AnandTech: The iOS 9 Review

[Eug]

AnandTech: The Apple iOS 9 Review

Brandon summarizes it best by saying that this is a huge upgrade for the iPad, and a nice incremental upgrade for the iPhone.

He also illustrates just how memory intensive Safari is, and why 2 GB really should be the standard.

As you can see, the Safari process and all its tabs ends up using a whopping 728.12MB of RAM. A 3D view of New York City in Maps uses another 322.73MB on top of that, for a total of 1.05GB. On top of that you’ll have something between 100 and 200MB used for general background processes and the iOS system. This makes it pretty clear why Apple has limited multitasking to only the iPad Air 2, as a use case with only two default apps can already use over 1GB before you even consider what the system needs.

PSA: If you're buying a new iDevice today, go for a 2 GB model if you can swing it.

 

[Blackjack200]

Is it really expensive to add RAM to a SoC? I'm trying to figure out why Apple only included 1 MB with the iPad Mini 3, they must have known by then that split screen was coming.

 

[Eug]

As I've said before, I suspect the A7-endowed iPad mini 3 was a result of A8 supply issues, partially because of the runaway success of the iPhone 6/6+.

 

[Midwayman]

As I've said before, I suspect the A7-endowed iPad mini 3 was a result of A8 supply issues, partially because of the runaway success of the iPhone 6/6+.

I think it had a lot more to do with not wanting to crowd the iphone 6+ in performance with a product they see as lower end.

 

[Artdeco]

The profit margin on the mini isn't really what Apple likes, too small, versus the phones...

They really don't push the Mini at all because of this I have long suspected.

 

[mmntech]

Ars talked about performance on older devices in their review. Some minor improvements for those of us too cheap/poor to upgrade our A5 devices.
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/09/ios-9-thoroughly-reviewed/8/#h1

About a 20% improvement in Javascript performance on the iPhone 4S over iOS 8.4. Not too shabby. Though improvements are fairly negligible elsewhere.

 

[Eug]

Ars talked about performance on older devices in their review. Some minor improvements for those of us too cheap/poor to upgrade our A5 devices.
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/09/ios-9-thoroughly-reviewed/8/#h1

About a 20% improvement in Javascript performance on the iPhone 4S over iOS 8.4. Not too shabby. Though improvements are fairly negligible elsewhere.

JavaScript speed up is nice, but that's not the problem with the iPad 2/iPhone 4S. The problem is stuff like app and task switching, and launching the keyboard, etc.

For example, if you're surfing in Safari on the iPad 2, and tap on the URL bar, usually you have to wait a couple of seconds before the keyboard pops up. On the iPad Air 2, it's instantaneous.

It's a bit better in 9.1, but still damn slow.

 

[rsutoratosu]

I tested ios 9 on mini 1, it was pretty slow.. good thing i can still go back to 8.4.1 before they stop signing it

 

[Eug]

I tested ios 9 on mini 1, it was pretty slow.. good thing i can still go back to 8.4.1 before they stop signing it

Try the 9.1 beta now, while you still have the option of reverting to 8.4.1. It feels a bit faster than 8.4 to me on the iPad 2 (same CPU as mini 1).

 

[mmntech]

JavaScript speed up is nice, but that's not the problem with the iPad 2/iPhone 4S. The problem is stuff like app and task switching, and launching the keyboard, etc.

For example, if you're surfing in Safari on the iPad 2, and tap on the URL bar, usually you have to wait a couple of seconds before the keyboard pops up. On the iPad Air 2, it's instantaneous.

It's a bit better in 9.1, but still damn slow.

Yeah, I think it may be finally time to EOL my 4S and iPad 3. Unfortunately I can't afford anything new right now. Maybe I'll toss an Air 2 on my Christmas list and see if the fam jam is feeling generous. Some good deals on refurbs right now.

 

[Eug]

Yeah, I think it may be finally time to EOL my 4S and iPad 3. Unfortunately I can't afford anything new right now. Maybe I'll toss an Air 2 on my Christmas list and see if the fam jam is feeling generous. Some good deals on refurbs right now.

The Air 2 was on sale in Canada two weeks ago for $100 off, at $560 for a 64 GB. I wonder if Best Buy was anticipating an Air 3 release, which never happened. Also, you can probably get about $150 or so as a trade-in for the iPhone 4S and iPad 3 right now, or $250 or more if you deal on Kijiji.

 

[Midwayman]

The Air 2 was on sale in Canada two weeks ago for $100 off, at $560 for a 64 GB. I wonder if Best Buy was anticipating an Air 3 release, which never happened. Also, you can probably get about $150 or so as a trade-in for the iPhone 4S and iPad 3 right now, or $250 or more if you deal on Kijiji.

The are $100-130 off pretty regularly on ebay if you keep on eye out. New, not refurb. Plus you probably get to skip sales tax.

 

[Eug]

iOS 9.0 vs. iOS 8.4.1 speed test on multiple devices:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOEir-8Bayw

iOS 8.4.1 wins overall with faster app launch times particularly on the slower devices (iPhone 4S), but iOS 9.0 usually wins for boot time, and always wins for browser speed.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Am I the only one annoyed by "open in YouTube?" popping up when clicking YouTube links in Safari? This didn't happen in iOS 8. Can't find a way to make it just automatically open the YouTube app.

 

[z0mb13]

I am on iphone 5 and hesitating to upgrade to ios9... I don't want it to be any slower

 

[StinkyPinky]

I haven't upgraded my sons ipad mini. Don't really see the need, it's nearing EOL anyway to be honest.

Kinda thinking if a 10 inch tablet is better for him now that he's a bit older. Is a 10 inch tablet unwieldy for an 8 year old?

 

[Eug]

I am on iphone 5 and hesitating to upgrade to ios9... I don't want it to be any slower

Seemed fine to me on an iPhone 5. That said, 9.1 is better, and then there's this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8AcopGP1gI

I haven't upgraded my sons ipad mini. Don't really see the need, it's nearing EOL anyway to be honest.

Kinda thinking if a 10 inch tablet is better for him now that he's a bit older. Is a 10 inch tablet unwieldy for an 8 year old?

If the mini is on 7.1.x, then I'd just stay there. If it's on 8.4.1, then I'd upgrade to 9.1 when it comes out. See above.

My friend's kid (<10) uses a 10" iPad fine.