iPad mini iPad mini 4 keep iOS 10.3.2 or upgrade to 11?

[Taelvin]

Good evening everyone,

I purchased a new iPad mini 4 that had been kept sealed in a closet since October 2017 and so it still has iOS 10.3.2 on it. I have noticed that some people have advocated keeping 10.3.2 on the iPad mini 4 because earlier version of 11 slowed it down but with the latest versions and the optimizations coming in iOS 12 is everyone still keeping iOS 10.3.2?

 

[sracer]

Good evening everyone,

I purchased a new iPad mini 4 that had been kept sealed in a closet since October 2017 and so it still has iOS 10.3.2 on it. I have noticed that some people have advocated keeping 10.3.2 on the iPad mini 4 because earlier version of 11 slowed it down but with the latest versions and the optimizations coming in iOS 12 is everyone still keeping iOS 10.3.2?

You are going to get opinions that will be equally confident on both sides.

i’m keeping my Mini 4 at 10.3.x for as long as I own it. It is running wonderfully with not slowdowns or stuttering. Since there is no going back once you update and there isn’t anything in ios 12 that the Mini 4 can take advantage of, There is no reason for me to risk losing what I have now.

 

[rdy0329]

Wait for iOS 12 by skipping 11. Lose the jerk(iness) but keep the perks.

 

[bodonnell202]

My Mini 4 never had any issues with iOS 11 (my iPhone 6s is another story, but it's been just fine since iOS 11.3), and I really like the improved multitasking features for iPads in iOS 11, so I wouldn't go back to iOS 10 on my Mini 4 even if I could. iOS 10 might have been a bit faster, but I don't think you would notice the difference unless you had two iPads running iOS 10 and 11 side by side.

 

[Shirasaki]

Given that iPad mini 4 is using A8 processor, I strongly recommend you not upgrade unless really necessary. A8 just cannot run iOS 11 well. iOS 12 is yet to be seen for the performance.

 

[Radon87000]

iOS 10 is still better than iOS 12. Don't compromise your device

 

[ericwn]

iOS 10 is still better than iOS 12. Don't compromise your device

Could you elaborate this a bit more? What’s better in iOS 10?

 

[bodonnell202]

Could you elaborate this a bit more? What’s better in iOS 10?

I suspect they mean that apps open a few milliseconds faster with iOS 10. To me it's not worth compromising on security and missing out on the features that come with iOS 11 (and iOS 12, which is still in beta). To each their own though.

 

[RoadWarrior56]

I have a Mini 4 with 11.4 installed. It works fine. I done notice any perceptable speed difference compared to 10.x.

 

[bodonnell202]

Given that iPad mini 4 is using A8 processor, I strongly recommend you not upgrade unless really necessary. A8 just cannot run iOS 11 well. iOS 12 is yet to be seen for the performance.

Where are you getting this info? I see it parroted a lot, I suspect mostly by people who don't even own an iPad Mini 4 and just expect that since the A8 is almost 4 years old it won't run the latest version of iOS well, since they had poor experiences with A4 and A5 based devices on later versions of iOS. My Mini 4 runs iOS 11 really well and I have no complaints.

Sure the initial releases of iOS 11 were a buggy hot mess, but that affected all devices from A7 to A11 based and had nothing to do with the A8 being under-powered.

 

[sracer]

I suspect they mean that apps open a few milliseconds faster with iOS 10. To me it's not worth compromising on security and missing out on the features that come with iOS 11 (and iOS 12, which is still in beta). To each their own though.

What specific security issues are there in running iOS 10? I know expressing security concerns is a common thing to say, but what does it actually mean in real life?

iOS 11 (and iOS 12) have removed some features that were present in iOS 10. Just one example: The widget screen in iOS 11/12 is now a single column in landscape mode, under 10 it is 2 columns. That is not a big issue in the grand scheme of things, but for some, those little things add up... and lost for no benefit by going to 11.

 

[bodonnell202]

What specific security issues are there in running iOS 10? I know expressing security concerns is a common thing to say, but what does it actually mean in real life?

Spectre for one, which Apple released patches for with iOS 11.2.2. Likely others as well that were quietly patched without the media frenzy of Spectre and Meltdown. Sure, Spectre may not be an easily exploited security hole, but that doesn't mean it will never be exploited. Just look at WannaCry back in 2017 and the havoc it wreaked on institutions and people who thought it was fine to continue running unsupported versions of Windows...

iOS 11 (and iOS 12) have removed some features that were present in iOS 10. Just one example: The widget screen in iOS 11/12 is now a single column in landscape mode, under 10 it is 2 columns. That is not a big issue in the grand scheme of things, but for some, those little things add up... and lost for no benefit by going to 11.

Ok, agreed that the 2 column widgets in iOS 10 was better, but honestly it isn't that big of change. As far as benefits the addition of the dock and improvements to the way multi-tasking works in iOS 11 (compared to the dumb slide over feature in iOS 9 and 10) is a huge improvement in my opinion.

 

[sracer]

Spectre for one, which Apple released patches for with iOS 11.2.2. Likely others as well that were quietly patched without the media frenzy of Spectre and Meltdown. Sure, Spectre may not be an easily exploited security hole, but that doesn't mean it will never be exploited. Just look at WannaCry back in 2017 and the havoc it wreaked on institutions and people who thought it was fine to continue running unsupported versions of Windows...

That's a little more specific but it doesn't actually address the real life exposure to those security holes. And we're talking specifically about iOS. There is no such thing as a network-connected system that is 100% secure. Most security holes have very specific criteria and conditions in order for a person to be hit by it. Organizations have Risk Management teams, not Risk Elimination teams. It's about assessing the severity of the risk, the probability of being affected, and the cost if an incident occurs.

Given the criteria and conditions, for an overwhelming majority of iOS users, they are NOT going to be hit by Spectre or Meltdown. Updating to iOS 11 solely to address that security issue is a disproportionate response IMO. Updating to take advantage of the iOS 11-specific features is absolutely a reasonable choice.

I'm not a fan of the fear-mongering perpetuated by the industry. (please note, I'm not accusing you of engaging in fear-mongering) Fear is the best motivator for getting people to respond and that's why they do it. I prefer that folks view things rationally and make informed decisions.

Ok, agreed that the 2 column widgets in iOS 10 was better, but honestly it isn't that big of change. As far as benefits the addition of the dock and improvements to the way multi-tasking works in iOS 11 (compared to the dumb slide over feature in iOS 9 and 10) is a huge improvement in my opinion.

Definitely. We all need to prioritize what features and functions are important to us and make that decision.

 

[Shirasaki]

Where are you getting this info? I see it parroted a lot, I suspect mostly by people who don't even own an iPad Mini 4 and just expect that since the A8 is almost 4 years old it won't run the latest version of iOS well, since they had poor experiences with A4 and A5 based devices on later versions of iOS. My Mini 4 runs iOS 11 really well and I have no complaints.

Sure the initial releases of iOS 11 were a buggy hot mess, but that affected all devices from A7 to A11 based and had nothing to do with the A8 being under-powered.

From many forum members. A8 is underpowered in iPhone 6 Plus because of lack of RAM and all that. Sure, iOS 11 is bad in general. If iOS 12 is good enough, updating to it may be good for an iPad mini 4.

 

[Lewisbrown22]

Interesting points, personally feel to avoid IOS 11 at all costs, IOS 12 introduces new processor management for older chips such as the A6 through to new devices with emphasis of making these older devices seem quicker, this is done by running the silicone at 100% output the second a command is inputted to iphone/iPad. I have tested iOS 12 on an older iPad and confirm it feels much, much snappier but would defiantly say launch times don’t seem to have improved. I have never used an iPad mini so have no idea what multitasking is like on them, or if it’s even possible but I personally wouldn’t be able to live without the dock but if the iPad mini has no multitasking features keep iOS 10, it was the last build of iOS which actually felt completed for these square screen convential devices. IPhone X may have been big revolution for design but created turmoil with an operating system which was soughted to a tee.

 

[bodonnell202]

From many forum members. A8 is underpowered in iPhone 6 Plus because of lack of RAM and all that. Sure, iOS 11 is bad in general. If iOS 12 is good enough, updating to it may be good for an iPad mini 4.

I've certainly heard (although not experienced myself as I've never owned one) that the 6 Plus has felt a little pokey right from the start. I suspect it is the combination of only 1 GB of ram and the screen image being rendered at 1242 × 2208 and then downsampled to 1080 × 1920, which uses additional system resources. While still using the A8 chip, the Mini 4 has a few performance advantages over the 6 Plus, it has 2 GB of ram, it renders the screen image at the native 1536 x 2048, and is less thermally constrained than the 6 Plus. These seem to make a difference as I’ve never found my Mini 4 to be pokey.

 

[cwerdna]

What specific security issues are there in running iOS 10? I know expressing security concerns is a common thing to say, but what does it actually mean in real life?

Go thru every iOS security bulletin from 10.3.3 onwards at https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht201222. Some of those vulnerabilities are not new to 11.x.x and existed in 10.3.2.

I have a ton of different iOS devices at work because I have to test on them. To me, iOS 11.x on an iPad mini 4 isn't that bad.

Heck, I do a fair amount of testing intentionally on iPad mini 2 w/iOS 11.x since it (and the Air) has the least RAM of the tablets that can run iOS 11.

 

[FeliApple]

Don't fix what isn't broken. Stay on iOS 10. It has no downsides. (Or one, IMO, App compatibility, but you'll be fine with iOS 10 - I'm running iOS 9 on an iPad Pro 9.7). The security argument is no argument, no exploit has been actively used on a widespread attack. Chances of you being affected are almost zero.
There is no way back. If you aren't happy there's nothing you can do. Just stay, and enjoy your iPad, instead of having the possibility of several headaches (my battery drains too fast, apps crash, and everything that can happen with iOS updates). This might not happen, but you don't know if it will, and if it does there is no way back.

 

[ericwn]

It’s worth noting that once you are hacked, in case it should happen, there is also no way back from that. Once your data is stolen for example, it can hardly be recovered.

 

[grininja]

I'm in the same boat. I am not convinced updating from 10.3.3 to 11.x because of possible stuttering animations or lag. But after I saw this yt review I've almost done it. But not just yet

 

[Greenmeenie]

I dunno about the 4, but my iPad mini 2 is annoyingly slow & draggy on iOS 11. But it is a couple of years older than the 4 so i dunno if thats a good comparison. I watched WWDC and they said iOS 12 is suppose to be a lot faster even on older devices, so maybe it’s worth it to upgrade to 11 only so you can then upgrade to 12.

 

[Acronyc]

It feels like there are a lot of people who don’t actually own a mini 4 talking about how bad it runs on iOS 11. I was reticent to update my mini 4 but decided to give it a go because I liked iOS 11 on my 5th gen iPad. It works fine and I experience no slowdown or stuttering. I’m very happy with the performance and if there are features one would like in iOS 11 on the mini 4 I’d say go ahead and update with confidence that it will run fine. Because it does.