iOS 9 on iPhone 5: First Impressions and Performance

The iPhone 5 iOS 9 release is finally here, which means users around the world can now access the device’s third major system update. With that in mind, we’d like to take a look at how the official iPhone 5 iOS 9 update continues from day one.

In June, Apple confirmed the iOS 9 update and an iOS 9 release window. For weeks, iOS 9 betas have fooled iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners with new features and improvements. Then, last week, Apple finally confirmed an iOS 9 release date for all compatible devices.

The iOS 9 release date is today, and the iOS 9 update is now available for select iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. Apple’s 2012 iPhone flagship, the iPhone 5, is one of the devices that can run the iOS 9 update, and it’s an extremely tempting download for those still rocking the first 4-inch iPhone.

The iOS 9 update comes loaded with new features including a new Notes app, performance improvements, changes to the keyboard, a new font, and more. This is a tempting update and one that I installed right away.

A few hours ago, I upgraded from iOS 8.4.1 to iOS 9 on my iPhone 5. As always, I’d like to provide iPhone 5 users with some feedback on the update’s performance in the hours after iOS 9’s first release.

These initial iPhone 5 iOS 9 update impressions don’t serve as my final review of the software, but should help those struggling with the decision to install or wait now. Remember, there are very good reasons to wait.

iOS 9 Installation

At 10:01 AM PT, Apple has released iOS 9 for the iPhone 5. And I, like so many others, tried to download it over Wi-Fi as soon as it was released.

As expected, Apple’s servers have been hit with requests for iOS 9, leading to some initial hiccups preventing me and many others from downloading the iOS 9 Over-the-Air update via Settings. The day started great.

Instead of waiting for the download problems to pass, I decided to try and install it via iTunes. Oddly enough, I didn’t have any issues installing the iPhone 5 iOS 9 update using the app.

The entire iPhone 5 iOS 9 download and installation process took me about 25 minutes during peak hours. 860MB download completed extremely fast. It was the longest installation process.

Download issues still occur, although not the download issue I’ve seen in the early morning. Instead, some users are saying that iOS 9 updates are stuck.

If this happens to you, all you have to do is press and hold the home button and power button (mine are not working) at the same time and wait for the phone to reboot.

iOS 9 on iPhone 5 Performance

These iOS 9 impressions won’t touch on many of the features that came with the iPhone 5’s iOS 9 update. I chose to focus on performance instead. If you want to learn more about iOS 9 features, check out our full iOS 9 review.

Before diving into these impressions, keep in mind that I am only one person with a version of the AT&T iPhone 5. I probably don’t use the same apps as you, and I probably don’t use my iPhone 5 the same way you do. to do. Mileage changes all the time when it comes to iOS updates, so use these notations as a general guide.

iOS 9 Apps

I’ve been using the iPhone 5 iOS 9 update for a couple of hours now and I’ve been testing various apps on my device to make sure they’re making a smooth transition from iOS 8.4.1 to iOS 9.

Before installing the iOS 9 update, I installed a few app updates that came with iOS 9 support in the hopes that they would help keep everything stable after the migration.

So far, I haven’t encountered a single issue yet. My core suite of apps includes Asana, Slack, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Gmail, Hangouts, Chrome, Dark Sky, Amazon, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Xbox One Smartglass. These are the apps I use the most and they all perform well with iOS 9 built in.

That doesn’t mean I’m clean, app issues can pop up at any time, but that’s still a very good sign. iOS 9 has gone through a long beta process, so I’m not surprised by the early results.

If you run into some issues with the update, try installing the latest bug fixes, assuming they have good reviews on the App Store. If that doesn’t help, try reinstalling the app. If enforcement kicks in, contact the developer.

iOS 9 Battery Life

I’ve owned the iPhone 5 since it was released in 2012. And while I’ve dealt with a fair bit of iPhone 5 issues over the years, bad battery life hasn’t been one of them.

My iPhone 5’s battery is perfectly fine and nothing has changed after the iOS 9 update. I don’t notice any abnormal battery drain, but I can’t tell if iOS 9 provides a significant battery boost. iOS 9 promises up to an hour of extra battery life. I should know more as we dig in the next few days.

I haven’t encountered any major battery drain issues and haven’t seen any common complaints about the iOS 9 battery. This is important because battery draining issues are often at the forefront after major iOS updates.

Check out our tips and fixes if you’re having a battery drain issue after installing the iOS 9 update on your iPhone 5.

iOS 9 Wi-Fi, Cellular Data and Bluetooth

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular data issues are also quite common after major iOS updates. And while I’ve seen a few people complain after launch, I haven’t seen the same volume as I typically see after major system upgrades. iOS 8 was a black eye for Apple, so the focus on performance isn’t surprising.

I’ve used the iPhone 5 on several different routers with no problems. Speeds are normal and I was able to connect without any issues. At least until now.

I was able to successfully pair the iPhone 5 with several Bluetooth devices, including headphones and speakers. No problem there. I’ve also managed to throttle the excellent LTE data rates with AT&T’s network. No problem there either.

Connectivity issues can occur at any time, so I’ll keep our fix list handy in case I run into any issues in the coming days.

iOS 9 Issues on iPhone 5

I’ve already detailed some of the first iOS 9 issues that plagued iPhone and iPad users. Most of these problems are minor and isolated as far as I can tell. I haven’t seen any common iOS 9 issues pop up today, and that’s a great sign for iPhone users. We often see hero-level issues popping up shortly after release.

Now, that doesn’t mean I’m not having problems with my iPhone, it just means I’m not having any issues. Problems can occur at any time, and I discovered bugs weeks after an iOS release. From where I sit though, iOS 9 is stable.

I will spend the next few weeks researching the iPhone 5 iOS 9 update. I may find something, I may not. If I do, I’ll be sure to warn you.

iOS 9 Speed

If you’ve followed my journey with the iPhone 5, you know that the iOS 8 update gave me trouble. My device started showing speed issues after downloading the iOS 8.1 update and unfortunately it still hasn’t improved.

I was hoping for an iOS 9 miracle but so far, it’s more the same. It still lags a bit when I open a folder, open an app, or navigate on the home screen. The lag is also noticeable when using the phone’s multitasking feature.

When I say lag, I’m not talking about a complete freeze, but a short-term slowdown. The delay is annoying but the phone is still usable.

My hope is that the problems will go away once the iOS 9 update settles. This can sometimes take several days. This is a three year old phone so I don’t expect the world but it would be nice to see smooth animations and transitions once again.

Should You Install iOS 9 Now?

I love the features of iOS 9 and I think you will too. However, if the iPhone 5 is your daily driver, my advice is to wait a day or two for the smoke to subside. The last thing you want is iOS 9 to ruin your phone’s performance.

Wait a day or two, get feedback from a few other sources, and then make your decision. iPhone 5 is an old phone and you need to be careful.

I’ll be back in a week or so with a full review of the iPhone 5 iOS 9 update. For more information on iOS 9 features, please check out our review.