iPhone 6s iOS 9.0.2 Review: Should You Install it?

Last week, Apple released the second iPhone 6s iOS 9 update in the form of iOS 9.0.2. We’ve had a week with the new software and today we want to take a look at how it performed prior to iOS 9.1 release.

When the iPhone 6s arrived on September 25, it was running Apple’s iOS 9.0 update right out of the box. iOS 9.0 was Apple’s first update to iOS 9, bringing all the new features and improvements to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners.

Those who installed the iPhone 6s on the day of its release were asked to install an iOS 9.0.1 update. iOS 9.0.1 was Apple’s first iOS 9 bug fix update and provided several fixes for glaring iOS 9 issues.

Shortly after, Apple introduced another iOS 9 update in the form of iOS 9.0.2. iOS 9.0.2, like iOS 9.0.1, came with bug fixes for the iPhone 6s and Apple’s other iPhones and iPads.

The iPhone 6s iOS 9.0.2 update is the most recent update for Apple’s flagship and one I’ve been using since Wednesday.

While the iOS 9.0.2 update is small at around 70MB for the iPhone 6s, it has the potential to have a huge impact on the performance of your new iPhone. If you’re new to iPhone, keep in mind that even the smallest iOS updates can cause problems. And yes, I already hear about iPhone 6s problems.

With these issues in mind, I would like to provide additional feedback on the iPhone 6s iOS 9.0.2 update.

iOS 9.0.2 Review: iPhone 6s

This review is for those of you who are a little worried about upgrading to iPhone 6s iOS 9.0.2. Maybe you’ve heard of iOS 9.0.2 problems, maybe you’ve been burned by an iOS update on a past iPhone.

Before I take a look I need to remind you that mileage changes all the time when it comes to iOS software updates. I don’t use my iPhone 6s the way you do, and I don’t have the same apps as you. If I do, that’s weird.

So you should use this review as a general guide for iPhone 6s iOS 9.0.2 update. If you’re still not convinced after hearing what I have to say, I recommend getting more feedback on the update.

apps

The iPhone 6s is now my daily driver, so I spend most of my day with it. And over the past week, I’ve spent a lot of time using the various apps I have installed.

I did not notice any app performance issues on my iPhone 6s, although I faced some issues with my old iPhone 6. It’s a bit strange, but newer phones (and their hardware) are generally more stable than older phones, so it’s not too surprising.

Asana, Slack, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Gmail, Hangouts, Dark Sky, Amazon, SoundCloud, Spotify, and Xbox One Smartglass all work. So is Google Chrome. (Chrome adapts to me on iPhone 6.)

I can’t speak for every single app in the App Store. If you are seeing an issue with an app, try the latest bug fixes especially if this bug fix update comes with iOS 9 support.

If the update is getting bad reviews or the developer is slow to support iOS 9, try reinstalling the app to see if it works.

iOS 9.0.2 Battery Life on iPhone 6s

While the issues don’t seem to affect most iPhone 6s users, I’ve been seeing complaints about bad iPhone 6s battery life. I fall for what I think is the majority.

So far, iPhone 6s battery life has been treating me well. I didn’t notice any problem on iOS 9.0 or iOS 9.0.1 and iOS 9.0.2 works fine. I have not encountered any abnormal discharge when the phone is in use or in standby mode.

I keep a close eye on my apps using iOS 9’s battery usage tool and also put my phone in Low Power Mode when it drops to 20% and 10%. If you’re not doing any of these, I highly recommend changing your habits.

If you notice a problem with iPhone 6s battery life, take a look at my list of tips and tricks. They should help.

Wi-Fi, LTE and Bluetooth

I’m testing my iPhone 6s on various routers, Bluetooth devices, and AT&T’s LTE network. And so far I haven’t discovered any problems.

I have successfully paired with Bluetooth in a car, Bluetooth speakers and Bluetooth headphones. I haven’t seen any disconnections and the quality is normal.

I was able to connect the iPhone 6s to various routers and had no issues with download speeds, upload speeds, or the connections themselves. I’m still getting good range.

AT&T’s LTE network also works just fine. I bought a T-Mobile iPhone 6s to work on AT&T’s network and had no issues.

User Interface Speed

iOS 9.0.2 didn’t treat my iPhone 5 well, but it cooperates with my iPhone 6s. The UI is still extremely fast and fluid, and I haven’t noticed any weird lag or slowdown on my iPhone 6s. Some iPhone 6s users have reported random slowness but I haven’t seen any. At least not yet.

Should You Install the iOS 9.0.2 Update?

iOS 9.0.2 fixes some really annoying bugs. The lonely ones make it remarkable. It also helps me to have a great experience with Apple’s latest update along with many others.

If you do some prep work before installing, I think you’ll be fine. Those who have the most problems are those who are not prepared for iOS updates.

If you don’t care about bug fixes or security fixes, you have the option to wait for the iOS 9.1 update to arrive. iOS 9.1 is the first milestone update for the new operating system and is expected to arrive this month or next.

If you are using iCloud Restore from an old iPhone to a new iPhone and the phones are not on iOS 9.0.2, there is a nasty iCloud issue that can corrupt your iPhone 6s. Keep that in mind if your iPhone 6s just arrived.