iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 Update Review: Should You Install it?

Last week, Apple released the first major update for the new iPhone 6s. We’ve been using the iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 update for a few days now and today we want to help you decide if the update is worth installing on your device.

The 4.7-inch iPhone 6s arrived on September 25. It takes on the flagship duties of the iPhone 6 and does so with a host of high-powered features including an advanced display, processor, camera and more.

Like the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6s runs Apple’s new operating system called iOS 9. Like the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6s received its first major iOS 9 upgrade last week.

In September, Apple released two minor iOS 9 updates for the iPhone 6s. iOS 9.0.1 and iOS 9.0.2 were bug fixes aimed at closing several cracks that appeared after Apple’s initial iOS 9.0 release. Last week, the company performed its first milestone upgrade.

iOS 9.1 is much larger than iOS 9.0.1 and iOS 9.0.2. It brings bug fixes for iOS 9 issues, but also brings new features, including changes to Live Photos and over 150 new emojis for the iOS 9 keyboard. It also brings problems, according to some iPhone 6s owners.

I’ve been using the iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 update for about a week now and today I want to take an updated look at its performance.

iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 Update Review

Before I get into the subject, I would like to bring a few points to your attention. First I upgraded from iOS 9.0.2 to iOS 9.1. Secondly, mileage is always changing when it comes to iOS performance. I don’t use my iPhone 6s the way you do.

I’ll do my best to assist you, but you may want to get a second or third opinion before installing or if you’re having trouble with iOS 9.1. If you’re migrating from iOS 9.0 or iOS 9.0.1 to iOS 9.1, you’ll definitely want to do this.

While this review will briefly touch on a few iOS 9.1 features, it focuses on the performance of the iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 update in key areas. If you want to know more about iOS 9 and iOS 9.1, please take a look at our step-by-step.

Apps

I’ve been using the iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 update almost non-stop since Wednesday and focused heavily on a few key areas. One of these areas is application performance.

I’ve had a few issues since Wednesday but nothing major. Chrome crashed on me a few times, but that’s pretty standard for Google’s browser. Twitter and Facebook crashed several times. This is also common.

I use a lot of apps but mostly Asana, Slack, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Gmail, Hangouts, Chrome, Dark Sky, Amazon, SoundCloud, Facebook, Spotify and Xbox One Smartglass. None of them gave me any trouble.

iOS 9.1 comes with stability improvements for Apple Music and Photos. I’m not an Apple Music user so I can’t talk about its performance but what I can tell you is that the Photos app performed admirably over the week I spent with the iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 update.

Part of this success may be due to luck or how I use my apps. I suspect app updates also play a big role. Most of my apps have been updated with bug fixes and iOS 9 support and I have installed every latest update. A few examples.

Facebook recently released a fix for battery drain issues and Instagram has released an update that brings support for the iOS 9 update and iPhone 6s. This is big.

If you’re dealing with app issues, try installing a bug fix update. If that doesn’t work, try reinstalling the app or restarting your device. If that doesn’t work, try contacting the developer.

iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 Battery Life

I’ve seen complaints about iOS 9.1 battery life in the past week since launch but haven’t had any issues myself.

When I used a mix of LTE and Wi-Fi I was able to cut down on a full day’s usage. By full day use I mean 8am to 8pm without having to connect my phone to the charger.

There are times (surprise, surprise) when my phone is in standby mode and thankfully, the device still holds a perfect charge when not in use.

I’ve been keeping a close eye on my apps in the battery usage tool and haven’t seen anything out of the ordinary. Chrome and Twitter consume the most battery, but that’s because they’re two of the apps I use the most. FaceTime comes in a distant third.

It’s easy to blame Apple, iOS 9.1 and the iPhone 6s battery for your problems, but there’s a good chance it’s something else. Apps and dare I say, your bad habits can be the root cause of your battery life issues in iOS 9.1.

I’ve recently compiled a list of fixes and tips to help you out if you run into battery issues after installing iOS 9.1. I haven’t heard of any common battery issues, so I doubt Apple’s next update will fix any issues. So you will need to be extremely proactive.

Wi-Fi, LTE and Bluetooth

I bought a T-Mobile iPhone 6s from Apple but I’m using it on AT&T’s network. I haven’t had any problems yet. Download speeds are excellent and I haven’t had any weird drops or connection issues. par for the course.

I was able to pair my iPhone 6s with various Bluetooth speakers and headphones and successfully paired it inside a Toyota Prius.

I tested the iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 update with several different routers, including Verizon FiOS routers, TP-Link Archer C9, and a few different Belkin routers. I’ve had no problems with any of them. Range is excellent and download and upload speeds so far.

I know there are some iPhone 6s users out there struggling. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi issues are extremely common, so this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

If you’re dealing with connection issues, check out our list of fixes for common iOS 9 issues to see if there’s anything that might help.

Bugs and Issues

If you are still on an earlier version of iOS 9.1, remember it’s an installation issue. If you set iOS 9.1 to install overnight, it can set off your alarms. Not good. The only workaround I know of? Don’t install the iOS 9.1 update overnight.

I did not encounter this problem (I installed and watched everything throughout the day) and I did not encounter any other problems with the iPhone 6s iOS 9.1 update. That doesn’t mean there are no issues on board, it just means that I haven’t seen any popups during regular use.

iOS 9.1 has issues and some iPhone 6s users have seen them. The problem is not common, but you will still want to be very careful with the iOS 9.1 update. Before you act, do some preparation and you should be out of the setup unscathed.

If you run into anything, start with our list of fixes for common iOS 9.1 issues.

User Interface Speed

On my first impressions, I noticed some keyboard lag after installation, though the update was mostly fast. A little lag right after an install is pretty common, so I was pretty sure it would dissipate. And it did.

I haven’t noticed any slowdowns or lags on my iPhone 6s with iOS 9.1. This applies to the keyboard, opening folders and apps, and other animations and transitions that populate Apple’s iOS 9 operating system. It is fast and stable.

Should You Install the iOS 9.1 Update?

Unless you’re jailbreaking or jailbreaking iOS 9, I don’t see why not.

iOS 9.1 performance on iPhone 6s is phenomenal. Fixes a ton of iOS 9 issues. It brings patches for potential exploits. It offers enhanced Live Photos. And adds 150+ new emoji characters to the iPhone 6s keyboard.

It may cause problems but I think the update is worth the risk for iPhone 6s users.

Bring iOS 9.2.