iOS 14 Feature Availability and Performance on older devices iPhone 6s / iPad Air 2

[honglong1976]

I’m fairly impressed about iOS 14 on my iPad Air 2. iOS 13 was sluggish, especially Safari. iOS 14 is smoother in comparison, it’s not perfect or rocket fast but it’s definitely a welcome improvement.

iOS14 is much better on the iPhone 6S. I always hated iOS13. It always seemed clunky compared to iOS12. iOS14 though, super smooth and runs great.

 

[applefan9215]

Here's something else weird... the 8 and 8 Plus are still listed by Apple to support the Back Tap feature, yet it doesn't work. I heard that some people initially got it before Apple took it out...

#16 corresponds to Back Tap under the Accessibility section in the iOS 14 preview btw.

 

[Homme]

Here's something else weird... the 8 and 8 Plus are still listed by Apple to support the Back Tap feature, yet it doesn't work. I heard that some people initially got it before Apple took it out...

#16 corresponds to Back Tap under the Accessibility section in the iOS 14 preview btw.

If you think that’s bad look up app clips and the phones which are compatible with it

7 and 8 get the feature but not the Second gen SE

 

[applefan9215]

The SE supports CarKey (along with the XR and XS and later) so it should support App Clips just fine.

Also, note that even the 6S gets App Clips, but it's limited to QR codes and any other method that doesn't require NFC mode (unlike the 7 and up) because the phone's hardware cannot read or write NFC tags. Its NFC is more limited in that it can only do Apple Pay.

Edit: completely unrelated but I noticed that Apple doesn't seem to state which devices get the eye contact feature on FaceTime. In the section for the eye contact feature, there's no number attached at the end which means no list in the fine print at the bottom of the page. Apple also introduced face tracking for all A12 devices without TrueDepth sensors beginning in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, so this possibly means that the new SE gets the feature as well. However, considering there seems to be no list explicitly saying which devices get the feature, maybe they brought this down to A11 devices and below?

 

[Homme]

The SE supports CarKey (along with the XR and XS and later) so it should support App Clips just fine.

Also, note that even the 6S gets App Clips, but it's limited to QR codes and any other method that doesn't require NFC mode (unlike the 7 and up) because the phone's hardware cannot read or write NFC tags. Its NFC is more limited in that it can only do Apple Pay.

Edit: completely unrelated but I noticed that Apple doesn't seem to state which devices get the eye contact feature on FaceTime. In the section for the eye contact feature, there's no number attached at the end which means no list in the fine print at the bottom of the page. Apple also introduced face tracking for all A12 devices without TrueDepth sensors beginning in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, so this possibly means that the new SE gets the feature as well. However, considering there seems to be no list explicitly saying which devices get the feature, maybe they brought this down to A11 devices and below?

ah I see. But then I initially thought app clips was for iPhone 7 and above because of the NFC thing, but I don’t get as to why the SE 2nd gen doesn't support the NFC part

the thing is with iOS 13 FaceTime eye contact feature was compatiable with devices which have TrueDepth before somewhere throught the betas Apple pulled it out. And although it is back in iOS 14 and they don’t mention any supported devices as you say, well hopefully it could be supported on devices without TrueDepth camera though I do not know

 

[applefan9215]

Alright, just compiled some really comprehensive updated lists of what each iOS device A12 and below are missing (the list includes all features missing, even from previous versions of iOS and the version they debuted in). I already posted what the 6S and A9X iPad Pros were missing, but I'll put them down again just so that
we have everything in one place. If anyone else knows of a feature missing on any device that I forgot, let me know so that I can update the list. I apologize if the formatting is inconsistent and the lists are all over the place, and for it being really long.

iPhones:

6S/SE1:
HEVC/HEIF encoding (iOS 11)
reading NFC tags (only QR codes) (iOS 11)
FaceTime effects (iOS 12)
Spatial audio (iOS 14)
Audio Sharing (iOS 13)
ARKit 3 and 4 (FaceTime eye correction included) (ARKit 3 in iOS 13, 4 in iOS 14)
CarKey (iOS 13)
Back tap (iOS 14)
On-device dictation (iOS 14)
Mirroring selfies (iOS 14)
Exposure lock (iOS 14)
4K content on YouTube (iOS 14)
1080p FaceTime (iOS 14)

7:
Audio Sharing (iOS 13)
ARKit 3 and 4 (FaceTime eye correction included) (ARKit 3 released with iOS 13, 4 in iOS 14)
CarKey (iOS 13)
Back tap (iOS 14)
On-device dictation (iOS 14)
Mirroring selfies (iOS 14)
Exposure lock (iOS 14)
4K content on YouTube (iOS 14)
1080p FaceTime (iOS 14)

8/X:
ARKit 3 and 4 (FaceTime eye correction included as it uses ARKit)
CarKey (iOS 13)
On-device dictation (iOS 14)
Mirroring selfies (iOS 14)
Exposure lock (iOS 14)
4K content on YouTube (iOS 14)
1080p FaceTime (only on X, iOS 14)

XR/XS:
Exposure lock (iOS 14)

iPads:

Air 2/Mini 4:
ARKit (starting from iOS 11)
FaceTime eye correction (iOS 14)
HEVC/HEIF encoding (iOS 11)
HEVC/HEIF decoding (iOS 11)
Hey Siri (iOS 9)
Facetime effects (iOS 12)
Messages effects (iOS 12)
Memoji stickers (iPadOS 13)
Audio sharing (iPadOS 13)
Spatial audio (iPadOS 14)
On-device keyboard dictation (iPadOS 14)
Apple pencil features (iPadOS 14)
Multitasking with three apps active at once (iOS 11)
Sidecar (iPadOS 13)
4K content on YouTube (iPadOS 14)
1080p FaceTime (iPadOS 14)
Mirrored selfies (iPadOS 14)

A9 iPad:
HEIF/HEVC encoding (iOS 11)
facetime effects (iOS 12)
ARKit 3/4 (starting in iPadOS 14)
FaceTime eye correction (iPadOS 14)
Hey Siri (iOS 10)
apple pencil features (iPadOS 14)
spatial audio (iPadOS 14)
Multitasking with three apps active at once (iOS 11)
On-device keyboard dictation (iPadOS 14)
Sidecar (iPadOS 13)
1080p FaceTime (iPadOS 14)
4K content on YouTube (iPadOS 14)
Mirrored selfies (iPadOS 14)

A9X iPad Pro:
HEVC/HEIF encoding (iOS 11)
Facetime effects (iOS 12)
ARKit 3/4 (iPadOS 13 and 14)
FaceTime eye correction (iPadOS 14)
Audio sharing (iPadOS 13)
Hey Siri (only supported on 9.7, iOS 9)
Spatial audio (iPadOS 14)
On-device keyboard dictation (iPadOS 14)
Multitasking with three apps active at once (iOS 11)
4K content on YouTube (iPadOS 14)
1080p FaceTime (iPadOS 14)
Mirrored selfies (iPadOS 14)

A10 iPad (both 6th and 7th gen):
ARKit 3/4 (starting in iPadOS 13)
FaceTime eye correction (iPadOS 14)
Multitasking with three apps active at once (missing since iOS 11 for iPad 6, supported on iPad 7 due to 3GB RAM)
On-device keyboard dictation (iPadOS 14)
4K YouTube (iPadOS 14)
1080p FaceTime (iPadOS 14)
mirrored selfies (iPadOS 14)

A10X iPad Pro:
ARKit 3/4 (starting in iOS 13, location anchors from ARKit 4 is the only major feature supported)
FaceTime eye correction (iPadOS 14)
Spatial audio (iPadOS 14)
4K content on YouTube (iPadOS 14)
Mirrored selfies (iPadOS 14)

 

[Homme]

Alright, just compiled some really comprehensive updated lists of what each iOS device A12 and below are missing (the list includes all features missing, even from previous versions of iOS and the version they debuted in). I already posted what the 6S and A9X iPad Pros were missing, but I'll put them down again just so that
we have everything in one place. If anyone else knows of a feature missing on any device that I forgot, let me know so that I can update the list. I apologize if the formatting is inconsistent and the lists are all over the place, and for it being really long.

iPhones:

6S/SE1:
HEVC/HEIF encoding (iOS 11)
reading NFC tags (only QR codes) (iOS 11)
FaceTime effects (iOS 12)
Spatial audio (iOS 14)
Audio Sharing (iOS 13)
ARKit 3 and 4 (FaceTime eye correction included) (ARKit 3 in iOS 13, 4 in iOS 14)
CarKey (iOS 13)
Back tap (iOS 14)
On-device dictation (iOS 14)
Mirroring selfies (iOS 14)
Exposure lock (iOS 14)
4K content on YouTube (iOS 14)
1080p FaceTime (iOS 14)

7:
Audio Sharing (iOS 13)
ARKit 3 and 4 (FaceTime eye correction included) (ARKit 3 released with iOS 13, 4 in iOS 14)
CarKey (iOS 13)
Back tap (iOS 14)
On-device dictation (iOS 14)
Mirroring selfies (iOS 14)
Exposure lock (iOS 14)
4K content on YouTube (iOS 14)

8/X:
ARKit 3 and 4 (FaceTime eye correction included as it uses ARKit)
CarKey (iOS 13)
On-device dictation (iOS 14)
Mirroring selfies (iOS 14)
Exposure lock (iOS 14)
4K content on YouTube (iOS 14)

XR/XS:
Exposure lock (iOS 14)

iPads:

Air 2/Mini 4:
ARKit (starting from iOS 11)
FaceTime eye correction (iOS 14)
HEVC/HEIF encoding (iOS 11)
HEVC/HEIF decoding (iOS 11)
Hey Siri (iOS 9)
Facetime effects (iOS 12)
Messages effects (iOS 12)
Memoji stickers (iPadOS 13)
Audio sharing (iPadOS 13)
Spatial audio (iPadOS 14)
On-device keyboard dictation (iPadOS 14)
Apple pencil features (iPadOS 14)
Multitasking with three apps active at once (iOS 11)
Sidecar (iPadOS 13)
4K content on YouTube (iPadOS 14)
1080p FaceTime (iPadOS 14)

A9 iPad:
HEIF/HEVC encoding (iOS 11)
facetime effects (iOS 12)
ARKit 3/4 (starting in iPadOS 14)
FaceTime eye correction (iPadOS 14)
Hey Siri (iOS 10)
apple pencil features (iPadOS 14)
spatial audio (iPadOS 14)
Multitasking with three apps active at once (iOS 11)
On-device keyboard dictation (iPadOS 14)
Sidecar (iPadOS 13)
1080p FaceTime (iPadOS 14)
4K content on YouTube (iPadOS 14)

A9X iPad Pro:
HEVC/HEIF encoding (iOS 11)
Facetime effects (iOS 12)
ARKit 3/4 (iPadOS 13 and 14)
FaceTime eye correction (iPadOS 14)
Audio sharing (iPadOS 13)
Hey Siri (only supported on 9.7, iOS 9)
Spatial audio (iPadOS 14)
On-device keyboard dictation (iPadOS 14)
Multitasking with three apps active at once (iOS 11)
4K content on YouTube (iPadOS 14)
1080p FaceTime (iPadOS 14)

A10 iPad (both 6th and 7th gen):
ARKit 3/4 (starting in iPadOS 13)
FaceTime eye correction (iPadOS 14)
Multitasking with three apps active at once (missing since iOS 11 for iPad 6, supported on iPad 7 due to 3GB RAM)
On-device keyboard dictation (iPadOS 14)
4K YouTube (iPadOS 14)
1080p FaceTime (iPadOS 14)

A10X iPad Pro:
ARKit 3/4 (starting in iOS 13)
FaceTime eye correction (iPadOS 14)
Spatial audio (iPadOS 14)
4K content on YouTube (iPadOS 14)

Ok.... to correct things out

FaceTime eye correction requires A12 or later, but not requiring ARKIT (back in iOS 13 beta it also required a TrueDepth camera before being removed back then)

Also

A10X iPads only support one thing of ARKIT 4 and that is Location Anchors

Also 1080p FaceTime is for the X and later when seeing iOS 14’s features on apples page but you didn’t mention this as missing for the 7 and 8

 

[applefan9215]

Ok.... to correct things out

FaceTime eye correction requires A12 or later, but not requiring ARKIT (back in iOS 13 beta it also required a TrueDepth camera before being removed back then)

Also

A10X iPads only support one thing of ARKIT 4 and that is Location Anchors

Also 1080p FaceTime is for the X and later when seeing iOS 14’s features on apples page but you didn’t mention this as missing for the 7 and 8

Thank you. So just to confirm, why is it not on the 8?? Same specs. I'll do a double check!

Edit: So checked the full list, and there's no mention of what devices support 1080p FaceTime (not in the fine print at the bottom of the page either, so I'll assume that the 7 and 8 have it). I'll keep the 7 and 8 on the list as supported for now.

 

[applefan9215]

Ok.... to correct things out

FaceTime eye correction requires A12 or later, but not requiring ARKIT (back in iOS 13 beta it also required a TrueDepth camera before being removed back then)

Also

A10X iPads only support one thing of ARKIT 4 and that is Location Anchors

Also 1080p FaceTime is for the X and later when seeing iOS 14’s features on apples page but you didn’t mention this as missing for the 7 and 8

Looks like you were actually right. Only for X and later. The A10X Pros are also supported as well.

Edit: While I'm here, I should also note that mirroring front camera selfies requires an A12 device on the iPad side as well.

 

[Homme]

Thank you. So just to confirm, why is it not on the 8?? Same specs. I'll do a double check!

Edit: So checked the full list, and there's no mention of what devices support 1080p FaceTime (not in the fine print at the bottom of the page either, so I'll assume that the 7 and 8 have it). I'll keep the 7 and 8 on the list as supported for now.

What’s interesting with 1080p FaceTime is Apple mentions this in regards to iPhone 12 but not other devices. Weird

also with 14.1

• Adds support for 10-bit HDR video playback and edit in Photos for iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (2nd generation) and later, iPad Pro 11‑inch, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Air (3rd generation) and later, and iPad mini (5th generation)
• 
  As well as iPhone 8 and later

 

[Isamilis]

With the release 14.1, it looks like iOS 14 has been quite stable. Anyone has experience upgrading iPhone 6s from iOS 12 to iOS 14? any performance difference? How slower is it? Also, how is the battery life?

 

[Homme]

With the release 14.1, it looks like iOS 14 has been quite stable. Anyone has experience upgrading iPhone 6s from iOS 12 to iOS 14? any performance difference? How slower is it? Also, how is the battery life?

I have a SE 2016 which is same performance as the 6s. I had it also from both iOS’s you mentioned and I say performance is almost the same in iOS 14 with some slight hiccups, but then iOS 14 still gives the SE far more features than being on iOS 12 so I’d say iOS 14 is better though the battery life is worse ( it sacrificed battery for the performance since iOS 13) but still, plenty and plenty of useful features regards to iOS 14 for those devices compared to iOS 12)

 

[Isamilis]

How worsening the battery life is? Do you experience heat as well? thanks.

 

[remington79]

Yea what exactly makes it work that it won't work on SE2020 either? Guessing it is since 2020 is mostly an 8? But I am still annoyed long press isn't working on lock screen since it does work on 8, and that it was also broken at first on XR but they fixed it.

Long press now works on the SE with iOS 14.

 

[I7guy]

With the release 14.1, it looks like iOS 14 has been quite stable. Anyone has experience upgrading iPhone 6s from iOS 12 to iOS 14? any performance difference? How slower is it? Also, how is the battery life?

My son has a 6s+ with a new battery. He claims his 6s+ on ios 14, is just "fine."