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

Best iOS for iPad Air 1?

A

appleuserfan

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 16, 2014
94
37
Hi all,

my iPad Air 1 just arrived and currently he has iOS 8.3 and i can't see lags or major problems that let me desire to update it to iOS 9.
Just few apps that i tried to download told me that they require iOS9 and so i had to download the latest version available for my OS and not the lastest available at all.

So, what is the best iOS for the iPad Air 1? I have to upgrade to iOS 9 or i will find only lags and minor speed?
And if is possible, is better to update to iOS 8.4/ 8.4.1/etc or leave iOS 8.3?

P.S: i already downloaded all my apps and everything work fine so i haven't any needs to upgrade if i will not find improvements

thanks in advance :)
 
Last edited:
Personally, I like to have the most up to date OS on my devices, but there's something to be said for the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality. If you iPad is running all the apps you need smoothly and everything is fine, it may be best to just leave it as it is.
 
  • Like
Reactions: appleuserfan
Keep 8.3 until 9.3 is released. Then check people's comments after they've used it for a couple of days. Then make your now pretty informed decision :)
 
appleuserfan said:
No differences in overall speed, lags, animations compared to iOS 8?
Click to expand...

Here's the problem, as usual, there are folks out there that say they wished they had not upgraded their iOS but that seems to happen every time there's a new version. Given that it's the same Air 1 hardware it must have to with what particular apps and work flow each person has as to whether or not their happy with their iOS update.

I like to play and record guitar. Some music forums I go to say whatever you do don't update past iOS 8 or you'll regret it. When I post that I'm running iOS 9x and having zero problems it just starts arguments with those that have done the same and are having problems. I believe them, but they don't believe me, oh well.

As others have said, in general, I think it best that you always run the latest version of your operating system, iOS 9.2 in this case, unless, there is a known and documented problem with a particular app that you use.
 
I have an almost 2 year old iPad Air (went from an iPad 1 at the time) running ios 7.1.2.
This does most everything I need it to do, just a few apps I can't update. I imagine if I'm going to update this I might as well do it now before 10 comes out.

Anyone else with an Air on an ios below 8 or 9?

Not interested in another iPad at this time, my Oct 2013 MB Pro and iMac gets the majority of my computing around the house use.
 
I will endorse using the latest iOS version. Your iPad is new enough that any added overhead will not impact it's speed, and by skipping updates the killer features your iPad is compatible with will be missed out on such as picture in picture video, split screen, multitasking, etc. iOS 9 would be worth upgrading to without a second thought.
 
agentsmithone said:
I will endorse using the latest iOS version. Your iPad is new enough that any added overhead will not impact it's speed, and by skipping updates the killer features your iPad is compatible with will be missed out on such as picture in picture video, split screen, multitasking, etc. iOS 9 would be worth upgrading to without a second thought.
Click to expand...
The Air 1 only supports slide over and picture in picture, it does not support the split view multitasking feature of the newer models. I also upgrade my tech to the latest OS, but I may be waiting on iOS 10 for my wife's iPad mini 2 to see whether or not it is smooth upon release.
 
mhdena said:
I have an almost 2 year old iPad Air (went from an iPad 1 at the time) running ios 7.1.2.
This does most everything I need it to do, just a few apps I can't update. I imagine if I'm going to update this I might as well do it now before 10 comes out.

Anyone else with an Air on an ios below 8 or 9?
Click to expand...
iOS 9 runs fairly decently on the Air. It's been a while since I used iOS 7 but I think ad blocking actually makes web browsing a better experience on iOS 9 (at least if you're not jailbreaking).
 
mhdena said:
I have an almost 2 year old iPad Air (went from an iPad 1 at the time) running ios 7.1.2.
This does most everything I need it to do, just a few apps I can't update. I imagine if I'm going to update this I might as well do it now before 10 comes out.

Anyone else with an Air on an ios below 8 or 9?

Not interested in another iPad at this time, my Oct 2013 MB Pro and iMac gets the majority of my computing around the house use.
Click to expand...
Air 9. 3 runners running excellent very fast and smooth no existing financial app probs at all I.e digit banking credit cards pension.
Sky q as mentioned previously run fast and smooth

No ios10 beta for my Air yet why spoil what's working as required, maybe it's my age been running betas for years ios10 via iPhone 6 recently is the 1st iOS to my dislike when stopping my Bluetooth in car stereo not picking up Aple music

No such hitch via 9.3xxx
 
I've been running the betas of iOS 10 on my mini 2, which is essentially the same iPad, and it has been smooth sailing so far! There's no real noticeable lag, and the multitasking slide overs and whatnot still work just as well as they ever have. I'd go for the latest!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Donfor39
MultiFinder17 said:
I've been running the betas of iOS 10 on my mini 2, which is essentially the same iPad, and it has been smooth sailing so far! There's no real noticeable lag, and the multitasking slide overs and whatnot still work just as well as they ever have. I'd go for the latest!
Click to expand...

I have ios10 pb 4
'waiting' via IPhone 6 though there is slight risk from pb1 experience if Apple Music fails via Pioneer Bluetooth stero.

It's not like me though ios10 GM is when I'll probably return to 10

The music/Bluetooth fault was very disappointing though pb1 so I can't complain

iPhone 6 64gb and iOS 10 was laggy
 
Went ahead and put the 9.3.4 on, I have it on an iPhone 6 and 6s Plus. I like the added features and ability to run all of my apps and the larger folder sizes is a plus as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Donfor39
joeblow7777 said:
Personally, I like to have the most up to date OS on my devices, but there's something to be said for the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" mentality. If you iPad is running all the apps you need smoothly and everything is fine, it may be best to just leave it as it is.
Click to expand...
Definitely feel that. I always update to every .x.x update as soon as it's released. I don't like knowing I'm not on the latest version. I can't even leave app updates sitting for long.

I'm struggling so hard right now since 9.3.4 came out. I haven't updated any of my devices to it in case I want to jailbreak later on, and it's bothering me knowing it's there.
 
Channan said:
Definitely feel that. I always update to every .x.x update as soon as it's released. I don't like knowing I'm not on the latest version. I can't even leave app updates sitting for long.
Click to expand...

I'm exactly the same! When I see the badge on the App Store icon indicating that there are updates I will stop whatever I'm doing to install them right away.
 
Channan said:
I had to disable the badge because I try my best to wait for Wi-Fi to update on my iPhone.
Click to expand...

I think by default it prevents updates larger than 100MB on data. In any case, I have 5GB of data each month and usually don't even use half of it because of how frequently I'm on wifi, so I don't worry about it.

I will usually wait until I'm at home before doing OS updates on my phone though, just on the off chance that something goes wrong, I don't want my phone unusable while I'm out and about and might need it, and it's backed up to my PC at home, so I'd need to be there to restore it.
 
joeblow7777 said:
I think by default it prevents updates larger than 100MB on data. In any case, I have 5GB of data each month and usually don't even use half of it because of how frequently I'm on wifi, so I don't worry about it.

I will usually wait until I'm at home before doing OS updates on my phone though, just on the off chance that something goes wrong, I don't want my phone unusable while I'm out and about and might need it, and it's backed up to my PC at home, so I'd need to be there to restore it.
Click to expand...
It does. I just meant for data usage. I have unlimited data with Verizon on my Galaxy S7 Edge, but only 3.91GB on my iPhone SE. I use my iPhone the majority of the time but sometimes take my other phones out, don't really stream videos, rarely update apps on cellular, bring my cellular iPad with me almost everywhere, and still wind up using over 3GB every month on my iPhone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back