Apple iOS 15 got off to a terrible start and little improved with iOS 15.0.1 and iOS 15.0.2. Now the first major iOS 15 release has arrived bringing long awaited features, fixes and upgrades. But does iOS 15.1 deliver? For new features, yes. But in terms of stability, there are still a lot of problems. Here’s everything you need to know.
Tip: bookmark this page because I will keep it up to date if/when new problems are found. I will deliver my final verdict in a week.
Apple iOS 15
Apple
Who Is It For?
Apple iOS 15.1 has been released for all iOS 14-compatible devices, aka the iPhone 6S and newer. You should be automatically notified to upgrade but, if not, the update can be triggered manually by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update. If you are running a newer iOS 15 beta (see ‘The Road Ahead’ section at the end), you must unenroll your iPhone first before iOS 15.1 will show up.
Note: this guide is not focused on older iOS updates or iPadOS, but I will touch upon pertinent issues in these guides.
The Deal Breakers
Jailbreakers, no movement here. Both Unc0ver and checkra1n have yet to crack the later iOS 14 releases, let alone iOS 15.
For everyone already on iOS 15, however, the news is familiar. A limited number of fixes with limited success for a wide array of ongoing problems. Perhaps the most frustrating is the bizarre storage bug iOS 15 caused millions of iPhones and iPads. Apple claimed it was fixed in iOS 15.0.1 and now again in iOS 15.1 / iPadOS 15.1 but the second attempt is again a bust (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 etc) despite some exceptions. Worst still, iOS 15.1 is also causing it for some previously unaffected users.
This continues a frustrating pattern of iOS 15.x fixes not delivering and another is WiFi connectivity, a problem iOS 15.1 claims to fix but is again being created for some upgraders. Car connectivity issues also remain, as do problems with Notification Stacks, iOS 15-introduced touchscreen bugs (1,2,3,4,5,6,7) and 120Hz animation issues with third party apps.
I’m also seeing isolated reports of missing photos, Spatial Audio refusing to disable, lost Apple Calendar data and problems with calls. Battery complaints are building as well (1,2,3,4,5) but treat these with caution so soon after updating because your iPhone will still be reindexing.
So What Do You Get?
Apple iOS 15.1 is the first feature rich update to iOS 15 and it brings a lot. Here are the official release notes:
SharePlay
- SharePlay is a new way to share synchronized experiences in FaceTime with content from the Apple TV app, Apple Music, Fitness+, and other supported App Store apps
- Shared controls give everyone the ability to pause, play, rewind or fast forward
- Smart volume automatically lowers the audio of a movie, TV show or song when your friends speak
- Apple TV supports the option to watch the shared video on your big screen while you continue the FaceTime call on iPhone
- Screen sharing lets everyone on a FaceTime call look at photos, browse the web, or help each other out
Camera
- ProRes video capture using iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Setting to turn off automatic camera switching when taking macro photos and videos on iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
Apple Wallet
- COVID-19 vaccination card support allows you to add and present verifiable vaccination information from Apple Wallet
Translate
- Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan) support in the Translate app and for system-wide translation
Home
- New automation triggers based on the current reading of a HomeKit-enabled humidity, air quality, or light level sensor
Shortcuts
- New pre-built actions let you overlay text on images or gifs, plus a new collection of games lets you pass the time with Siri
This release also fixes the following issues:
- Photos app may incorrectly report storage is full when importing photos and videos
- Weather app may not show current temperature for My Location, and may display colors of animated backgrounds incorrectly
- Audio playing from an app may pause when locking the screen
- Wallet may unexpectedly quit when using VoiceOver with multiple passes
- Available Wi-Fi networks may not be detected
- Battery algorithms updated on iPhone 12 models to better estimate battery capacity over time
On the iPad, the update adds the above listed features and support for Live Text in the Camera app. With Live Text, the Camera can detect text, phone numbers, addresses, and more, with the feature available on iPads that have an A12 Bionic chip or later. Live Text was already available on the iPhone.
Apple SharePlay has arrived with iOS 15.1
Apple
The stand out additions are PlayShare and, for the iPhone 13 Pro models, ProRes video support. The former has been highly anticipated and could see significant takeup, particularly if new lockdown measures return during the winter. The latter is primarily for enthusiasts and will eat storage at an incredible rate, but that’s why 1TB iPhone 13 Pro models exist.
As for security, Apple’s official security page states that iOS 15.1 delivers 22 fixes. Apple states that none are zero-day vulnerabilities (meaning hackers are already exploiting them in the wild) but with exploits covering audio, graphics, image processing, iCloud, Siri, Voice control and four Webkit hacks (the engine which powers Safari), this is perhaps the most compelling reason to upgrade to iOS 15.1.
Apple iOS 15.1 Verdict: Upgrade IF You Are Already Running iOS 15.
iOS 15.1 brings a lot of new features and, for most, that will be the primary reason to upgrade. That said, for me, the security fixes are the better reason for an update that is otherwise clearly still full of bugs.
If you have yet to upgrade to iOS 15, however, don’t worry because Apple has released iOS 14.8.1 — a dedicated security update — for those still running the wonderfully stable iOS 14.8. So you can sit pretty while Apple grinds its way through the litany of issues remaining in iOS 15.
At this point, Apple really needs to pick up the pace and improve the quality of its bug fixes. There is no excuse for claiming to fix a problem and then seeing the update not only endure but be introduced for previously unaffected users.
Note: bookmark this guide, I will continue to update it with any relevant flaws or features I find and you will find my final verdict here in one week.
The Road Ahead
Expect iOS 15.2 to enter beta testing soon but you can count on an “unexpected” 15.1.1 and iOS 15.1.2 to arrive before then as Apple continues to battle through the bugs. The company has a lot of work to do to get iOS 15 up to its own high standards and that’s something of a surprise for one of the more moderate iOS generational upgrades in recent years.
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