Statistics show that only 56% of iPad and iPhone users have upgraded their devices to the iOS 8 operating system. This news is extremely confounding, especially considering that Apple has rolled out the iOS 8.1 version on October 20. iOS 8.1 contains several stability improvements and several fixes, but owners are worried that the new and ‘improved’ operating system will not work as well as the iOS7.
As a matter of fact, several reviews say that iOS8 and iOS 8.1 are disappointing compared to the earlier versions of the operating system.
Over 40% of devices remain on iOS7, which is considered by many the best operating system for smart-phones. iPhone owners probably feel that the iOS 8.0.1 caused more problems than it solved. Among other issues, it seems that phones lost mobile signals and fingerprint Touch ID scanner was unusable. For several weeks, developers and engineers worked on the system to remove bugs and fix problems. In mid-October, Apple finally announced the release of iOS 8.1, which managed to remove some of the biggest problems, but failed to get rid of them all.
“We apologize for inconveniencing you if you were affected by the bug in iOS 8.0.1″ – Apple on its support page
Although the company has had a bad start with its latest operating system and customers are still skeptical about the 8.1 version, reports show that the latest version has not had any severe problems yet. Apple believes that users can rest easy and ‘set about moving forward’.
We were extremely interested in testing the latest operating system for Apple on the iPad mini 2. After having used iOS 8.1 for a couple of weeks we are ready to give you a clear answers on an extremely important question: Is it worth upgrading the iPad mini 2 to iOS 8.1?
Countless of iPad and iPhone users are conflicted. They are still unsure whether or not they wish to upgrade their devices to the latest operating system. If you waited until now to decide, you probably made the right choice. In general iOS problems are resolved two to four weeks after initial release. In other words, even if you are experiencing small issues with your devices, they will be quickly resolved.
On the other hand, if you have yet to upgrade your iPad Mini 2 to the latest operating system, we hope that the following review will help you decide. Here’s a quick look at all the features and functions available on the iPad mini 2 with iOS 8.2.
iOS 8.1 Initial Review & Disclaimer
We have spent a generous amount of time testing and reviewing Apple’s latest operating system. Until now it has performed decently. However, we wish to note that behavior of devices and features may vary from person to person according to device mileage and model. In addition to this, each gadget is unique if you take into consideration apps installed, usage of internet, handling etc. You should definitely take into consideration these aspects before reaching a final decision. However, if you decide to upgrade to iOS 8.1, there are a few things you should do before you begin:
- Back-up your data: It is always a good idea to backup data from your devices. This is not because an operating system is flawed, simply because you don’t know what will happen during installation. Store all your photos and data on a cloud platform or laptop.
- Make sure your device is compatible: Only several devices can be upgraded to iOS 8.1. They include iPhone 4S and above, iPad Mini and above, iPod Touch (fifth generation), iPad 2 and above.
- Upgrade with iTunes: The best way to update is by using iTunes. This way you will dramatically reduce the amount of storage required for update. Before you begin installation make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes installed.
Why You Should Update to iOS 8.1
Apple’s iOS 8.1 may not be a perfect operating system right now, but it’s better to update than others. Assuming that you have already updated to iOS8.0.1 or iOS 8.0.2, you should definitely upgrade to version 8.1 to eradicate bugs.
If you decided to stick with iOS7, it is still a good idea to upgrade, otherwise you will remain stuck on old features. It is always a good idea to update your device in order to be fully protected from malware and security holes. The return of Camera roll and Apple Pay may also sway you into updating to the 8.1 version.
Review of iOS 8.1 on iPad Mini 2
There are a few key aspects that you should take into consideration when evaluating the performance of an operating system. We are referring to connectivity Wi-fi & Bluetooth, bugs & issues, battery life, overall speed and performance of applications. Let’s discuss each aspect separately.
Battery Life of iPad Mini 2 with iOS 8.1
We’ve been using two iPad Mini 2 tablets in parallel. One of them has iOS 7.1.2 and the other uses iOS 8.1. There are no notable differences between the performance of these two devices. In general, you will get a full day of battery if you are switching between Wi-Fi and LTE. Wi-Fi is set as the primary connection, because LTE has a habit of sucking battery life dry on most devices.
There aren’t any massive battery changes between updates. Mobile Apple devices have always performed well. If your iPad Mini 2 remains in standby for several hours, it will not lose any battery at all. All in all, iOS updates were never meant to solve any battery issues of iPhones and iPads. In general, battery problems are associated with applications and opened tasks. As long as you don’t have too many apps running you will have no problems with battery life.
Bugs and Issues of the iPad Mini 2 with iOS 8.1
It is true that the iOS 8.0.1 and 8.0.2 updates had severe problems. The good news is that most of them have been resolved with the 8.1 update. We haven’t experienced any issues while using the iPad Mini 2. In general, glitches and bugs occur on iPhones. The keyboard has never disappeared and the screen was never stuck in landscape mode, as reported on several websites.
However, this doesn’t mean that problems won’t appear. As we already mentioned, each device is different. Some bugs remain dormant and emerge when users least expect them. If anything happens you should definitely consult Apple’s bug fix page for iOS 8.1.
App Performance on iPad Mini 2 with iOS 8.1
Too many apps may significantly shorten you battery life. At the same time, bad apps may negatively impact your experience with iOS 8.1. As we already mentioned, the new operating system bugs have been reported, mostly, on iPhone 5 and iPhone 6. iPads generally perform well with iOS 8.0.1 and iOS 8.1. Reviewers have reported that they have had very solid experiences with the new OS on their iPads.
For example, Facebook and Netflix have always been problematic apps on iPhone. The latest Apple upgrade is testament to the advancements made by developers. We frequently use Twitter, Facebook, Netflix, Instagram, Chrome, Youtube and Google Hangouts on our iPad mini 2 devices and we have never encounters issues.
The key is to make sure that you have automatic updates turned on. If you have just upgraded to iOS 8.1 you definitely have to update your apps as well, because they will probably experience compatibility issues. Once you have updated your apps, you shouldn’t encounter any more problems.
Connectivity on iPad Mini 2 with iOS 8.1
There have been several complaints regarding Wi-Fi and Bluetooth performance across iOS 8 devices. While they may have been true, the vast majority of them have been resolved in 8.1. Developers were extra careful to solve any connectivity issues because they know important it is for Apple users to have access to the internet.
LTE connectivity works beautifully on iPad Mini 2: pages load quickly and signal can be found in the unlikeliest of places. As far as Wi-Fi is concerned, the connection remains fast and stable. In some instances, Bluetooth behaved bizarrely on iOS 8.0.2, but this was usually because devices are incompatible. Regardless of the reason for bugs, they have been resolved in iOS 8.1.
Speed & Performance on iPad Mini 2 with iOS 8.1
While the new operating system operates well on the iPad Mini 2, we noticed several issues on its larger sibling, the iPad air. In several instances, the iPad air performed sluggishly, while the iPad mini 2’s transitions were fast and fluid. Nevertheless, lag issues may not have anything to do with the operating system. Overall performance is satisfactory. All in all, performance on the iOS 8.1 on iPad Mini 2 is consistent with all the other operating systems.
Interesting Features on iOS 8.1
Now that we’ve covered the performance features of iOS 8.1 on iPad Mini 2, let’s take a look at several features that you should definitely take into account before upgrading.
Without a doubt the best news is the return of Photo Roll. Photo Roll is one of the operating system’s most used features. It was removed in 8.0, and re-implemented in iOS 8.1. Thank god!
Considering that there is a mobile payment war going on between retailing companies right now (companies are trying to decide if bar-code payments or mobile payment systems such asApple pay will pave the way for electronic purchases), we will assume that you have probably already heard about Apple Pay. Apple Pay is currently not available on iPad Mini but we have reasons to believe that it will be implemented soon.
Another feature that you might enjoy is the iCloud Photo Library as well as the ability to send and receive SMS/MMS messages from the iPad and Mac.
Wrapping Up…
We must admit that the new operating system has experienced several hiccups along the road, but it is currently performing beautifully on the iPad mini 2. You should upgrade your mini tablet knowing that you will preserve the unparalleled performance of iOS7 while also receiving iOS 8’s awesome new features.
There is honestly not a very big difference between iOS 8.1 and iOS 7.1.2 (besides the new features). The iPad mini 2 is one of the few devices that were designed to perform seamlessly regardless of OS.
You Don’t Need to Install iOS 8.1 Now
We believe that iOS 8.1 performs very well across most Apple devices. We also feel the need to inform you that you don’t need to install the update right now. First of all, you should know that it isn’t possible to downgrade from iOS8 to iOS7. In addition to this, iOS 8.1.1 will be released in the near future. If you are still concerned about iOS 8.1. you can wait for the 8.1.1. update to roll out.
iOS 8.1 Installation
As noted above, the installation process for iOS 8.1 on iPad Mini 2 is extremely simple if you choose to do it with the help of iTunes. In order to complete the installation process successfully you will require a stable and secure internet connection. The process should take around 15-20 minutes on good internet connection. You will also have to wait a bit for updates and unexpected issues.
If you happen to run into any issues, although we believe that will not be the case, you should contact the Apple team or check for bug fixes on support forums.
Roxanne Briean
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