Is it safe?

[Splitrail]

I'm new to all of this, and unsure about the software updates.
I read a lot of comments about things going bad after updating, and a lot of comments about waiting to do the update until it can be shown that there are no "bugs" in the updates themselves.
Currently, to the best of my limited knowledge and experience, my phone doesn't exhibit any problems.
The phone is a 13 Pro, currently on 15.3 and 15.3.1 is downloaded, awaiting installation, but not installed yet.

 

[w5jck]

iOS 15.3.1 is a very minor update to 15.3, mostly to address security. I would say it is safe. I'm running it on my new iPhone 13 Pro Max without any issues.

As far as updates go, if they are represented as X.Y.Z, then the Z updates are very minor and generally don't pose much of an issue. The Y updates are more substantial, and perhaps you should wait a few days to see how these go. The X updates are big, and I would definitely let others test those out for a while, perhaps weeks or even months, until I was sure they were not going to be an issue.

As far as bugs go, well I have never seen any software that didn't have bugs. Bugs happen, and there are always a few lurking around. In the past few years Apple has had more bugs than usual lurking around due to increasingly sloppy coding, but most bugs are not major. Just do some research and make sure there are no major, as in show stopper, bugs that concern you.

I think with iOS 15 the issue for me was more about new and changed features which I didn't care for, much more so than bugs. However, I'm generally pleased with iOS 15, whereas iPadOS 15 still blows chunks IMHO! Apple really screwed up Safari and the Home screen with stupid changes.

 

[Samdh90]

Hi Bud,

As what @w5jck stated, going from 15.3 to 15.3.1 is very minor and recommended at this point. Overall though, if you are not having issues on an older build, it is wise to not jump right away. Now when it comes to security patches, to each their own. I try to wait at least a few days to see what issues people are having right out of the gate but I also weigh in the security patches, if it is major, like what 15.3 fixed, I would update right away, or a day or so afterwards. It just really depends.

Thank you.

 

[Splitrail]

iOS 15.3.1 is a very minor update to 15.3, mostly to address security. I would say it is safe. I'm running it on my new iPhone 13 Pro Max without any issues.

As far as updates go, if they are represented as X.Y.Z, then the Z updates are very minor and generally don't pose much of an issue. The Y updates are more substantial, and perhaps you should wait a few days to see how these go. The X updates are big, and I would definitely let others test those out for a while, perhaps weeks or even months, until I was sure they were not going to be an issue.

As far as bugs go, well I have never seen any software that didn't have bugs. Bugs happen, and there are always a few lurking around. In the past few years Apple has had more bugs than usual lurking around due to increasingly sloppy coding, but most bugs are not major. Just do some research and make sure there are no major, as in show stopper, bugs that concern you.

I think with iOS 15 the issue for me was more about new and changed features which I didn't care for, much more so than bugs. However, I'm generally pleased with iOS 15, whereas iPadOS 15 still blows chunks IMHO! Apple really screwed up Safari and the Home screen with stupid changes.

Thanks!
How does one know if an update is of the X, Y, Or Z variety?

 

[Lihp8270]

Thanks!
How does one know if an update is of the X, Y, Or Z variety?

By which number has changed.

 

[Splitrail]

Hi Bud,

As what @w5jck stated, going from 15.3 to 15.3.1 is very minor and recommended at this point. Overall though, if you are not having issues on an older build, it is wise to not jump right away. Now when it comes to security patches, to each their own. I try to wait at least a few days to see what issues people are having right out of the gate but I also weigh in the security patches, if it is major, like what 15.3 fixed, I would update right away, or a day or so afterwards. It just really depends.

Thank you.

That "depends" part is what makes me apprehensive.

 

[Samdh90]

Thanks!
How does one know if an update is of the X, Y, Or Z variety?

Hi bud,

What he is stating is the placement of the changes. Here is a good example;

15.3.1
X Y Z

What he means is that because the update is going from 15.3 to 15.3.1, it is a minor update. Now going from 15.3.1 to 15.4 is a larger patch.

 

[Samdh90]

That "depends" part is what makes me apprehensive.

Well, what I was trying to state is that the user needs to balance bugs with security patches. Generally when it comes to safety, it is better to be updated and have bugs vs the other way. That way, at least your data is secured. A good example was that Safari bug that was fixed in 15.3 that allowed a website to see where you were at in real time under certain scenarios,

Thank you.

 

[Splitrail]

By which number has changed.

So in 15.3.1, the X represents the 15, the Y represents the 3, and the Z represents the 1?

 

[Splitrail]

Hi bud,

What he is stating is the placement of the changes. Here is a good example;

15.3.1
X Y Z

What he means is that because the update is going from 15.3 to 15.3.1, it is a minor update. Now going from 15.3.1 to 15.4 is a larger patch.

Thank You!

 

[Bandaman]

All the updates are “safe”. Always make a backup first in case something dumb happens during the update process.

 

[boss.king]

These days I usually just wait a day or two before updating, that’s usually enough time for people to find any major bugs and get vocal on forums. I used to always update on release day but I’ve been burned a few too many time in recent years.

 

[Splitrail]

These days I usually just wait a day or two before updating, that’s usually enough time for people to find any major bugs and get vocal on forums. I used to always update on release day but I’ve been burned a few too many time in recent years.

That seems like a good policy.
Waiting a few days probably can't do any harm.

 

[Splitrail]

Well, what I was trying to state is that the user needs to balance bugs with security patches. Generally when it comes to safety, it is better to be updated and have bugs vs the other way. That way, at least your data is secured. A good example was that Safari bug that was fixed in 15.3 that allowed a website to see where you were at in real time under certain scenarios,

Thank you.

How does one know if an update contains safety or security patches?

 

[Lihp8270]

How does one know if an update contains safety or security patches?

Nearly every update contains a safety or security patch of some kind.

 

[Splitrail]

Nearly every update contains a safety or security patch of some kind.

So then by the responses here, all updates should be installed immediately?

 

[Lihp8270]

So then by the responses here, all updates should be installed immediately?

As soon as possible. Though usually none major ones can be left.

So 15.y.z will continue to get its own security updates after 16 is released.

 

[Lihp8270]

Reading a forum will give a false impression of “issues” as people only Post about issues.

The vast majority of updates are fine and most users experience zero issues.

Having had an iPhone since the original release. I’ve yet to experience any serious bug that has prevented me from using the device as intended.

 

[Splitrail]

Reading a forum will give a false impression of “issues” as people only Post about issues.

The vast majority of updates are fine and most users experience zero issues.

Having had an iPhone since the original release. I’ve yet to experience any serious bug that has prevented me from using the device as intended.

"Reading a forum will give a false impression of “issues” as people only Post about issues."
Thanks for reminding me of that!
I should remember that from my days in the motorcycle & power sports industry where the forums were replete with posts & complaints that would have one believe that "ALL" of them were doing "THAT"!
That said, this is all new to me so I'm trying to learn all I can.
I'm 70 years old and until November, never had anything more sophisticated than a 12 year old flip phone!
I'm having a GREAT time with this!

 

[minik]

I always do the minor iOS update within a day or two and after a backup.

 

[sparksd]

"Reading a forum will give a false impression of “issues” as people only Post about issues."
Thanks for reminding me of that!
I should remember that from my days in the motorcycle & power sports industry where the forums were replete with posts & complaints that would have one believe that "ALL" of them were doing "THAT"!
That said, this is all new to me so I'm trying to learn all I can.
I'm 70 years old and until November, never had anything more sophisticated than a 12 year old flip phone!
I'm having a GREAT time with this!

Nice to see another old guy on the forum.

I've always jumped on updates when available, even occasionally getting onto beta streams for my variety of devices. Never really had a problem but I'm a retired h/w and s/w engineer and not really put off by issues.

 

[Splitrail]

Nice to see another old guy on the forum.

I've always jumped on updates when available, even occasionally getting onto beta streams for my variety of devices. Never really had a problem but I'm a retired h/w and s/w engineer and not really put off by issues.

Thanks!
I'm a pretty good problem solver having been involved in diagnostics and repairs throughout my career, but this is so new to me that I'm careful and want to learn this completely new system BEFORE encountering problems, hence the questions.

 

[now i see it]

The question really isn’t whether 15.3.1 is “safe”, (of course it is vs 15.3) the real question that holdouts on iOS 14 are wondering is … is iOS 15 safe to upgrade from iOS 14?

I’ll answer that question based on my experience:
While 15.3.1 is “safe” in the fact that it won’t brick your phone or cause loss of data, it is (in my experience) a HUGE downgrade from iOS 14. There’s nothing better about it and it’s still loaded with lots of problems (that didn’t exist on 14).

My advice to those holding out on iOS 14: Stay, if you care about the performance of your iPhone.

Eventually you’ll have to upgrade to this OS which arguably is the worst upgrade since iOS 9, but to ease the pain just a little — wait until August to do it before you have wreck your phone.

 

[sparksd]

The question really isn’t whether 15.3.1 is “safe”, (of course it is vs 15.3) the real question that holdouts on iOS 14 are wondering is … is iOS 15 safe to upgrade from iOS 14?

I’ll answer that question based on my experience:
While 15.3.1 is “safe” in the fact that it won’t brick your phone or cause loss of data, it is (in my experience) a HUGE downgrade from iOS 14. There’s nothing better about it and it’s still loaded with lots of problems (that didn’t exist on 14).

My advice to those holding out on iOS 14: Stay, if you care about the performance of your iPhone.

Eventually you’ll have to upgrade to this OS which arguably is the worst upgrade since iOS 9, but to ease the pain just a little — wait until August to do it before you have wreck your phone.

Can you expand on that? I'm on 15.3.1 on my PM 12 (and iPads) and wouldn't say the same in the least.

 

[Lihp8270]

The question really isn’t whether 15.3.1 is “safe”, (of course it is vs 15.3) the real question that holdouts on iOS 14 are wondering is … is iOS 15 safe to upgrade from iOS 14?

I’ll answer that question based on my experience:
While 15.3.1 is “safe” in the fact that it won’t brick your phone or cause loss of data, it is (in my experience) a HUGE downgrade from iOS 14. There’s nothing better about it and it’s still loaded with lots of problems (that didn’t exist on 14).

My advice to those holding out on iOS 14: Stay, if you care about the performance of your iPhone.

Eventually you’ll have to upgrade to this OS which arguably is the worst upgrade since iOS 9, but to ease the pain just a little — wait until August to do it before you have wreck your phone.

Which problems does it have, and how have they personally affected you?