Is IOS 7.1 a real improvement?

[Mikeatsea]

Like so many who updated their IOS from 6 to 7 on their I phone 4, I noticed a significant deterioration of response time on the phone. Before I go to 7.1 can anyone tel me if this is going to improve my situation or make it worse?
Once bitten, twice shy. I just don't look at "updates" as being equal to improvements anymore.
Thanks

[pigoo3]

If you're already running iOS 7 on your iPhone 4...updating to iOS 7.1 should not cause any issues.

I would suggest doing a bit of research regarding the changes made from 7.0 to 7.1 to see what they are. Chances are it's just a bunch of compatibility, performance, and bug tweaks. But sometimes there are some minor new features as well.

- Nick

[JohnCL]

I've read in various places on the web that 7.1 on the 4 has improved things. Although I have no real way to test myself on an older device, so YMMV.

[vansmith]

The review I read said effectively this: Apple did a commendable job trying to trim down iOS 7.1 for the iPhone 4 but Apple can't get around the very real hardware limitations of the phone. The short version: it's better but it's still three year old hardware.

[pigoo3]

Some folks don't realize that being able to upgrade to a newer iOS on their device (with some slower performance)...is MUCH better than not being able to upgrade at all.

Just ask folks with iPad 1's stuck with iOS 5!

- Nick

[Pvee]

I have an IPhone 5c.
I read that many people were reporting shorter battery life but battery life has been better for me since 7.1.

Probably depends on the apps you are running.

pvp

[chscag]

Well, iPhones in general are not great when it comes to battery life (compared to a dumb phone's battery life) but I generally can get four days or more on one charge. I have a 5c but keep BT off. Could probably do better by turning off cellular when I'm at home on my own network.

[chas_m]

I have an iPhone 4 and installed 7.1 on it. Have not noticed any change in battery life (which is good) just in speed (better than it was under 7.0, but that's just the animations talking). I don't have any regrets about putting iOS 7 on that phone -- the slide-up control panel ALONE was worth the upgrade, plus being able to put all my games in one folder.

The iPhone 4 isn't my main phone anymore, so I'm thinking of selling it (I have a 5s now). It's unlocked, which makes it more valuable here in Canuckistan.

[aan]

Some folks don't realize that being able to upgrade to a newer iOS on their device (with some slower performance)...is MUCH better than not being able to upgrade at all.

Just ask folks with iPad 1's stuck with iOS 5!

- Nick

My old iPhone 3GS is on iOS 5. I would rather stay in iOS 4 but I was forced to upgrade when I unlocked it (officially through AT&T). My iPad2 is also on iOS 5. I am not going to upgrade my iPhone 5 to iOS 7. There is nothing valuable to me in the iOS releases starting iOS 5. I really doubt I would buy another iOS device if Apple goes the same way.

BTW: My home and work laptops are both running Snow Leopard. Tried really hard to adopt Mountain Lion and Mavericks and had to rollback both times.

[burnedfaceless]

I have a 5s and it runs great. The fingerprint is improved, and it runs faster on my phone.

My sister has a 4. I read in the about this update that it would increase speed for the 4 at least I think that's what it said.

[burnedfaceless]

I have an iPhone 4 and installed 7.1 on it. Have not noticed any change in battery life (which is good) just in speed (better than it was under 7.0, but that's just the animations talking). I don't have any regrets about putting iOS 7 on that phone -- the slide-up control panel ALONE was worth the upgrade, plus being able to put all my games in one folder.

The iPhone 4 isn't my main phone anymore, so I'm thinking of selling it (I have a 5s now). It's unlocked, which makes it more valuable here in Canuckistan.

Canuckistan that made me laugh...

[osxx]

My old iPhone 3GS is on iOS 5. I would rather stay in iOS 4 but I was forced to upgrade when I unlocked it (officially through AT&T). My iPad2 is also on iOS 5. I am not going to upgrade my iPhone 5 to iOS 7. There is nothing valuable to me in the iOS releases starting iOS 5. I really doubt I would buy another iOS device if Apple goes the same way.

BTW: My home and work laptops are both running Snow Leopard. Tried really hard to adopt Mountain Lion and Mavericks and had to rollback both times.

A lot of people don't want to upgrade until they want or need a new application that will only run on the new OS/iOS.
Another thing that happens to older systems at some point the company quits patching them.

[aan]

A lot of people don't want to upgrade until they want or need a new application that will only run on the new OS/iOS.

True. But the pain of the OS upgrade could overweight the benefits of the new app.
Especially when you cannot return back to the old OS.

Another thing that happens to older systems at some point the company quits patching them.

I don't think anybody still writes viruses for Win 2000 / IE6.