iOS 9.1 Update: 11 Things to Know After 45 Days

It’s been 45 days since Apple’s latest iOS 9 release for iPhone, iPad and iPad. As we approach day 50, we want to revisit the performance of the iOS 9.1 update on iPhone and iPad, and take a look at some other important things iPhone and iPad users should know as we head into December.

Apple released a series of iOS 9 updates in September and October, starting with the iOS 9.1 beta and ending with the iOS 9.2 beta, which came a week after Apple released the iOS 9.1 update for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

The iOS 9.1 update arrived on October 21 with great fanfare. Apple’s first milestone iOS 9 update came with a laundry list of bug fixes for persistent iOS 9 issues. It also introduced new features for the iOS 9 keyboard, including new emojis.

November was quiet except for a few iOS 9.2 beta updates, and we saw no movement throughout December. Apple is still working behind the scenes on the iOS 9.2 update, but we still don’t have a concrete release date.

With an iOS 9.1.1 update in sight and an iOS 9.2 release date in the shadows, iOS 9.1 remains the focus of many iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. For some, it’s because you’re experiencing iOS 9.1 issues. For others, it’s because you just discovered iOS 9.1 lurking on your phone.

Today we want to check the iOS 9.1 update for iPhone and iPad. Here’s 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 last week or so, I’ve started to see a decline. Let’s start with the good though.

Battery life is still very solid. I didn’t encounter any abnormal battery drains during my time with the update. I can still get a full day off the update, sometimes depending on how long I keep it in Low Power Mode.

After all this time the connection remains strong. I’ve paired the iPhone 6s and iOS 9.1 with multiple Bluetooth devices and have had no issues with Wi-Fi speed or range. AT&T’s LTE network is still strong, too.

In the 45 days since iOS 9.1 was released, developers have released multiple updates that fix issues and add features for the iPhone 6s. For example, Google Chrome got new support for Touch ID.

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

Still, I ran into some problems. While I haven’t noticed the Touch ID issues bothering some iPhone users, I’ve started to notice an increase in random reboots (memory leaks). I met six people last week. Before this week, I think I saw one.

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

I’m having a bit of a hard time, but I still recommend the iOS 9.1 update to iPhone 6s users. The emojis alone are worth the upgrade. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve used my middle finger or some face in group chats with my friends and family. Probably thousands.

If you’re using an older version of iOS 9 and you don’t feel comfortable, you can wait for the next update, even if you’ve been waiting for a while.

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 has gradually started to evolve and the update is still fine 45 days after it was released.

We’re testing the update on two iPhone 6 variants, one from AT&T and one from Verizon, and none of them showed major issues with iOS 9.1.

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

If you’re already using iOS 9, iOS 9.1 is worth the download. If not for emojis, for bug fixes and security updates.

If you’re using iOS 8, it’s definitely worth a look and possibly a download. iOS 9 is very similar to iOS 8, but comes with some useful improvements, including Low Power Mode, a feature we use all the time, as this step-by-step will show you.

iPhone 5 iOS 9.1 Update

If you’re having major issues with 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 acceptable and bugs haven’t gotten in my way.

One of the areas where the iPhone 5 iOS 9.1 update really shines is in speed. I’ve dealt with speed issues from iOS 8.1 to iOS 9.0.2. The UI was sluggish and slow. I was finally ready to sell the thing. And then iOS 9.1 came.

iOS 9.1 is fast and fluid on iPhone 5. Opening folders is no drag as it once was, and animations and transitions look and feel faster. Apps may still take a while to open, but I can live with that if everything else is firing on all cylinders.

If you’re coming from somewhere older than iOS 9, you’ll want to make sure iOS 9 and its features fit your needs. They fit mine and the update has extended me at least another year to own this aging old flagship.

iPad iOS 9.1 Update

I haven’t used the iOS 9.1 update on every iPad, but on three popular models: iPad Air 2, iPad Air and iPad mini 2.

For the most part, iOS 9.1 treats the trio well. I haven’t had any weird battery drains, the Wi-Fi still hangs, apps work, and I haven’t encountered any game-changing bugs. I ran into two problems, both on the iPad mini 2.

Keyboard lag and Control Center lag are issues for me on iPad mini 2. Touching keys lags frequently, and Control Center usually closes when I swipe to bring it to the Screen. These are boredom and can be a sign of a downfall.

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

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

iOS 9.1 Issues Continue

It is important to remember that I am one person. And while having a great experience with iOS 9.1, others have been encountering some major issues in the last 45 days.

You’ve probably heard about Touch ID issues continues to annoy some iPhone and iPad users. Some users are still complaining about these issues and Apple still hasn’t fixed these issues with an update or a promised fix in a future update.

Other users are complaining Problems with Siri, Apple Music issuesand some Ongoing issues with the podcast app. Apple’s forums are littered with complaints about iOS 9.1, and we expect the list to grow as we move away from iOS 9.1.

It’s impossible to predict how iOS 9.1 will run on your phone or tablet, so we recommend doing some preparatory work before installing it.

iOS 9.2 Release Date

The iOS 9.2 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch has been confirmed, but we still don’t know when it will arrive or if it’s next.

By 9to5MacAT&T’s NumberSync feature will arrive in early 2016. Apple is testing AT&T NumberSync with the iOS 9.2 beta, but it’s unclear whether the feature will come alongside iOS 9.2.

iOS 9.2 Will Fix iOS 9.1 Issues

The iOS 9.2 update is still in beta and the changelog may change between now and the public release. But, at least for us, it’s pretty obvious that it will bring some bug fixes for the ongoing iOS 9 and iOS 9.1 issues.

The iOS 9.2 update will bring fixes for Apple Watch syncing and pairing, fixes for audio quality when a device is streamed to a stereo, and fixes for iCloud Keychain. This is at least.

How to Fix iOS 9.1 Issues Right Now

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

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

Things To Do Before The Next iOS 9 Update

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

iOS 9.1 Jailbreak Version MIA

It’s 45 days after the iOS 9.1 release date, and there’s still no sign of a publicly available iOS 9.1 jailbreak release.

Developers successfully jailbreak iOS 9.1 and iOS 9.2 beta. They just didn’t present the tool to the public. At least not yet.

Jailbreak developers have been quiet in recent weeks and there’s no word on what might be up their sleeve.

The existence of these iOS 9.1 and iOS 9.2 jailbreaks bodes well, but doesn’t mean much to most people at this point.

You Can Upgrade to iOS 8

As a reminder, you can upgrade to iOS 8 if you’re jailbroken. There is no way to downgrade from iOS 9.1 without jailbreak.

This is important to note if you’re coming from something older than iOS 9.1. Once you act, there is no turning back.