iPhone 5 iOS 9.0.2 Review: Is It Worth Installing?

The iPhone 5 iOS 9.0.2 update is a minor bug fix update that we’ve been using for about a week. Now that we’ve been using it for a long time, we’d like to take a closer look at its performance and tell you if it’s worth installing before iOS 9.1.

September was a busy month for iPhone 5 users. The update was upgraded with the third major OS, received two new iOS 9 bug fix updates, and Apple also released a future iPhone 5 iOS 9.1 version.

Except for iOS 9.1 beta, the most current version of iOS 9 is iOS 9.0.2. The iPhone 5 iOS 9.0.2 update released last Wednesday brings some major fixes and improvements to the popular Podcasts app. It also brings problems according to some iPhone users.

As I’ve mentioned many times, minor updates like iOS 9.0.2 typically clear up problems completely. They also tend to bring their own collection of problems. iOS 9.0.2 issues don’t seem to be common but are affecting some iPhone 5 users.

With these issues and iOS 9.1 in mind, I’m taking a close look at iOS 9.0.2 on the iPhone 5 and a few other devices. iOS 9.0.2 does not bring any new features, so I focused on the performance of the update.

Today, I’d like to offer some additional feedback on the iPhone 5 iOS 9.0.2 update to help those of you researching the update and its value.

iPhone 5 iOS 9.0.2 Update Review

This review will help anyone considering upgrading from iOS 8.4.1 or below to iOS 9. It will also help those of you who are already on iOS 9.

However, it is important to note that mileage changes all the time. My iOS 9.0.2 experience probably won’t be the same as yours. This review will serve as a general guide as we try to answer the all-important question: “Is iOS 9.0.2 worth it?” This will help push you to one side of the fence or the other, even if the final bounce is on you.

If you’re still not confident after hearing my experience with the iPhone 5 iOS 9.0.2 update, I’d recommend getting additional feedback.

Apps

I’ve been using as many apps as humanly possible during my week with the iPhone 5 update. I have about 80 apps installed on iPhone 5. My core apps haven’t changed. Includes Asana, Slack, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Gmail, Hangouts, Chrome, Dark Sky, Amazon, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Xbox One Smartglass.

With the iOS 9.0.2 update, Chrome crashed several times during the week and Twitter crashed several times as well. Before I shut down iOS 9.0.2, know that this is what I’ve been waiting for. Crashes are so infrequent that I don’t really care.

As for my other applications, they all stand. I have not been disappointed with any of them and I hope this does not change in the coming days.

I watch my apps like a hawk because problems can arise at any time. And sometimes, bug fixes bring additional problems to the table.

If you have a problem with an app on iOS 9.0.2, check out our list of fixes. It’s the first place I’ll turn to if I run into something.

iOS 9.0.2 Battery Life on iPhone 5

I see occasional complaints about iOS 9.0.2 battery life, but I’ve never had such a complaint myself. My iPhone 5’s battery is doing fine.

I didn’t notice any weird battery drain when the phone was in use. And the standby charge of the phone is still outstanding, better than iOS 8. This is good news because my iPhone 5 sits a lot during the day.

I monitor my apps using the battery usage tool and haven’t noticed any apps consuming an abnormal amount of battery life. Apps are often the culprit, so you’ll want to use iOS 9’s tool to weed out any misbehaving software.

If you’re seeing battery-related issues, which you can see, I suggest you take a look at our list of fixes and tips for bad iOS 9 battery life.

Wi-Fi, LTE and Bluetooth

I also see complaints about Wi-FI, Bluetooth and LTE. Luckily I didn’t have any issues during my week with iOS 9.0.2.

My iPhone 5 was able to connect to various routers and Wi-Fi connections quickly and effectively. I’ve tested this on several different routers and connections and haven’t seen any issues with range or speeds.

I was able to pair with several different Bluetooth devices, including speakers and headphones. I didn’t see any broken links or other issues. AT&T’s LTE network is also still very fast and efficient.

Connection problems can occur at any time, and that’s why I have my own list of fixes pending. The fixes listed there are the fixes I’ve used to fix my connection issues in the past.

User Interface Speed

This is an area I complained about last week and unfortunately I continue to encounter issues with the speed of the UI on the iPhone 5.

To give you some perspective, I’ve been dealing with constant slowdowns and slowdowns since iOS 8.1 release last year. My iPhone 5 hangs when I try to open a folder, scroll to Spotlight Search and open apps. It’s rare for animations and transitions to be fluid.

I was hoping iOS 9.0 would fix things but nothing changed. iOS 9.0.1 and iOS 9.0.2 are no better. I’m still seeing the same slowdown and it’s frustrating.

At this point, the only fix I haven’t tried is factory reset. It’s something I avoid, but it’s probably a step I’ll take if iOS 9.1 can’t improve device UI speeds.

I’ve heard good things about iOS 9.1, but that doesn’t mean performance in beta will translate to public release.

Should You Install the iOS 9.0.2 Update?

For the most part, the iOS 9.0.2 update is solid. It fixes major bugs (I didn’t have any major issues with the Podcasts app during my time with the app) and excels in areas like battery life and app performance.

However, it is also slow on my iPhone 5. And it’s this sluggishness that makes it hard to recommend updates to those of you who already have good experience with iOS 9.0, iOS 9.0.1 or earlier. Especially with an iOS 9.1 release on the way.

If you want the latest bug fix updates and security patches, iOS 9.0.2 is worth a look. Just be careful. Do some prep work and make sure you’re ready to handle any problems it throws at you.

If you still decide to wait for iOS 9.1, I’ll understand.