iOS: Annually slowing down our devices

[_Refurbished_]

Each year a new iPhone is released. Each year a new version of iOS is released.

If you're an experienced forum member on MacRumors, you know that you'll see the same threads every year: My device is laggy after updating to "iOS "X.x". You'll see members in this forum claiming that they're older devices are running "better than the previous OS" or "just as smoothly". Is this really true? Are people's devices running as smoothly as before, or are people "glowing" because they're on a new iOS version that they've been clamoring over. Let's put this to the test.

Recently I've been watching iApplebytes on YouTube (I have nothing to do with iApplebytes). Their videos prove that the yearly slowdown I experience on my devices isn't a mirage. On all of the the videos I've watched, a new OS slows down a year or more old iPhone each and every year a new OS is released. Eventually, you're left with a device that has considerable amounts of lag...even if it started out as a responsive device.

Let's use an iPhone 4S as our example device since it has a history of iOS releases and has been through the two different UI's (iOS 6 vs 7)

For giggles, let's take an iPhone 5s on iOS 8.4.1 vs iOS 9 GM

In each instance, the iPhone slows down. What once started as a smooth 4s on iOS 5, becomes a lagfest in later releases. While I know some will say that Apple needs to continue moving forward with new features and its natural for devices to slowdown with new software, this doesn't have to be true. Windows has shown us in recent years that you can add new software to older devices without sacrificing speed. Windows 7 > 8 > 10 all build off one another. Its clear Apple will continue slowdown older devices, as its in their best business to do so. I'm not saying that Apple needs to change their practices, it's obviously working for them.

The fact of the matter is, it really doesn't matter what hardware Apple puts in their devices, as they will slow them down in a year's time. Your fancy new 6S with "desktop class" hardware will slow down on iOS 10, because Apple chooses to do so...not because the hardware is incapable of running smoothly.

This leaves users with two options:
#1 - Stay on the OS designed for your phone until you upgrade to a new device. This ensures speed and stability.
#2 - Upgrade your software each year to gain new features, while seeing slight reductions in speed with each OS update.

I would also love to see someone on the other end of the spectrum prove that their device has "not" slowed down or is running faster than it did before updating OS versions.

 

[scjr]

If you're an experienced forum member on MacRumors, you know that you'll see the same threads every year: My device is laggy after updating to "iOS "X.x".

Now experienced members are posting these threads.

We have a several of these threads going right now. It's laggy. It's not laggy. You're a fanboy. I'm not a fanboy. I've tried every device on iOS 9 and its laggy. All my devices are buttery smooth.

And the beat goes on.

 

[_Refurbished_]

Now experienced members are posting these threads.

We have a several of these threads going right now. It's laggy. It's not laggy. You're a fanboy. I'm not a fanboy. I've tried every device on iOS 9 and its laggy. All my devices are buttery smooth.

And the beat goes on.

The point of this thread is to provide evidence, which most threads/comments do not. As forum members we're constantly going back and forth. I wanted to provide a new angle on this by allowing people to provide evidence, rather than opinion.

I challenge someone from the other end of the spectrum to validate their claims that iOS 9 or any other iOS iteration hasn't slowed down their device with video evidence. Just because someone doesn't notice/care about a slight slowdown, doesn't mean it isn't there. I'm not saying you have to care about your device slowing down...some users don't care about speed and that's fine. I'm challenging the notion that people say their device is running faster than it did before, and if so, prove it. This extends to any iPhone / iOS combination.

 

[vertsix]

Well, this could be a possibility.

The 5, 5s, and 6 ran iOS 8 similarly on terms of performance, quite frankly.

Maybe Apple's evil plan with iOS 9 was to release a stuttery, laggy release and then sort of "fix" it with future minor updates, but leave some sort of lag on the older devices to make them ever so slower than the newer ones.

This happened with the iPhone 4 on iOS 7 (7.0-7.1.1 were horrendously slow, but some lag was fixed with 7.1.2) and with A5 devices with iOS 8.

This is pure speculation and is completely subjective, but knowing Apple and their slowing iPhone sales growth, I don't know what they would do.

 

[I7guy]

The iOS 8.4.1 vs iOS 9 on the 5s was interesting as iOS 9 easily won that round, and provides proof the iPhone wasn't rendered useless, especially in safari. It wasn't laggy, no stutter. I don't know about the performance testing because the evidence is clear from the video most apps opened faster in iOS 9. Those that didn't could be attributable to statistically acceptable differences.

 

[drewyboy]

The thing that I have yet to see captured in all these comparisons, no one states whether they do a clean install or incremental upgrade. Did you Upgrade from 8.4.1 to 9.0 incremental? Are we comparing a now 9.0.1 laggy one that was incremental upgrade through all updates to a fresh install of 9.0.1 or did the butter smooth guy fresh install 9.0 then incremental upgrade to 9.0.1?

What people say is one of the most unscientific methods of data collection. Without going about it properly, it's just name calling.

 

[_Refurbished_]

The iOS 8.4.1 vs iOS 9 on the 5s was interesting as iOS 9 easily won that round, and provides proof the iPhone wasn't rendered useless, especially in safari. It wasn't laggy, no stutter. I don't know about the performance testing because the evidence is clear from the video most apps opened faster in iOS 9. Those that didn't could be attributable to statistically acceptable differences.

iOS 8 ran more slowly on the iPhone 5s in the majority of tests given. Granted, it fares better than most of the other videos listed on iApplebytes. Yes, there are certain areas where iOS 9 improved upon iOS 8, but it's fairly consistent to see 9 being slower. Not sure how you got to your conclusion.

 

[Hackintosh Sr.]

I used to be against that apple was making older devices slower, but watching how poorly my iphone 6 plus runs with IOS9, I believe it to be true. There is no reason that an iphone 6 should choke. My 6S runs everything perfectly smooth.

 

[scjr]

The point of this thread is to provide evidence, which most threads/comments do not. As forum members we're constantly going back and forth. I wanted to provide a new angle on this by allowing people to provide evidence, rather than opinion.

I challenge someone from the other end of the spectrum to validate their claims that iOS 9 or any other iOS iteration hasn't slowed down their device with video evidence. Just because someone doesn't notice/care about a slight slowdown, doesn't mean it isn't there. I'm not saying you have to care about your device slowing down...some users don't care about speed and that's fine. I'm challenging the notion that people say their device is running faster than it did before, and if so, prove it. This extends to any iPhone / iOS combination.

You could have thrown down your challenge in any other of the lag fest threads, but I get your frustration.

Is iOS 9 as smooth as iOS 8, in my opinion it may not be. That doesn't discount anyone who thinks its smoother. Every individual sees things differently. It's what makes us unique, wouldn't you agree?

iOS 9, to me, is a much more stable compared to iOS 8. Safari in 8 vs 9 is not even close. Would I like the animations to be a smoother in iOS 9? Sure. Would I rather have the smoother animations of iOS 8.4.1 vs the stability of iOS 9? No way, no how.

iOS 8 was not smooth when it released. It matured into 8.4.1 and became a smoother running iOS. The same will happen with iOS 9. Until then, relax and enjoy life.

 

[I7guy]

iOS 9 ran more slowly on the iPhone 5s in the majority of tests given. Granted, it fares better than most of the other videos listed on iApplebytes. Yes, there are certain areas where iOS 9 improved upon iOS 8, but it's fairly consistent to see 9 being slower. Not sure how you got to your conclusion.

I didn't get that take away. Phone on right easily won almost every round. Not sure how anything could be said otherwise.

Edit: is this going to turn into "a that's not what the video is showing" thread.

 

[_Refurbished_]

I didn't get that take away. Phone on right easily won almost every round. Not sure how anything could be said otherwise.

Edit: is this going to turn into "a that's not what the video is showing" thread.

That's not what the video is showing.

Edit: I went back and watched the video. Here are the results.

Boot
Tie

App Launch Wins
iOS 8: 7 wins
iOS 9: 4 wins
Tie: 2 ties

Control Center
iOS 8 smooth , iOS 9 stutters

Notification Center
iOS 8 smooth , iOS 9 stutters

Siri
Tie

Geekbench Results
Tie w/ slight edge to iOS 8

 

[_Refurbished_]

The thing that I have yet to see captured in all these comparisons, no one states whether they do a clean install or incremental upgrade. Did you Upgrade from 8.4.1 to 9.0 incremental? Are we comparing a now 9.0.1 laggy one that was incremental upgrade through all updates to a fresh install of 9.0.1 or did the butter smooth guy fresh install 9.0 then incremental upgrade to 9.0.1?

What people say is one of the most unscientific methods of data collection. Without going about it properly, it's just name calling.

Fine, point taken.

Now find video evidence showing a newer OS making a previous device faster.

 

[I7guy]

That's not what the video is showing

That's not my takeaway and that's not what the video is showing. Thinking we need a poll.

 

[_Refurbished_]

That's not my takeaway and that's not what the video is showing. Thinking we need a poll.

A poll for what? The whole idea of this thread is to show evidence, not opinion. It seems we watched the video and took away different information. If anything, more evidence would help. Still, though, that's only one example. If you would like, there are plenty of other videos to show slowdown with different devices / OS's.

 

[I7guy]

A poll for what? The whole idea of this thread is to show evidence, not opinion. It seems we watched the video and took away different information. If anything, more evidence would help. Still, though, that's only one example. If you would like, there are plenty of other videos to show slowdown with different devices / OS's.

I'm not watching a ton of videos to show an issue I'm not having, that people suggest you don't know you're having it, but you really are.

That particular video does not make the case, imo, and is a perfect example of why this entire topic is all over the map.

 

[_Refurbished_]

I'm not watching a ton of videos to show an issue I'm not having that people suggest you don't know your having it unit but you area.

That particular video does not make the case, imo, and is a perfect example of why this entire topic is all over the map.

How does that video not make the case? I posted the stats in the above post showing that iOS 8 was, in fact, faster and had less animation lag than iOS 9. It isn't the greatest example as it is comparing a mature iOS 8 to a new OS.

I ask you to provide video showing iOS 9 or any other OS winning a performance test in the majority of tests that someone demonstrates.

 

[Saturnine]

Well I watched the videos and here are my conclusions:

- Newer OSs do more and have more eye candy, and thus run slightly more slowly on older devices.

- The differences between individual releases, e.g. 5 to 6, 8 to 9, are minimal.

- If you want the latest software and the newest features at the cost of some performance, upgrade. Otherwise, don't.

 

[I7guy]

How does that video not make the case? I posted the stats in the above post showing that iOS 8 was, in fact, faster and had less animation lag than iOS 9. It isn't the greatest example as it is comparing a mature iOS 8 to a new OS.

I ask you to provide video showing iOS 9 or any other OS winning a performance test in the majority of tests provided.

I agree iOS 8 is mature, and that video shows iOS 9 is faster than iOS 8 in almost every single key press in every test. iOS 9 (phone on right) destroyed iOS 8 bringing up a link in safari.

Why would I provide a video that you already provided that proves the point iOS 9 is faster?

 

[Merkie]

I agree iOS 8 is mature, and that video shows iOS 9 is faster than iOS 8 in almost every single key press in every test. iOS 9 (phone on right) destroyed iOS 8 bringing up a link in safari.

Why would I provide a video that you already provided that proves the point iOS 9 is faster?

You keep focussing on Safari. Indeed, Safari is quite OK in iOS 9. Now try to focus on everything that is not Safari.

iOS 9 is slower in everything that is not Safari. The video proves that. There is literally not one single test in which iOS 8 outperforms iOS 9. And even that doesn't really matter much, the most annoying part is that the smooth 60fps framerate of iOS 8 is gone.

You really need glasses.

 

[Radon87000]

I agree iOS 8 is mature, and that video shows iOS 9 is faster than iOS 8 in almost every single key press in every test. iOS 9 (phone on right) destroyed iOS 8 bringing up a link in safari.

Why would I provide a video that you already provided that proves the point iOS 9 is faster?

Since you keep focusing on browsers,how about the fact that on iOS 9,Chrome takes a whole 2 seconds before it launches than on 8

 

[I7guy]

You keep focussing on Safari. Indeed, Safari is quite OK in iOS 9. Now try to focus on everything that is not Safari.

iOS 9 is slower in everything that is not Safari. The video proves that. There is literally not one single test in which iOS 8 outperforms iOS 9. And even that doesn't really matter much, the most annoying part is that the smooth 60fps framerate of iOS 8 is gone.

You really need glasses.

Well there may be a lot of us that need glasses; it's all good though.

 

[_Refurbished_]

I agree iOS 8 is mature, and that video shows iOS 9 is faster than iOS 8 in almost every single key press in every test. iOS 9 (phone on right) destroyed iOS 8 bringing up a link in safari.

Why would I provide a video that you already provided that proves the point iOS 9 is faster?

When I put iOS 9 on my iPhone 6, the one thing that improved in performance was Safari. I agree with you completely. Safari on iOS 9 is great. Unfortunately, Safari was the one bright spot for me that I experienced.

Here's proof that I agree with you about Safari:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...lder-iphones-and-ipads.1917184/#post-21869159

 

[I7guy]

Since you keep focusing on browsers,how about the fact that on iOS 9,Chrome takes a whole 2 seconds before it launches than on 8

Maybe you should watch the video again, the phone on the right performs better/faster than the phone on the left.

 

[drewyboy]

Fine, point taken.

Now find video evidence showing a newer OS making a previous device faster.

Unfortunately that's probably never going to happen. Reason being, everyone wants new shiny things. They want the OS to have new features. If we were on 2 year OS cycles, they I'd expect it, but not at the pace people demand.

 

[Coupz]

Do you really believe this is new or Apple is the only company who does this? Even your car is designed with a planned obsolescence that you have to buy a new one. Welcome in the 21st century. That's how our economy works.