While this is all true, it should be noted that, as years go by, more and more features begin to break with older versions of iOS.
And I don’t even mean like multiple years old, I mean like… The last version.
Back in iOS 13, the Reminders architecture was totally changed, and as a result, all previous versions of Apple operating systems couldn’t access the new Reminders.
In iOS 16, there was a new Home app architecture introduced that broke compatibility with previous versions, meaning that if you weren’t on iOS 16/Ventura, you could no longer access your Smart home from the devices that weren’t updated.
All the new iMessage features introduced in the last year require every product to be updated, or else it won’t work on the older ones.
Not to mention, if you purchase any new Apple device like an Apple TV, AirPods, etc, you’re pretty much forced to update to allow it to pair properly.
Same with Apple watches, you can’t use a series 3 with any iOS 16 device.
For someone in the Apple ecosystem, keeping everything is up-to-date as possible is pretty much the only way to guarantee that basic functions aren’t broken.
Of course, if you don’t have a smart Home, and you don’t use iMessage, and the iPad is literally the only Apple device you have, none of this matters. But let’s not act like things on previous versions don’t break all the time.
This is all true, but what breaks or what it doesn’t work are new features (well, barring the Home example you mentioned).
With the staying behind approach, you must accept that new features will not be available. Due to how iOS updates work, you must accept that new features available in newer devices won’t be available in older devices.
I have an iPad Air 5 on iPadOS 15 and my iPhone is an iPhone Xʀ running iOS 12. I tried reminders, it said that new reminders on my iPad wouldn’t work on my iPhone. Shared notes with the new features of iPadOS 15 can be viewed on my iPhone, but I can’t see some parts because they require iOS 15 on my iPhone too.
New “shared” features won’t work. AirDrop through contact is coming in iOS 17. My iPhone Xʀ will never have that. I know that and I accept that. It’s one of the most important trade-offs, alongside eventual possible app compatibility issues. Those who stay behind must make a choice.
But just like it has drawbacks, it has very tangible advantages: no battery life issues, ever, regardless of battery health. No performance issues, no slowdowns. What works with older versions, works forever, flawlessly. Perhaps I can’t access new reminders on my iPhone, but regular reminders work, I tried it. Perhaps I can’t access parts of new shared notes, but shared notes without those features work properly. As long as the user accepts those little issues, the benefits are impossible to ignore.
Am I impervious to every single one of these issues? Of course not. Would I like to be able to update? Yes. But it’s not an option because I can’t tolerate performance and battery life degradation. I keep my devices for a long time (like I said, my iPhone is an iPhone Xʀ running iOS 12), and I would’ve thrown it in a lake if I had the battery life numbers that users report on iOS 16. But that’s me. Other people may not be able to contend with the disadvantages.
My recommendation? Try. You can always update. Always. Apple will always allow you to update to the latest supported version. Try staying behind and see what happens. See if you like the device’s working predictably and having predictable battery life. Then make a decision. Does it work for everyone? Of course not! In fact, you see people caving because of these compatibility issues and updating all the time. But you see people who figure ways around these things. Everyone is different and everyone tolerates different things. You’ll never know until you don’t try, especially after being burned by iOS updates.
