Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Rocko99991

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jul 25, 2017
1,574
2,193
I was just given a iphone 4S. It has IOS 7.1. Should I keep it on this or upgrade to 9? Would 9 slow the phone down even more?
 

jr866gooner

macrumors 68020
Aug 24, 2013
2,184
912
I was just given a iphone 4S. It has IOS 7.1. Should I keep it on this or upgrade to 9? Would 9 slow the phone down even more?

It would slow it down. What are you using it for? A phone or simply a podcast/music player?

If a phone id want it to be secure and sacrifice the performance. If the latter I’d remain.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rocko99991

bodonnell202

macrumors 68030
Jan 5, 2016
2,628
3,485
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Depends on the use case, with iOS 7 you sacrifice access to a lot of apps and many of the newer features such as access to Apple Music (and security patches, but if you are concerned about security for your use case you might want to think about a newer device), whereas with iOS 9 you'll definitely notice a slow down compared to iOS 7. There's also a workaround for the 4s where you can install iOS 8.4.1, which is sort of a happy medium between the two.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rocko99991

Rocko99991

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jul 25, 2017
1,574
2,193
I use it strictly as a music player/podcasts and as backup phone.
 

borgranta

macrumors 6502
May 9, 2018
304
96
I was given the 4S in January and it works well on iOS 9.
[doublepost=1530415915][/doublepost]I use it on AT&T and it gets 4G not to be confused with 4G LTE. TMobile also has non-LTE 4G available and should be compatible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rocko99991

borgranta

macrumors 6502
May 9, 2018
304
96
The iPhone 4S works with iOS 9, but it's certainly a slow dog. It's usable, but unpleasant to use.
I only have Android as a comparison and one time i deleted the mail out of my entire inbox inadvertently and it happened almost instantly. Android sometimes can take forever to load just one email. So based on my experience Android email is a stress inducing piece of trash when compared to Apple Mail.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rocko99991

mikzn

macrumors 68040
Sep 2, 2013
3,005
2,299
North Vancouver
I still use my iPhone 4S with iOS 9 - works like a champ - can't really see any performance hit / issues

Also still have the original battery and it lasts the day
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rocko99991

now i see it

macrumors G4
Jan 2, 2002
11,248
24,267
Thanks. Have you turned off background app refresh, motion and transparency?

Yes
I turned off the motion & transparency. But some apps I leave on background refresh. It doesn't affect the speed, just the battery a little bit maybe, but I can't tell the difference.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rocko99991

bluecoast

macrumors 68020
Nov 7, 2017
2,256
2,673
Stay on iOS 7. 7 didn’t add too much to 6 apart from the redesign and the control centre, so it’s still pretty lightweight and thus the 4s can handle it.
 

bodonnell202

macrumors 68030
Jan 5, 2016
2,628
3,485
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
My 4s running iOS5 offers an update to 8.4.1 in settings. Would it update to 8 than 9 or ?
Apple is signing iOS 8.4.1 for the 4s (or at least they were) as you can't upgrade directly from older versions of iOS (5 & 6) to iOS 9 so you have to upgrade to iOS 8.4.1 first. Once there you always have the option of staying there. That said an iPhone running iOS 5 is actually somewhat valuable. If I were you I'd sell it on eBay and buy a newer iPhone.
 

MIKX

macrumors 68000
Dec 16, 2004
1,815
691
Japan
I have no issues with IOS 9.3.6 on my 4S . .in fact since the upgrade it ' feels 'faster'.
 

sfphoto

macrumors 6502
Jun 10, 2010
453
28
Apple is signing iOS 8.4.1 for the 4s (or at least they were) as you can't upgrade directly from older versions of iOS (5 & 6) to iOS 9 so you have to upgrade to iOS 8.4.1 first. Once there you always have the option of staying there. That said an iPhone running iOS 5 is actually somewhat valuable. If I were you I'd sell it on eBay and buy a newer iPhone.

Thanks for the response. There is actually one FS, 600 bucks:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/162817130580
however 'sold' iP4s w/ older iOS don't seem to fetch more than $150

Actually have on hand a replacement, an unused 5s w/ iOS8.
Still use my iP3 for voice and email (JB iOS3), too slow for much else. Transferred our land line to it.
(could be valuable too: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-iPhone-3G-8GB-Black-AT-amp-T-A1241-GSM-/333351230464)
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.