The iPhone 6 iOS 9 update is here and it brings tons of changes to Apple’s old 4.7-inch flagship. We’ve been using the official iPhone 6 iOS 9 version for a few hours now, and we’d like to provide you with some feedback on its performance so far.
In June, Apple approved an iOS 9 release for multiple devices, including the flagship iPhone 6 that shipped with the iPhone 6 Plus last year. The iOS 9 update represents the iPhone 6’s first major iOS update and follows in the footsteps of Apple’s iOS 8.4.1 update.
The iOS 9 update brings many new features, including a News app and a revamped version of the popular Notes app. It also brings several improvements to the iPhone’s battery life, including a supposed one-hour increase.
This is a big update for the iPhone 6, and one that many users are looking forward to as we move away from iOS 9.
Like a good guinea pig, I downloaded the iPhone 6 iOS 9 update as soon as it came out. And as always. I’d like to give you some initial feedback on the update’s performance in the hours after its initial release.
These initial iPhone 6 iOS 9 update impressions don’t serve as a final review, but should help those struggling with the decision to install now or wait a few hours or even days. Remember, there are very valid reasons to wait.
iOS 9 Installation
I love iOS release day and I hate it. I love it because of all the new features and all the potential. Hate because there are always problems. iOS updates also tend to do more harm than good to performance, so I’m always cautious before they’re released.
At 10:01 AM PT, Apple released the iPhone 6 iOS 9 update. And just at this time, like many others, I ran into download problems. I don’t like iTunes and generally avoid it at all costs. So, I download all my updates over Wi-Fi.
iOS 9 OTA update failed to download on my iPhone 6. I ran iTunes and was able to download iOS 9 to my iPhone 5, but decided to wait and see how long it would take me to get it on my iPhone 6. Self torture maybe.
After about 30 minutes the error message disappeared and I was able to download the iPhone 6 iOS 9 update. I was expecting more download issues but none got in my way. I was able to download and upload 1GB(!) file in about 15 minutes. This should be a record for a major iOS update.
After the update, download problems continued to occur. If your download is showing long download times, wait a bit or try changing links. If your iOS 9 download gets stuck, hold down the home button and power button to recover it.
iOS 9 on iPhone 6 Performance
My first impressions won’t take much time to talk about new features and improvements. I decided to focus on performance instead. For detailed information on iOS 9 features, please check out our full iOS 9 review.
Before you get caught up in these impressions, you’ll want to remind yourself that I’m the only person with a version of the AT&T iPhone 6. I probably don’t use the same apps you use, and I probably don’t use my iPhone either. 6 in the same way. Mileage changes all the time when it comes to iOS updates, so use my thoughts as a general guide.
iOS 9 Apps
iOS 9 has gone through a long beta process, with developers and the general public poking around at it before today’s release.
Apple has given developers plenty of time to prepare for today’s arrival, and it looks like the iOS 9 beta has come to fruition. At least for apps on my iPhone 6.
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 the ones I’ve researched the most for hours since they were released.
Other than a Chrome crash, I didn’t notice any difference between their performance on iOS 8.4.1 and their performance on iOS 9. They are stable and I hope they stay stable in the coming weeks.
Now, keep in mind, I’ve been downloading a ton of bug fixes over the past few days, some with iOS 9 support. If you are seeing issues with your apps, try downloading the latest bug fix especially if it brings support for the new update.
If that doesn’t help, try reinstalling the app. And if that doesn’t work, you’ll want to contact the developer. Might help.
iOS 9 Battery Life
The iOS 9 update is said to come with a one-hour boost for the iPhone 6’s battery life. Apple highlighted this on stage and in the changelog of the iOS 9 update.
The update is only a few hours old so it’s impossible to tell if Apple has lived up to its promise but what I’ll tell you is that I didn’t notice any major battery drain issues in iOS 9. I also haven’t seen any widespread complaints about iOS 9 battery life. This is a great sign.
If you’re experiencing battery life issues after installing the iOS 9 update, check out our tips and fixes. They should help.
iOS 9 Wi-Fi, Cellular Data and Bluetooth
I’m using the iPhone 6 (and hence iOS 9) with several different routers and Bluetooth devices. I haven’t noticed any weird drop in speeds and haven’t had any issues connecting to my speakers, headphones or routers.
I haven’t seen any iPhone 6 users complain about Wi-Fi being disabled yet, but I guess those complaints will come. If you see issues with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, check our list of fixes for common issues.
I’m using the iPhone 6 on AT&T’s LTE network and it’s been very good so far. Speeds are solid and the device doesn’t drop calls or data connections. I haven’t had any cellular issues yet, so I expect performance to continue.
iOS 9 Issues on iPhone 6
While there are iOS 9 issues, I didn’t see anything jumping on me after installing the iOS 9 update. That doesn’t mean my iPhone 6 is okay.
Bigger issues are usually right in front of you, while smaller bugs and issues are much more difficult to find. I found bugs weeks after an iOS update was released. So far I haven’t noticed either.
I will spend the next few weeks researching the iOS 9 update. There’s a good chance I’ll find something and I’ll let you know when I do. I still like that the iOS 9 update is out the door, though. Much better than iOS 8.
iOS 9 Speed
I’ve seen my iPhone 6 get dragged a few times in the hours after iOS 9 was released, but that’s not unusual. It can take several hours, sometimes even days, for iOS updates to settle.
During my time with iOS 9, I’ve seen three lags, but I expect the issue to go away later today or tomorrow.
For the most part, the software is snappy and fast. Animations and transitions are fluid and I expect it to stay that way for the coming weeks.
Should You Install iOS 9 Now?
To me, the iOS 9 features outweigh the potential for iOS 9 issues. iOS 9 looks and feels great on the iPhone 6, and although some people have encountered some issues, these issues seem to be isolated.
If you’re feeling a little nervous, wait a few days for the smoke to subside. iOS 9 isn’t going anywhere, and Apple won’t force you to update it.
If you have jailbroken, you will not want to update today because iOS 9 is not jailbroken. And if you’re using your iPhone 6 for business, you’ll want to check with IT (if any) to make sure iOS 9 doesn’t break critical apps.
For most of you, the iOS 9 update should be fine. I’ll be back in a week or so with a full review of the iPhone 6 iOS 9 update. For more information on iOS 9 features, please check out our review.
