iOS 13: Should You Update Your iPhone?

Apple rolled out its first major iOS update since our introduction to Siri in iOS 6 and the long-awaited ability to delete preset apps in iOS 10. Last month, Apple released iOS 13. If you’re still holding onto iOS 12.4, this blog is for you. Like many iPhone updates, iOS 13 brought a host of problems with it. Apple quickly provided a series of smaller updates aimed to fix these issues. Should you install this update? We’ll take you through each moment of this year’s iOS debacle.

The New iOS 13

First, let’s talk about the main update: iOS 13. With this update, Apple stopped supporting the iPhone 6 and earlier models. Only users with an iPhone SE, iPhone 6S, or later can get iOS 13. What does iOS 13 bring to the table? Visible lyrics on Apple Music, a QuickPath keyboard that lets you swipe to type, and new Memoji options are all available with this update. Let’s go over the bigger changes.

• Dark Mode: Dark Mode allows you to view your apps at night more easily. You can add Dark Mode to the Control Panel, so you can switch it on and off as you please. You can also set it to come on automatically.
• Photo editing: With iOS 13, Apple gave us several new photo editing tools. If you have an iPhone XR or XS, you can up your black and white photo game with a new Portrait Lighting feature called High-Key Light Mono. Plus, now you can edit Live Photos without reverting them to regular images.
• Private Sign-on: Tired of creating new passwords for every app you download? Apple now offers a single sign-on service that lets you get into apps using your Apple ID.

Bugs From iOS 13

Despite having a myriad of fun features, iOS 13’s long list of performance problems may outweigh its benefits. Here are a few of the reported bugs:

• Slow or malfunctioning camera
• Apps crashing
• Dropped calls
• Problem with the text field in iMessages
• Issues with AirDrop

Perhaps the biggest issue from iOS 13 was an overlooked security risk. Anyone could bypass an iPhone’s lock screen and access information saved on the device. When a FaceTime call came in, the user could utilize the create a custom message option to get to the phone’s contacts. Even the U.S. Department of Defense encouraged employees not to update their iPhones with the first version of iOS 13.

Update #1: iOS 13.1

Shortly after the release of 13 came iOS 13.1, which fixed issues with iMessage, AirDrop, the camera, and battery health. Unfortunately, iOS 13 and 13.1 were both dinged as security risks to those using third-party keyboards. Both of these updates granted full access to keyboard extensions regardless of whether the user had given access or not.

Update #2: iOS 13.1.1

Soon came iOS 13.1.1. This update fixed the third-party keyboard issue and improved performance in Safari and Reminders.

Update #3: iOS 13.1.2

Another update came down the pike to squash more bugs caused by previous updates. Sadly, 13.1.2 caused issues with the iPhone’s most basic function: calling. Users reported frequently dropped calls.

Update #4: iOS 13.1.3

On October 15, Apple released another update. This one fixed an issue with devices failing to ring or vibrate when they received a call. Other benefits of this update included a better pairing between iPhone and Apple Watch. However, many iPhone owners experienced extreme changes in battery life after downloading iOS 13.1.3.

Update #5: iOS 13.2

At the end of October, iOS 13.2 brought more exciting features.

• Deep Fusion: This feature allows the iPhone 11 and later to shoot better pictures in low light. Deep Fusion takes multiple pictures at varying exposures and puts them together for more detailed images.
• Emoji: Sometimes emoji speak louder than words. iOS 13.2 provides 70 new or updated emoji for you to use to your heart’s desire.

Did you think we were done with the bugs? Unfortunately, iOS 13.2 brought more glitches.

• “Bricked” HomePods: The verb “bricking” has been used to describe how iOS 13.2 rendered HomePods useless. Users who tried to reset their HomePods found themselves stuck in an endless reset mode.
• Loss of multitasking: Along with the HomePod fiasco, users found themselves unable to multitask on their iPhones. This update causes background apps to crash, which makes switching between tasks slow and frustrating.

Update #6 (HomePod Only): iOS 13.2.1

Within 48 hours of 13.2, we welcomed 13.2.1 to this journey. HomePod users will be happy with this update. Welcome to voice recognition and automatic handoff, where your iPhone will begin to play music or a phone call as you near your speaker. This update is only for HomePod users and is found in the Home app, not in settings.

Should I Update My iPhone?

Apple is currently beta testing iOS 13.3. If you still have iOS 12.4, you may want to keep it until iOS 13.3 is released. Hopefully, this update will restore multitasking and improve performance. What if you already have iOS 13? In that case, you’ll want to get the latest update as it may fix many of the bugs you’ve encountered. Did your device break during this update uproar? At Elite Device Repair, we specialize in your iPhone's hardware. Contact us to learn more about the iPhone and iPad repairs we offer!