
Sam's Club iPhone 6 Black Friday Deal
I won’t name them all but key apps like Instagram, Slack, Asana, Google Hangouts, Twitter, Dark Sky, Amazon, Netflix, and more all are working properly with iOS 8.1.2 on board. Performance is solid and my hope is that my current experience continues.
If you are having issues with applications right now, with iOS 8.1.2 or something else on board, my suggestion is to go ahead and install as many bug fix updates as you can. Most of the time, they are going to help. You would also be wise to switch automatic updates on. In the past, I used to forget to install bug fixers. Now, I don’t even have to think about it.
iOS 8.1.2 Battery Life
iOS 8.1.2 battery life is very solid on the iPhone 6. I’ve been able to get a full day of use or more out of the device when using a combination of Wi-Fi and LTE. If I’m primarily LTE, and that happens on occasion, battery drains much faster. That’s not iOS 8’s fault.
The iPhone 6 still holds a solid overall charge and I haven’t noticed any abnormal battery drain, slow charging issues or problems with the standby charge. I don’t anticipate encountering any problems down the road but you never know. Major battery life issues typically jump out in the first couple of days so the fact that I haven’t seen anything horrendous is a good sign.
iPhone 6 Review - 4
Remember, iOS updates like iOS 8.1.2 aren’t supposed to bring battery life problems along with them. Typically, bad battery life is caused by third-party apps or by users themselves. I’ve outlined a number of strategies to get better battery life inside iOS 8 and the same advice applies to Apple’s latest iOS 8.1.2 update. Have a look at those if you install iOS 8.1.2 and you start noticing something suspicious.
There’s no guarantee that those fixes will work but at the very least, you’ll want to start monitoring your applications to see if they’re the problem. Apps like Facebook have been known so burn a ton of battery life while in use.
Wi-Fi, LTE & Bluetooth
I’ve been hearing, and seeing, a ton of complaints about Wi-Fi, LTE and Bluetooth in the aftermath of the iOS 8.1.2 release. This doesn’t surprise me because iPhone users always have issues with these connections after installing new software. I just haven’t seen any of these problems myself, at least not yet.
AT&T’s 4G LTE network is still delivering extremely fast data speeds. Even the carrier’s 4G network is performing well with iOS 8.1.2 on board. Same goes for Wi-Fi and same goes for Bluetooth. I’ve used Bluetooth on a myriad of devices and I’ve yet to experience an issue. Granted, they’re all newer Bluetooth devices but they’re working nonetheless.
iPhone 6 Review - 6
If you do encounter problems with these connections, in iOS 8.1.2 or something else, be sure to check out our list of possible fixes before throwing the device against the wall.
You also might want to consider upgrading your router if you’re consistently having problems with Wi-Fi. Newer devices and new iOS updates have been known to present difficulties for those with older routers and modems. And if you’re having problems with Bluetooth in the car, you might want to check in with your local dealership before putting all of the blame on Apple. I’m not apologizing for the company but it would be smart to cover all of your bases before losing your cool.
Bugs & Issues
My iOS 8 problems are well documented. On my iPhone 6, I’ve run into issues with Messages, issues with landscape mode, and I’ve seen a couple of random reboots. That said, iOS 8.1.1 and iOS 8.1.2 both treated my iPhone 6 well.
So far, I haven’t run into any noticeable bugs in iOS 8.1.2. Nothing has caught my eye over the past five days and that’s a good sign moving forward. I typically catch issues, if there are issues, within the first three days or so. This is a device that I use all day every day so if there was something major on board, I think I would have discovered it by now.
iPhone 6 Review - 11
Now, there could be a ton of small bugs lurking about. Smaller bugs are harder to catch and they might only pop up when doing something very specific. I haven’t noticed any but it’s possible that I’ll notice something in the days, weeks and perhaps months ahead. For now, iOS 8.1.2 is extremely stable on the iPhone 6 and you can’t ask for much more from an incremental iOS update.
If you do stumble into problems, have a look at our rundown of bug fixes for iOS 8.1.2 problems. These are a good starting point but you’ll probably also want to gather fixes from other places as well. Fixes are never guaranteed to work.
Speed
The iPhone 6 is still very fast with iOS 8.1.2 on board. As I’ve noted many times, I’ve never had a problem with speed. iOS 8 has always been extremely fast on the iPhone 6 and the iOS 8.1.2 update is no different.
Animations and transitions are smooth and fluid and I’m able to zip around the home screens without any abnormal sluggishness or slowdown. That’s a big deal for me because I use this phone both for work and in my personal life so I need it to be efficient during the day and at night.
Is iOS 8.1.2 for iPhone 6 Worth Installing?
As far as I can tell, there isn’t much of a difference between iOS 8.1.2 and iOS 8.1.1. The iOS 8.1.2 update does not appear to have any major issues on board though I am just one man with an iPhone 6. There’s always a potential for something to go wrong so it’s going to up to you to do your homework and gather as much feedback as possible.
iPhone 6 Review - Colors
Here’s my feedback. If you’re struggling on iOS 8.1.1 or another version of iOS 8, go ahead and update. I can’t find any major problems on board and the iOS 8.1.2 update has a chance to fix at least some of the iOS 8 problems you’re dealing with. I doubt that it will make things worse.
iOS 8.1.2 doesn’t bring any new features to the table so if you’re having a good experience on iOS 8.1.1 or below, there’s no rush. Take your time and be patient. It’s always smart to get the latest software on board, security updates and all that, but there really isn’t a need to move quickly to iOS 8.1.2, especially if you’re on iOS 8.1.1 already.
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