iOS 16 – should I update?

By Panais, 13 May, 2023

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hi all!
Truth is that I am terrified to update from iOS 15 to iOS 16. Of course I know I will eventually take that step into the unknown, but is this the right time to do so?
I have read too many posts on this website that are expressing complaints about iOS 16, thus I am afraid to lose some of what I already have. for example, I would be quite annoyed if the quality of the VO voices is degraded, or if some of my apps stop working. there are also countless other things that could go wrong, which I haven’t even thought about.
Since I am also using my iPhone for some of my work, any bug could be more than a small inconvenience to what I am used to.
So here comes the million dollar question. Is it wise for me to update or not?
Since I don’t want to take much of your time, a simple yes or no answer would do. Of course any answer is more than welcome, but I will still be grateful with a couple of words.
Thank you in advance.

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Comments

By Daniel Angus M… on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

There are numaris bennifits to running the latest version of any opperating system. security and bug fixes mainly. we’re at almost the end of this release cycle, and the major bugs hafve been fixt. I am a beta tester, and when beta 1 dropped, it was quite buggy. now, iOS 16 is quite good. more voices, third-party sinthasizer support, with eSpeak NG and RHVoice right now. plus Apple will not support you unless you’re running the latest opperating system.

By al-Salil on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

Wait until 16.5.
VO is restarting all the time on 16.4.1 and I'd say wait and see if that nonsense of a bug is resolved in 16.5.
It's not a huge problem but darn annoying.

By Daniel Angus M… on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

yes, I would wait as well. iOS 16.5 releases soon in a few days, so you might as well wait. it’s coming out on Tuesday, according to Youtubers who regularly post beta videos, and Apple themselves, via a press release.

By Siobhan on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

We all know the old saying, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. You just can't do that with technology. You can't be so afraid of what you might encounter because truth is, you don't know what's going to happen. There is a voice over restart bug, it just happened for me except it's minor. I barely notice it happening. If you allow yourself to be concerned about what everyone else is doing, then you're setting yourself up for a mistake. the obvious answer is, update for security reasons. If you're worried about the work apps you use, look in the updates tab of the app store. I suspect you are one to not update often. again, this isn't a car or house, you can't just leave things alone until you're either forced to or you get a new device. It's impossible to test every use case imaginable. That's why I wish more people would go onto the public beta testing cycle. It's free and once in you can email the hell out of Apple with this bug and that issue. Jump off the ledge, there's nothing to be scared of. Next update for IOs or an app, read with caution, then do what's right for you, not what you see here and freak. :) have a good one.

By Daniel Angus M… on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

I always incurrage beta testing. I am a registered Apple Developer for this reason. and to get betas with more bugs. I’m thinking of not renewing, as it is a very expensive endeavour just for betas. anyway, I started beta testing for Apple opperating systems way bac in OS X Mavericks 10.9.3, as there was a post on this site explaining about the new beta program, and a link to join. since then, I have always been beta testing. sure, their are bugs, but just more reports to file. I also incurrage everybody to read license agreements for Apple software, and otherwise. then you know what you are agreeing to. just do it with VoiceOver, if blind, and speak screen will probably work for people who have some vision.

By Bruce Harrell on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

If you still have IOS 15, I'd stick with it until the final version of IOS 16, assuming the final version finally gets rid of a couple pretty serious bugs.

By Holger Fiallo on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

Agree with her.
PS for Siobhan since I am no longer at twitter, I do not know what kind of trouble you get. If you are at mastodon, my account is @HolgerFiallo@mastodonsocial

By Ash Rein on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

If you waited this long, you might as well wait till iOS 17. It’s about a month away in terms of being announced. And it’ll be released in September.

By Holger Fiallo on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

Waiting for iOS 17 is not a good idea. iOS 16.5 bugs will be less compare to iOS 17. Just get it for security issues.

By Ash Rein on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

I actually think that there’s going to be a whole new voiceover experienc in iOS 17. I have a feeling that many things are going to be streamlined and changed up. Specifically in regards to accessibility. iOS 16.5 has a lot of good fixes. But there’s also maybe some other issues to consider. There’s even going to be an iOS 16.6. I tend to believe that this year could be a very big year for voiceover accessibility.

By fatih on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

I'm using espeak with IOS 16.4.1 and have never incountered the vo restarting bug.

By Andy Lane on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

I’d leave it for now if your device is stable. Mine crashes almost constantly on 16.5 beta 4 I think. I haven’t installed the last beta because I’ve taken myself off beta programme so I get the non beta download of 16.5 next week. If the second to last beta is anything to go by though, I don’t think the problem is fixed. I’m getting to the point where the only important thing about a device is that it works. The new features don’t mean anything if major issues cause my phone to crash constantly and focus isn’t maintained.

By LaBoheme on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

if not, just try it out with one of your older devices. i mean people would try to be helpful, but i kind of doubt how useful it is for you in terms of making a decision. my guess is you have almost decided what to do, and you just want someone to validate your own decision?

what you can find here and all over the internet give yu a good idea of what to expect, and i think it is plenty.

starting your upgrade with your oldest device, and if you did get rid of all your old devices, maybe you want to change strategy in the future. i keep at least three old devices. i keep them around the house, they are very handy.

By Dominic on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

I would like for iOS 17. iOS 16 is so far into the cycle, that at this point, it’s not going to be really worth it. If you install the update, hypothetically, speaking, iOS 17 will come in September. You have WWDC in basically a month. And 2 to 3 months later iOS 17 is going to be released.
So think about it this way. Would you rather update iOS 16, or wait? Four months. Personally, the crushing issue is probably going to be the most show, stopping bug on your phone, so I wouldn’t upgrade at this point
iOS, 17 husband, 🌺💐Romaisa💫🌹🥰 features new features such as sideloading, using other apps stores, Etc etc.

By Panais on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

Thank you all so much for your time and invaluable advice. once more you have all been great Help!
Ps. I wasn’t even close to a decision @LaBoheme. I wouldn’t have asked if that was the case.

By Dennis Long on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

NO SOFTWARE WILL BE BUG FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are numerous reasons to upgrade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I would immediately upgrade.

By Siobhan on Saturday, June 3, 2023 - 07:30

If the OP does update, they will have a stable, beta tested release. You have IOS17 which may have bugs some so untested, that I think it was IOs8 and other versions, voice over's accessibility was so disastrous that you were warned, do not update. Then after the main release there was version .1.2.3 so whatever they decide, we've given them the info they need. As I've said before, I'll never understand why this question comes up time and again. when I held off updating after the first release, I just did what I wanted, not worrying what others thought. As for the app stores, I think that's only in the eU, and of course apple's a silicon Valley bigwig. Well OP, good luck and curiously, post your decision if only I'd be curious if you updated sooner rather then later. another question for you, would be say you waited until IOS17, would you regret not becoming part of the beta testing program, or would you have wished to leave your phone at the last release? We also are aware that apple stops signing the certificates for the previous release quite quickly. Good luck. :)