iOS 11.1 is here and not a moment too soon following the chaos of the iOS 11 launch and the subsequent problems caused by three rushed point releases. Furthermore iOS 11.1 has had a relatively smooth beta testing period with promising results, so should you upgrade or is this just another update which will makes things worse? 

Who is iOS 11.1 for?

Like all iOS 11 releases, iOS 11.1 is compatible with iPhone 5S or later, iPad mini 2 or later and the 6th generation iPod touch or later.

Compatible devices will receive an automatic notification to download and install the iOS 11.1 update, you could also use 3uTools to upgrade.

Tip: The First iOS 11.2 Beta is Available for Download Right Now

Note: Apple has now released roughly 3.5GB of iOS updates since iOS 11 was released on September 19th, so watch out if you have a metered broadband connection.

First my usual warning: there is no jailbreak for this release so if you like to jailbreak your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch stay away. When will jailbreakers eventually catch up to this flurry of iOS updates? We have no idea!

As for stability, based on the first 24 hours it is working better than previous releases (admittedly a low bar). So far there are isolated reports of keyboard issues, screen dimming, stutter and ongoing battery problems but it is important to note some are also reporting Apple has finally made the improvements the betas suggested (more in the next section).

So What Do You Get? What's new in iOS 11.1?

Unlike previous releases iOS 11.1 is not just a bug fix (though it features a lot of them), it also introduces new features - in this case more than seventy emoji - and Apple’s official security page confirms it includes a long awaited patch for the serious KRACK WiFi vulnerability.

Here is a breakdown

For those worst affected (circa 50-60% battery life reductions), iOS 11.1 is the first sign Apple has heard your pleas even if the fixes are not officially listed in the release notes. Why the omission? Because Apple hasn’t officially admitted the battery life problems exist in the first place.

Apple iOS 11.1 Verdict: Install If You Have Battery Life Problems (Otherwise Wait)

Right now the biggest advantage iOS 11.1 brings is potential relief to those badly hit by the battery problems of iOS 11. Reports show the fix isn’t working for everyone but with some previously saying their iPhones were only lasting a few hours on a full charge, they have nothing to lose.

As for everyone else, I would suggest you wait. The fix for the KRACK vulnerability is important but in reality it’s very hard for a hacker to exploit and there are already a number of upgrade problems reported so it’s pointless to risk upgrading your device so soon if it is already working well.

Ultimately it all depends on how much you love emojis...

The Road Ahead

Apple iOS 11.2 is already in testing and the first public beta has been made available in the Apple Beta Program. This should be the most substantial update to iOS 11 yet with the inclusion AirPlay 2 and peer-to-peer Apple Pay widely expected (the latter was pulled from iOS 11 at the last minute).

Source: Forbes