iOS 17 uptake is slower than iOS 16 heres why some people are waiting to download it

Date:
Tue, 06 Feb 2024 12:59:23 +0000

Description:
We break down why some people are refraining from downloading iOS 17 and why you shouldn't hesitate.

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Its official: iOS 17 adoption is trailing behind iOS 16 adoption this time last year.

According to Apples own data (as spotted by MacRumors ), 76% of all iPhone models released in the last four years that completed a transaction in the
App Store on February 4 were running iOS 17 (or a later version of it). By comparison, last years equivalent survey determined that 81% of transaction-completing iPhone users had downloaded iOS 16 by February 4,
2023.

Admittedly, 5% doesnt seem like a steep drop, but given that the number of active iPhones released in the last four years must surely reach into the hundreds of millions , its clear that several million iPhone users have still not yet downloaded iOS 17, despite having downloaded iOS 16 at the same time
a year prior.

So, why is adoption for Apples latest software update proving slower than
last year? Its worth noting that iOS update adoption never reaches 100% due, in part, to the apathy and ignorance of a certain iPhone user base. My
mother, for instance, wouldnt have downloaded iOS 17 if I hadnt told her a) how and b) why she should. But that school of thought doesnt account for the discrepancy between iOS 17 adoption and iOS 16 adoption.

There is also an argument to be made that this is a statistically irrelevant comparison, since the iPhone user base has no doubt grown in the last 12 months (and therefore the number of users who currently have iOS 17 installed might actually exceed the number of people who had iOS 16 installed this time last year). That said, a quick browse through the comments sections on MacRumors and AppleInsider reveals that there are indeed a large number of people who are deliberately refraining from downloading iOS 17. Ignore the naysayers (Image credit: Shutterstock / fizkes)

As Apple Software Quality Assurance has steadily declined over the years, I have postponed upgrading to the newest release, one AppleInsider reader comments. At first it was a month, or six weeks, but over the years my adoption has been pushed back farther and farther. The last couple of years,
I have upgraded in Q2, usually early April. This year, I will probably
upgrade when iOS 17.6.1 comes out. That should ensure that pretty much all of the features have been released and the most egregious bugs have been dealt with.

I don't jump versions on my devices, another AppleInsider reader writes. If I get [a device] with iOS 15, I will update to the latest [version of 15] and not go to 16. I already ruined two devices when I upgraded iOS to the next number up, and the devices became unusable.

A MacRumors reader writes: Why install iOS 17 when functionality announced in June 2023 is still not delivered? And when it is delivered, it will take multiple releases to make it work correctly.

There are three points to address here bugs , device slowdown and a lack of new features . It is true that early versions of new software updates do ship with bugs, and iOS 17 was no different . However, these bugs are often little more than minor glitches that affect a small proportion of iPhone users, and the security benefits introduced via new iOS updates even the earliest versions far outweigh the risks posed by these comparatively minor bugs.
Your can check the health of your iPhone's battery in Settings (Image credit: Shutterstock / FellowNeko)

As for device slowdown; again, it is true that new iOS updates can negatively affect performance and impact battery efficiency. But while these issues
might seem disastrous at first, they are almost always temporary and in some cases, even necessary. When Apple or indeed any software developer pushes out major OS updates, phones often need to reindex data and recalibrate their battery settings , which in turn leads to faster battery drain.

In addition to this recalibration, new OS updates often trigger a slew of app-specific updates that put even more strain on your iPhones battery and performance levels. Once these apps have freshened themselves up for the latest version of iOS, however, this drain subsides.

And finally, with regards to Apple withholding previously promised features
in new iOS updates, it is true that the company sometimes shows off features that it ends up releasing in later versions of a new iOS update but again, these situations are almost always mitigated by the number of new features that are made available at a given updates launch. NameDrop is a headline feature of iOS 17 (Image credit: Future / Apple)

Prior to the release of iOS 17, for instance, Apple talked up its new Journal app , which didnt end up arriving until iOS 17.2 . But StandBy mode, NameDrop , Check In , Contact Posters , a new live voicemail feature, and many more helpful new additions did all arrive with the base version of Apples latest software update.

The takeaway? Dont delay in downloading iOS 17. In our iOS 17 review , we described the new update as a huge leap forward, and you shouldnt let temporary bugs, device slowdown or a supposed lack of new features deter you from taking the plunge.

Not sure how to update your iPhone to iOS 17? Check out our guide on how to download iOS 17 , as well as our piece on the six new features coming to your iPhone with iOS 17.4 . You might also like Wear glasses? This neat iPhone camera trick can simulate your natural vision Get a new iPhone? Here are 3 time-saving iOS settings to activate now Optimize iPhone Storage explained : where your photos actually go



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/ios/ios-17-uptake-is-slower-than-ios-16-heres -why-some-people-are-waiting-to-download-it


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