Malcolm Owen
Apple has unexpectedly released an update of iOS for older iPhone and iPad models that cannot be updated to iOS 13.1, with the legacy hardware now able to update to iOS 12.4.2, at the same time as updating the Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2.
While the majority of iPhone and iPad users are updating to iOS 13.1 from iOS 12.4.1 or iOS 13, users of older models not supported for the operating system upgrade are able to download an update that brings iOS 12.4.1 to iOS 12.4.2. Released without betas or fanfare on Thursday, the update is available to download now by a selection of older devices.
The list of compatible hardware for the iOS 12.4.2 update includes the iPhone 5s, the iPhone 6 family of smartphones, the first-generation iPad Air, the second and third-generation iPad mini, and the sixth-generation iPod touch.
Older models, including the fifth-generation iPod touch, the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5, and the iPad 4, are currently not able to update, and have to remain on earlier iOS releases at this time.
At the same time, Apple has issued updates for the Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2. The updates, firmware updates for watchOS 5.3.2, are available for both 38mm and 42mm variants of both Apple Watch generations.
It is unclear exactly what Apple is including as part of the update releases, but it is likely to include a variety of performance and bug fixes, as well as updating apps to work with other services Apple provides.
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16 Comments
I guess I'm lucky, because I have already updated all of my devices (iPhone/iPad/Watch) to iOS 13/iPad OS and currently have no older devices that would need this update.
It's a good thing though that Apple released this for those people who still use older devices and want to have the newest security updates etc. Apple devices are useful and function well for a far longer time than anything else out there. It's not even close.
Every single Apple user out there is on their own update schedule, and there are many, many people out there still using older Apple devices. And why shouldn't they, as long as the devices still function well and the user is happy?
I am on the fence about the 13.1 update on my iPhone SE, and I almost wonder if remaining on iOS 12 would have been better in the end. Despite the claims of many reviews, I've found that the update has impacted the performance of the device. The UI and scrolling have taken a hit, and even swiping between the home screen pages causes noticeable judder. While most of the native Apple apps seem to work fine, some third party apps exhibit significant slowdown (i.e. the NHL app). I wonder if the additional OS memory and multitasking overhead has finally overwhelmed the SE's specs.
iOS works beautifully on my SE. Sure, there are a few minor bugs, like any other OS.