iOS 9.0.1 on iPad: First Impressions and Performance

It’s only been a week since the first iOS 9 version was released, and Apple has already released a new update. For a day’s use, we’d like to take a look at how the brand new iPad iOS 9.0.1 update works on various models, including iPad Air and iPad mini 2.

Last week, Apple released the first iOS 9 update for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The iOS 9.0 update brought new features, enhancements and bug fixes to iPad users around the world. It seems that it also brought some problems with it.

iOS 9 issues have been popping up for a few days now, and Apple has finally taken the first step towards eliminating these initial issues. That step? An iOS 9.0.1 update for all iPads capable of running the iOS 9 operating system.

Yesterday, Apple rolled out the iOS 9.0.1 update, a bug fixer that comes with several important solutions for iOS 9 issues. Like many other iPad users, I installed the iOS 9.0.1 update as soon as it was released. My goal is to help you decide if it’s worth installing and fix any issues you may encounter with your iPad.

The iOS 9.0.1 update is small, but has the potential to ruin your iPad’s performance. I’m already seeing iPad users complaining about iOS 9.0.1 issues, and I expect these issues to increase as more people discover the update.

I have been using the iOS 9.0.1 update for a day and I would like to share my thoughts on its performance. I was looking at the update to the three most popular iPad variants, including the iPad Air 2, iPad Air and iPad mini 2.

These iPad iOS 9.0.1 update impressions don’t serve as my final review of Apple’s second iOS 9 update, but they should help those of you who are undecided about installing.

iOS 9.0.1 Installation

The iOS 9.0.1 installation process for all three of these iPad models was quick and effortless. The iOS 9.0.1 update is a minor update, about 30MB in size, and Apple’s servers have not been hit by the update requests.

From start to finish, I was able to update all three of these iPad models to iOS 9.0. This is pretty standard for a minor bug fix update as long as you’re connected to a fast Wi-Fi network.

If you’re coming directly from iOS 8 or below to iOS 9.0.1, the update process will take much longer than that because you’ll need to install a much larger update. If you’re coming from iOS 9.0, it should be pretty painless.

Either way, you’ll want to take some time for the update to properly fix any issues that arise. If you run into a download or iOS 9.0.1 installation issue, check out our list of fixes for common iOS 9 issues.

iOS 9.0.1 on iPad Performance

I won’t go into iOS 9 features in these impressions or my upcoming review. iOS 9.0.1 does not bring any new features and I will focus on performance. If you’re interested in learning more about the features of the iOS 9 update, you’ll want to check out our iOS 9 review or our ongoing iOS 9 coverage.

Before you step in, remember that I am only one person. I probably don’t use the iPad apps you use, and I probably don’t use those iPads the way you do. Mileage changes all the time when it comes to iOS updates. Use this as a general guide. I recommend looking for more feedback if you need it.

Apps

I’ve heard and seen a lot of complaints about the App Store and app performance. iOS 9.0 and iOS 9.0.1 users have been complaining of various issues including issues downloading app updates with major iOS 9 support.

So far, I’ve been pretty lucky, at least on the iPad. For the most part, my iPads contain the same apps. There are a few differences but they are mostly games. I use iPad Air to play games, not iPad mini.

The iPad apps I use the most are Asana, Slack, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Gmail, Hangouts, Chrome, Dark Sky, Amazon, SoundCloud, Spotify and Xbox One Smartglass. On the iPhone I had problems with Chrome, while on the iPad I did not have any. All of this continues 24 hours after the iOS 9.0.

That doesn’t mean I won’t see problems arise today, tomorrow or the next day. App issues can pop up at any time and I can most likely see something pop up in the coming hours. So far so good though.

I don’t have a fix for every app issue, but I do have a few suggestions if you run into problems with your apps or the App Store.

iOS 9.0.1 Battery Life

I’ve seen complaints about iOS 9.0.1 battery life, but not on the iPad Air, iPad Air 2, or iPad mini 2. At least not yet.

All three of these tablets are in pretty good shape hours after the update was released. I use them as humanely as possible and I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. All three hold their normal charge, no change from iOS 9.0.

If you’re running into battery drain issues in iOS 9.0.1, you’ll want to take a look at our list of battery life fixes and tips. They should help.

Wi-Fi, Cellular Data and Bluetooth

The two iPad Air models are Wi-Fi only, but the iPad mini 2 can run on AT&T’s LTE network. I tested it for a short time and did not encounter any problems. The speed was good and I didn’t lose my connection.

As for Wi-Fi, all three models are performing well after the iOS 9.0. I tested them on three different routers and the results were the same. Excellent speeds on Verizon’s high-speed FiOS network.

I was able to successfully pair the triple iPad with various Bluetooth devices, including speakers and headphones. No problem there.

Connection problems are common and can occur at any time. That’s why I have my own list of fixes for bookmarked iOS 9 issues. Just in case.

Speed

The iPad Air 2 is still very fast, which is what you’d expect from an iPad that’s just over a year old. But the other two have problems.

Both the iPad mini 2 and iPad Air feel a bit sluggish after the iOS 9.0. Animations and transitions are a bit jerky, and I saw some abnormal slowdowns when navigating the home screen and opening folders. This is worrying.

My hope is that the problems will resolve themselves after a few days. Some iOS issues are fixed after a few days and hopefully it’s here. We’ll see.

Should You Install iOS 9.0.1 Now?

The only issues I see are speed issues on the iPad mini 2 and iPad Air. Apart from these, the iOS 9.0.1 update is extremely robust. (Others weren’t so lucky, though.)

My current advice is to be extremely careful with this update, especially if you have an older iPad. There’s a good chance you’ll come out of it unscathed, but there’s also a chance you’ll hurt your good performance.

Wait a few more days and then install iOS 9.0.1 and bug fixes. This is true if your alarms no longer work with the built-in iOS 9.0. Below is more information on this.