Apple first unveiled iOS 10 back in June this year, which the company pushed out three months later in September for every compatible iDevices.
The operating system was a sizable upgrade from the previous iteration, housing huge steps forward. There are a number of compelling reasons to install the update now alongside tips and tricks to make the most out of the OS.
For one, there's now a redesigned lock screen where all a user's notification is in full preview, an extensively redesigned music app, a new smart home app called HomeKit that features a centralized control panel for those who have smart features embedded in their household and the option to delete Apple's stock apps, to the delight of many.
More than a month later, Apple released the next update, iOS 10.1, which covered portrait mode for iPhone 7 Plus, bringing the bokeh feature to the dual cameras. Among the list of improvements were transit updates for certain locations in Japan for Maps, fixes to several of the Messages app's glitches and a whole laundry list of performance improvements and fixes.
But the question is, is it worth the upgrade?
Potential Drawbacks
Jailbroken iDevices using a software older than iOS 10 should naturally fall averse to this update since there's still no foolproof method to jailbreak devices running iOS 10, but the hacking community moves at a rapid pace, and this may soon change. Still, iOS 10.1 is essentially a hazardous warning road sign for those who prefer to have their devices jailbroken.
In terms of performance croaks and hiccups, the Apple Support Communities has been mum so far, with no irate complaints or game-breaking issues surfacing since the update's release.
However, minor reports about disappearing Apple Health data have been reported, but the topic has not gained any significant traction yet. It remains to be seen if this indeed turns out to be a bug.
Apart from these points, the build appears to be in good shape.
Should You Upgrade?
The iOS 10.1 update might seem a small affair at first, but it actually brings over a subtle fix that wasn't even included in the changelog: updated modem drivers and carrier firmware. These prevent the recurring problem of iPhone devices randomly losing cellular connection.
There's also improved AirPlay Mirroring, Bluetooth connectivity and Activity syncing for Apple Watch users.
Overall, it would be wise for anyone to upgrade to iOS 10.1. Despite not carrying revolutionary and major changes to software, the heft of its underpinnings bolster the devices on the performance side of things, ironing out a number of issues under the surface, which spells for a much better experience in using the OS.
If you don't have any plans to jailbreak your iPhone, then you should definitely upgrade. Though notably, some users prefer the older version more.
iOS 10.1 is available now for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus including older models beginning from iPhone 5. The update is also available for iPad 2 and iPad Mini 2 or later, iPad Pro and the sixth-generation iPod touch.
