iOS 14 Pros and Cons

On September 19, 2020, Apple released iOS 14, a new software update for iPhones, iPods, iPads, and Apple Watches. While many users were excited about the new features, such as customizable widgets, the update has also caused some major problems for some users. Before installing iOS 14, you should consider the many pros and cons in order to understand the changes that will occur to your device, as well as take steps to prevent those that are unwanted.

The most popular change that came with the iOS 14 update is the addition of widgets, which allows the user to view information or access features of an app without entirely opening it. For example, the weather widget shows weather information on its interface without the app being opened. Although widgets are not a new concept, as Android users have had access to them for years, those with iPhones have been widely supportive of this update due to aesthetic appeal and increased efficiency. Besides the addition of widgets, iOS 14 also offers the App Library, where all apps are sorted together so that you can see them all at once. . Because all apps are centrally located onto one page and sorted into different categories, users will have a much easier time navigating their home pages.

Despite all the pros included with iOS 14, glaring issues have been reported with the update as well. The first negative aspect of the update is the short release warning. After the update was announced in June 2020, it was released only three months later in September. This left app developers unprepared for the update, which meant that certain third party apps were not able to function properly under the new software and were afflicted by severe bugs. Many health apps lost information or were entirely unable to operate, leaving users unhappy and regretting their decision to install iOS 14.

Another pressing issue is extremely quick battery loss. One Twitter user, @pratishgupta16, claimed that their phone had gone from 90% to 3% in only one hour, and many others agreed that they had experienced similar issues. In response, Apple suggested that users unpair their iPhones, back them up to iCloud, factory reset their phones, and finally restore their data from the backups. The process is extremely tedious, time consuming, and not guaranteed to work every time. In addition, backing up and restoring an iPhone will not restore lost data from apps, leaving no way for that aspect to be solved. Backups do not include missing data from apps either, which made iPhone users even more frustrated.

Before updating to iOS 14, take a moment to reflect on whether or not the risk is worth the reward. Although the bugs did not afflict every Apple product, they were still experienced by many, who had to then go through the painstaking process to reverse the damaging effects. Overall, the iOS 14 software update may add many innovative features to Apple products, but the overt issues greatly diminish the added benefits.

SOPHIA XU

Writer at The City Voice

Hello, my name is Sophia Xu and I am currently a junior at City High Middle School. While I write about a wide variety of topics, my interests include pop culture and current events. Some other extracurriculars I am a part of are NHS, MIHS, Union Golf, Union Tennis, and Girl Up. For any questions or inquiries, contact me at xu-s@students.grps.org.