Apple regularly updates the iPhone's operating system "iOS" to ensure more security and address current technical issues. The company also focuses on providing new features and functionalities for users. While some iPhones can support updates for up to 5 or 6 years, immediately downloading new updates may not always be the best option.
Although Apple has not officially announced it, they tend to prioritize newer iPhone models over older ones. As a result, some users of older iPhones are seeking ways to manually install updates not intended for their phones, hoping to improve the phone's performance and enjoy new features. However, this action does not necessarily enhance the phone's performance and may lead to other issues.
The new iOS update may slow down the phone
Recent updates targeted at newer iPhones require slightly more effort than older iPhones. In other words, each new update to the iOS operating system demands more performance and hardware capabilities to run smoothly and seamlessly on the latest iPhones released by Apple, compared to older models that lack the latest technologies like modern processing chips. Consequently, when installing the latest iOS updates on older devices, it becomes an extra burden on the phone, affecting its performance in various ways, such as slower app responsiveness, longer app opening times, or experiencing increased heat or slowdown while navigating between apps. That's all there is to it.
Reasons or why you should not download the new iOS update on an old iPhone:
Battery performance is declining and deteriorating more rapidly.
New iOS versions require extra effort from both the processor and the battery, which increases power consumption and reduces battery efficiency. Older iPhones may already be less capable of handling this due to their age. A survey conducted by the renowned website 9to5Mac showed that 64% of iPhone users experienced battery performance issues after updating to iOS 16, so experts advised users to stick with iOS 15.
It is also important to acknowledge that lithium batteries weaken over time and gradually lose their ability to hold a charge. Therefore, it might be better to consider replacing the battery entirely if you are experiencing battery life issues with your old iPhone. This step could potentially bring new life to your phone without the need to update to the latest iOS version.
Sudden freezing and crashing issues appear.
You might think that the latest iOS updates are free of flaws and technical issues, but that's not entirely accurate. Sometimes, the new operating system updates may come with more problems than new features. Therefore, relying solely on the latest iOS updates instead of sticking to the old system may lead to annoying issues and phone lagging.
Fixing old issues with the new operating systems doesn't guarantee that they won't bring new problems. You may encounter issues such as camera freezing, poor battery performance, weak Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signals, and more. Therefore, it's best to stick with the current operating system if your phone is running smoothly and you're not experiencing any issues that affect your phone's usability.
Apple's lie about the supposed new features
After updating your iOS operating system, especially on older devices, you might wonder if it's worth it. You could encounter performance issues and miss out on some exciting new features that come with the latest versions.