iPhone Which iOS version is the best for the 3GS

[tatung23]

Hello,
I have an old iphone 3GS that I only use for working out and logging my workouts with ifitness and occasionally browsing the internet. I have a Galaxy S3 which I use for my cellular needs. For some reason the multitasking doesn't work between ifitness and the music app, when ever I am in the ifitness app and go to the home screen and use another app, the ifitness app has to start up again if I tap on it. It might be the app itself I suppose. As the title suggests, which version do you guys think would run the fastest and most efficient on the 3GS? Currently I have IOS5.1.1 I tried updating to IOS 6.1.3 through the settings->software update section but it failed (I forgot exactly what happened) and I had a hell of a time getting it back running with IOS5, maybe it's because I have my phone with a jailbreak. Thanks!

 

[darricksailo]

Hello,
I have an old iphone 3GS that I only use for working out and logging my workouts with ifitness and occasionally browsing the internet. I have a Galaxy S3 which I use for my cellular needs. For some reason the multitasking doesn't work between ifitness and the music app, when ever I am in the ifitness app and go to the home screen and use another app, the ifitness app has to start up again if I tap on it. It might be the app itself I suppose. As the title suggests, which version do you guys think would run the fastest and most efficient on the 3GS? Currently I have IOS5.1.1 I tried updating to IOS 6.1.3 through the settings->software update section but it failed (I forgot exactly what happened) and I had a hell of a time getting it back running with IOS5, maybe it's because I have my phone with a jailbreak. Thanks!

if you're phone is jailbroken, you cannot just simply update, you can only RESTORE. likewise, you never want to click the erase all content and reset settings as it'll put the device into an infinite boot loop and the only way out of it is to DFU mode restore

I would generally say the older OS is better as it's less resource intensive but there have been debates that iOS 6 is less resource intensive than iOS 5 so I guess the best way is for you to try it (assuming you can switch between iOS 6 and iOS 5)

Since you have a 3GS, if cydia has your iOS 5 shsh blobs, you'll be free to downgrade to iOS 5 at any time. open cydia and press tss center to check what valid shsh blobs cydia has for you

if cydia doesn't have your 5.1.1 shsh blobs and you are currently on iOS 5.1.1, you can use a program like iFaith or redsn0w to dump your 5.1.1 shsh blobs so then you can restore to 5.1.1 at any time

Just a note: 6.1.3 is going to be a tethered jailbreak while 5.1.1 is an untethered jailbreak

 

[tatung23]

Thank you darricksailo, your post was very helpful. When I go into the TSS center I see at the top, SHSH: 4.1, 4.2r1, etc to 5.1.1 does that mean I have the SHSH blobs?

 

[darricksailo]

Thank you darricksailo, your post was very helpful. When I go into the TSS center I see at the top, SHSH: 4.1, 4.2r1, etc to 5.1.1 does that mean I have the SHSH blobs?

you only have the shsh blobs to restore to iOS 4.1, 4.2r1, and 5.1.1. you can use tinyumbrella (point to apple's servers!) to retrieve 6.1.3 blobs and submit them to cydia's server using redsn0w.

 

[beegie]

THREAD REVIVAL, OCT. 2013:

Hello! What about for a NON-Jailbroken 3Gs? > Which iOS is the best to use & have it still work good?

(I think officially the 3Gs can be updated all the way through 6.1.3/4(?)

1. Does iOS 6.1.3/4 function well on an old 3Gs?

2. How much memory does iOS6+ hog up?

3. Which type Mac is needed (PPC or Intel) to DL ios6+ from Apple site to a 3Gs?

4. Which Mac OS is needed to do #3 above?

5. Which iTunes version is needed to do #3 above?

~~~

(Crazy Walmart Online is selling an unlocked 8gb 3Gs for a whopping $319. I guess they are charging $150 just for the unlocked aspect. My original 3Gs was only $399 brand new in 2009, locked to ATT of course, but still.... $319 for only 8gb? Pfff!)