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Still running iOS 6 on my 4s - how's iOS 9 GM?

V

viperGTS

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Original poster
Nov 15, 2010
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How does iOS 9 run on the 4s? Is it worth updating from the now super-aged iOS 6? I'm on a 4s that's on iOS 6 for a week now (until I get my 6s+ next Friday) since my 5s charging port gave out on me, and there are some apps that I'm required to use outdated versions for because the newest versions aren't compatible with iOS 6.

Should I just stick it out a week and stay on iOS 6? Or is iOS 9 worth giving up iOS 6 for?
 
BittenApple

BittenApple

macrumors 65816
Nov 29, 2008
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viperGTS said:
How does iOS 9 run on the 4s? Is it worth updating from the now super-aged iOS 6? I'm on a 4s that's on iOS 6 for a week now (until I get my 6s+ next Friday) since my 5s charging port gave out on me, and there are some apps that I'm required to use outdated versions for because the newest versions aren't compatible with iOS 6.

Should I just stick it out a week and stay on iOS 6? Or is iOS 9 worth giving up iOS 6 for?
Click to expand...
Have you tried cleaning the lint out of the charging port?
 
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Lazeran

Lazeran

macrumors newbie
Jun 8, 2015
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iOS 6 still best for 4S on the other hand if your apps requires later version of ios, ios 7.1.2 the last usable version for 4S if you reduce transparence and turn off background app refreshing.
 
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V

vista980622

macrumors 6502
Aug 2, 2012
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viperGTS said:
How does iOS 9 run on the 4s? Is it worth updating from the now super-aged iOS 6? I'm on a 4s that's on iOS 6 for a week now (until I get my 6s+ next Friday) since my 5s charging port gave out on me, and there are some apps that I'm required to use outdated versions for because the newest versions aren't compatible with iOS 6.

Should I just stick it out a week and stay on iOS 6? Or is iOS 9 worth giving up iOS 6 for?
Click to expand...

The performance of iOS 9 is notably worse on iPhone 4s compared to iOS 7, let alone iOS 6.
App launches slower, animations becomes an-nni-mmma-ttti-oooons, and Safari holds less tabs.
 
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iOSUser7

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Jun 23, 2014
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viperGTS said:
It says its only possible because apple is still signing 6.1.3. I doubt they are at this point, but I will look into this. Thank you! :)
Click to expand...
Wrong, it is at this point. Apple is currently signing iOS 6.1.3 for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 but only for OTA upgrades. They have done this because some devices had problem going from iOS 5 to the lastest release so they have to upgrade to iOS 6.1.3 first and then update to the lastest iOS. There is a tool made by tihmstar that allow downgrade from any jailbroken 4S and iPad 2 (except the 2,3 which was launched in 2012). Also note that jailbroken 7.1.x devices cannot be downgraded because there was something wrong with this jailbreak. I believe the tool only works for Mac but I'm not sure, it's been some months since I saw this method so maybe a Windows tool have been released now. :)
 
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viperGTS

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iOSUser7 said:
Wrong, it is at this point. Apple is currently signing iOS 6.1.3 for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 but only for OTA upgrades. They have done this because some devices had problem going from iOS 5 to the lastest release so they have to upgrade to iOS 6.1.3 first and then update to the lastest iOS. There is a tool made by tihmstar that allow downgrade from any jailbroken 4S and iPad 2 (except the 2,3 which was launched in 2012). Also note that jailbroken 7.1.x devices cannot be downgraded because there was something wrong with this jailbreak. I believe the tool only works for Mac but I'm not sure, it's been some months since I saw this method so maybe a Windows tool have been released now. :)
Click to expand...

This is what I suspected after making my post, but the developer who was quoted on that link wasn't very clear. Thank you!
 
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viperGTS

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Nov 15, 2010
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iOS 6 is definitely lacking in features compared to iOS 8. I notice myself missing features like Control Center and the much improved Notification Center. If the downgrade method still works, I'll try out iOS 9 and downgrade back later on, keeping the phone's vintage-ness. Lol. Thank you everyone for your input!
 
I

iOSUser7

macrumors 6502a
Jun 23, 2014
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viperGTS said:
iOS 6 is definitely lacking in features compared to iOS 8. I notice myself missing features like Control Center and the much improved Notification Center. If the downgrade method still works, I'll try out iOS 9 and downgrade back later on, keeping the phone's vintage-ness. Lol. Thank you everyone for your input!
Click to expand...
Alright just keep in mind that you need to be jailbroken so until an iOS 9 jailbreak is released you won't be able to downgrade.
 
V

viperGTS

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 15, 2010
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Paddle1 said:
If you want a good balance between performance and features I recommend installing iOS 8.4.1. Much snappier than 9, but with most of the modern features.
Click to expand...
Is 9 really that bad? I was really hoping Apple stuck to their word with the improved performance.
 
P

Paddle1

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May 1, 2013
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viperGTS said:
Is 9 really that bad? I was really hoping Apple stuck to their word with the improved performance.
Click to expand...
Well there is a lag when you tap on icons on 4s, which iOS 8 doesn't have. Otherwise they're similar but 8 is still runs a bit better. I'm guessing Apple will improve 9 in later updates.
 
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