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iPhone How's iOS 9 on an iPhone 5?

A

asoksevil

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Hey guys,

Anybody else still rocking an iPhone 5?

I currently have iOS 7 and I need to update it because of some functionality and app compatibility. I worry about the performance as I feel iOS 6 was the best one on my iPhone 5.

Thanks!
 
I'm extremely happy with 9.2.1 on my wife's 5. I think it compares very well with the 6... but others on here will have you believe it's an unusable laggy mess. Best to look at some videos to get a feel for which side you are on
 
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Its ok, Its slower than iOS 8 and there is more jittering. Battery life is abysmal. From my epxeirnce its the best 'third' update ever for any iPhone (3GS on iOS 6, 4 on iOS 7, 4S on iOS 8).
 
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iOS 6 was the best in terms of raw speed and UI fluidity, but don't worry. It's got the exact right combination of GPU, screen size and RAM to be very nice even on iOS 9. If you upgraded to 7 anyway, definitely go ahead.

UI seems smoother than even on my 6s, which is very possible due to iPhone 5 NOT using Metal as does 5S and newer models. Metal is not very well optimized.
 
stooovie said:
iOS 6 was the best in terms of raw speed and UI fluidity, but don't worry. It's got the exact right combination of GPU, screen size and RAM to be very nice even on iOS 9. If you upgraded to 7 anyway, definitely go ahead.

UI seems smoother than even on my 6s, which is very possible due to iPhone 5 NOT using Metal as does 5S and newer models. Metal is not very well optimized.
Click to expand...

That has been fixed with 9.3 for the most part. You'll now be able to notice how much slower the 5 is compared to your 6s.
 
I used an iPhone 5 on iOS 9 until christmas the performance and battery life is fine as long as you disable background app refresh and the new spotlight search features.
 
I think ios9 is just buggy. Even on an iPad Air 2, it stutters at weird times. Same with the 5S. Usually it's ok though
 
Like some others in this thread, I am also in the "Do not update your iPhone 5 to iOS 9" camp, the slowdowns are noticeable.

Unless you really, really need the new features of iOS 8 and 9.
 
I really don't agree with all the people who says iOS 9 runs terrible on the iPhone 5. That is simply not the case. The iPhone 5 runs iOS 9.3 better than the iPhone 5s and 6, relatively speaking.
 
Merkie said:
I really don't agree with all the people who says iOS 9 runs terrible on the iPhone 5. That is simply not the case. The iPhone 5 runs iOS 9.3 better than the iPhone 5s and 6, relatively speaking.
Click to expand...
It runs worse than it would on iOS 7.Thats the point here
 
The iPhone 5 is an amazing survivor, surviving iOs 6 to iOS 9. It runs iOS9 fine. Yes it is not purely smooth, but that smoothness was already gone with iOS7. One big issue is its small battery (smaller than even the 5c), even if it's new. Add to the fact that most people's iPhone 5 is more than 2 years old, battery life will be the problem.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys.

I had to update, needed due to app compatibility. There's a noticeable slowdown compared to iOS 7 but still acceptable to my standards.
 
asoksevil said:
Hey guys,

Anybody else still rocking an iPhone 5?

I currently have iOS 7 and I need to update it because of some functionality and app compatibility. I worry about the performance as I feel iOS 6 was the best one on my iPhone 5.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
If you do a clean install, disable some unneeded features, the performance is not that bad
 
asoksevil said:
Thanks for all the replies guys.

I had to update, needed due to app compatibility. There's a noticeable slowdown compared to iOS 7 but still acceptable to my standards.
Click to expand...

What makes you notice that the performance went down? What do u use ur phone in every day life? Like what apps etc. Is it your primary phone?
 
Paddle1 said:
Looks like you need to update your signature.
Click to expand...

Haha, will do.

mich070 said:
What makes you notice that the performance went down? What do u use ur phone in every day life? Like what apps etc. Is it your primary phone?
Click to expand...

I notice it when opening or switching apps, when typing on the keyboard... but I do have to say that Safari's performance has greatly improved. On iOS 7 some websites would take ages to load, but it's way faster on iOS 9.
 
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