"Erase all content and settings" on iPhone vs iTunes restore before selling?

[mrat93]

I'm preparing my old iPhone 5s for sale, but I want to keep it on iOS 8.1 so it is still able to be jailbroken for the future owner. Is there a downside to erasing all content on the iPhone as opposed to restoring the phone in iTunes?

 

[C DM]

Erasing all content should keep it as is as far as iOS version, while restoring in iTunes (as far as I can recall) might update it to the latest version.

 

[wrldwzrd89]

Erasing all content should keep it as is as far as iOS version, while restoring in iTunes (as far as I can recall) might update it to the latest version.

Yeah, you'll have to wipe all content and settings on the device. Apple doesn't codesign iOS 8.1 anymore, so restoring via iTunes won't work.

 

[iamMacPerson]

I'm preparing my old iPhone 5s for sale, but I want to keep it on iOS 8.1 so it is still able to be jailbroken for the future owner. Is there a downside to erasing all content on the iPhone as opposed to restoring the phone in iTunes?

Yes it will make you update to the latest version of the OS (8.3) when doing a restore through iTunes. See, going through iTunes completely restores everything including the firmware. Erase Content and Settings just erases your data and keeps the firmware intact.