Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Let's just be completely honest here ... iOS 15 is just iOS 14.9 at this point.

Usually the case..
I find it annoying as hell that they've always pushed for an "all new version!" each year.

Fix things over time and don't worry about syncing up all new iOS versions to new phones each year.
It's a treadmill of poor QC where they essentially never catch up.
 
This is Apples way of saying that you don’t have to update and deal with CSAM. But on the other hand they’re punishing their loyal customers and fans by not allowing them to enjoy the new features of iOS 15 (not that there’s any must have features)
Apple is in a transition but my question is what are they transitioning to?
 
I'm not sure why this is news as Apple has said they will continue to update iOS 14 along side iOS 15 when the latter is released. Am I missing something?

Edit: 14.7.1 still not reliable for me. Just was listening to Spotify with my AirPods, my family member called me I answered and they could not hear me. Had to call them back after I put the AirPods away.

Fogeta about dis bloat ware Apple!
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
Reactions: Babygotfont
We expected 14.7.x getting security updates for a long time, not a 14.8 which implies minor new features too.

I'll being watching this update very closely then before installing. 14.7 is finally at a level of function (not features) I would have expected over 6 months ago.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Babygotfont
I wonder what the oldest version of iOS is that will give the user the choice to update to either the latest version of iOS 14 or 15.

Unless the iOS Software Update page under Settings is delivered from a server, support for selecting between 14 and 15 (or something similar to what macOS has, where security updates are separated from newer versions of macOS) will need to be included in iOS itself. Older versions of iOS without that support would then presumably only offer iOS 15. Some users who have stuck with older versions of iOS might not get the option to stick with iOS 14 unless they update to a newer version before iOS 15 is released.

Unless of course Apple has made it so that you need to first update to the latest version of iOS 14 before updating to iOS 15. It'll be interesting to see.
 
Last edited:
  • Haha
Reactions: Babygotfont
If someone buys a new iPhone after iOS 15 is released, and it comes with iOS 15 already on it, will it be possible to install iOS 14?

I ask because everything in the article(s) said users wouldn't be forced to upgrade to 15 if they were on 14. Nothing was mentioned about being on 15 and being able to go back to 14.

I was planning on getting a new phone later this year, as my SE (1st gen) is getting long in the tooth. Might be wiser to get one now that has 14 on it, so I'll be able to choose.
 
If someone buys a new iPhone after iOS 15 is released, and it comes with iOS 15 already on it, will it be possible to install iOS 14?

I ask because everything in the article(s) said users wouldn't be forced to upgrade to 15 if they were on 14. Nothing was mentioned about being on 15 and being able to go back to 14.

I was planning on getting a new phone later this year, as my SE (1st gen) is getting long in the tooth. Might be wiser to get one now that has 14 on it, so I'll be able to choose.
I've never known Apple to allow users to downgrade the OS a device was shipped with (even on a Mac). Usually the signing window is closed, but that won't be the case here. The other issue is that previous OS versions aren't coded to support the new models, therefore no IPSW file. I just don't see Apple allowing it with the new phones released this fall, but won't know for sure until they're released. Never know what surprises they might have in store for us.

If you buy a used (pre-2021) phone that was upgraded to iOS 15, then yes, you should be able to downgrade to iOS 14 if you get your hands on the right IPSW file and the signing window is still open.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Babygotfont
iOS 5 maxed out at 5.1.1. It’s my favorite operating system for the iPhone, considering ease of use, elegance, and absence of bugs (not to mention style). Let’s get back to those days, even if it means no yearly major release. 14.7 still has bugs (especially on my iPhone and Apple TV). Maybe fix all those and do iOS 15 next year?
 
iOS 5 maxed out at 5.1.1. It’s my favorite operating system for the iPhone, considering ease of use, elegance, and absence of bugs (not to mention style). Let’s get back to those days, even if it means no yearly major release. 14.7 still has bugs (especially on my iPhone and Apple TV). Maybe fix all those and do iOS 15 next year?

IOS 5.1.1 was the final update for the first generation Ipad and left it almost completely unusable. Terribly slow and lagging. Today are much better days in terms of long term support and performance for IOS devices.
 
IOS 5.1.1 was the final update for the first generation Ipad and left it almost completely unusable. Terribly slow and lagging. Today are much better days in terms of long term support and performance for IOS devices.

I think that was intentional, what they did with the first iPad. With only 256 MB in RAM and no cameras it was an extremely limited device. Apple isn’t that stupid, they did it on purpose so everyone who got hooked by that 1st gen iPad would want to upgrade to the iPad 2 the following year. Sales, sales, sales. Money, Money, Money. That’s all Apple ever cares about.
 
If someone buys a new iPhone after iOS 15 is released, and it comes with iOS 15 already on it, will it be possible to install iOS 14?

I ask because everything in the article(s) said users wouldn't be forced to upgrade to 15 if they were on 14. Nothing was mentioned about being on 15 and being able to go back to 14.

I was planning on getting a new phone later this year, as my SE (1st gen) is getting long in the tooth. Might be wiser to get one now that has 14 on it, so I'll be able to choose.
Last year's iPhones weren't available for 5+ weeks after iOS14 was released to the public. Maybe someone who bought a 12 remembers whether it came with iOS14 or if you were pushed to update from iOS13 right away. Apple has made it clear that they want their spyware on as many devices as possible so expect them to get it onto every new device from here on out. I wouldn't be surprised if they sneak it into a future iOS14 update also.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Babygotfont
Last year's iPhones weren't available for 5+ weeks after iOS14 was released to the public. Maybe someone who bought a 12 remembers whether it came with iOS14 or if you were pushed to update from iOS13 right away. Apple has made it clear that they want their spyware on as many devices as possible so expect them to get it onto every new device from here on out. I wouldn't be surprised if they sneak it into a future iOS14 update also.

My 12 Pro Max ordered on day one came with 14 out of the box.
 
  • Disagree
Reactions: Babygotfont
Last year's iPhones weren't available for 5+ weeks after iOS14 was released to the public. Maybe someone who bought a 12 remembers whether it came with iOS14 or if you were pushed to update from iOS13 right away. Apple has made it clear that they want their spyware on as many devices as possible so expect them to get it onto every new device from here on out. I wouldn't be surprised if they sneak it into a future iOS14 update also.

The iphone 12 shipped with iOS 14, just like all new iphones ever released in the fall have shipped with the latest software released that same fall. The iphone 12 devices could only have shipped with iOS 13 if they had shipped BEFORE iOS 14 was released, which was clearly not the case.

Every year Apple designs the new iOS version for the new devices to be released that fall, not for the previous ones, so the new iphones always ship with the new software, not with the one from the previous year. Shipping a new device with older software would hurt their sales. Now, if Apple allowed to downgrade the coming new iphone models that will ship with iOS 15 to iOS 14 that would be a first time event and extremely surprising.
 
Last edited:
  • Angry
Reactions: Babygotfont
My 12 Pro Max ordered on day one came with 14 out of the box.
I don’t know why nick42983 even thinks Apple could have shipped the latest iphones with the previous year’s software in the first place. They’ve never done that and never will. That would be like expecting a waterfall to fall upwards.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Babygotfont
If someone buys a new iPhone after iOS 15 is released, and it comes with iOS 15 already on it, will it be possible to install iOS 14?

I ask because everything in the article(s) said users wouldn't be forced to upgrade to 15 if they were on 14. Nothing was mentioned about being on 15 and being able to go back to 14.

I was planning on getting a new phone later this year, as my SE (1st gen) is getting long in the tooth. Might be wiser to get one now that has 14 on it, so I'll be able to choose.
Yeah, rumor has it users of older iphones won’t be forced to upgrade this time around, but I doubt Apple will ever allow to downgrade the latest devices shipping with the latest software to an older software version. That would mean creating ipsw files of older software optimized for newer devices that did not exist when the software was originally released. I just don’t imagine Apple allocating resources for something like that.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Babygotfont
Yeah, rumor has it users of older iphones won’t be forced to upgrade this time around, but I doubt Apple will ever allow to downgrade the latest devices shipping with the latest software to an older software version. That would mean creating ipsw files of older software optimized for newer devices that did not exist when the software was originally released. I just don’t imagine Apple allocating resources for something like that.

Is not a rumor.

From Apple (see the settings tab):


iOS now offers a choice between two software update versions in the Settings app. You can update to the latest version of iOS 15 as soon as it’s released for the latest features and most complete set of security updates. Or continue on iOS 14 and still get important security updates until you’re ready to upgrade to the next major version.




I agree with you that you probably wont be able to downgrade once you do update to IOS 15, particularly when we are talking about new devices, but time will tell.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Babygotfont
Last year's iPhones weren't available for 5+ weeks after iOS14 was released to the public. Maybe someone who bought a 12 remembers whether it came with iOS14 or if you were pushed to update from iOS13 right away. Apple has made it clear that they want their spyware on as many devices as possible so expect them to get it onto every new device from here on out. I wouldn't be surprised if they sneak it into a future iOS14 update also.

My launch day 12 Pro Max came on 14.1, which I am still on.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Babygotfont
Apple is in a transition but my question is what are they transitioning to?
Interesting question.

Not long ago Apple made a big splash when they stood firm on "Your stuff is your stuff and we're not going to compromise it for anybody." But now they're clearly backing-off that position: Cancelling plans for E2EE and announcing plans to install spyware on customers' iThings and Macs. So one transition I suspect is Apple's vaunted privacy commitment days will soon be nothing more than a fond memory--if they're not already. With all the pressure they're reportedly getting and in a world were even the legendary Swiss banks' privacy guarantees fell, I suppose it was inevitable :(
 
Is not a rumor.

From Apple (see the settings tab):

iOS now offers a choice between two software update versions in the Settings app. You can update to the latest version of iOS 15 as soon as it’s released for the latest features and most complete set of security updates. Or continue on iOS 14 and still get important security updates until you’re ready to upgrade to the next major version.
Fascinating that that announcement and what's on the page you referenced don't quite match up. Observe:
Settings Software Updates

iOS may now offer a choice between two software update versions in the Settings app. You can update to the latest version of iOS 15 as soon as it’s released for the latest features and most complete set of security updates. Or continue on iOS 14 and still get important security updates.
N.B.: "may now offer..."
 
  • Love
Reactions: B/D
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.