iOS 7 and iPhone 4S, the bare minimum to get the most out of iOS 7 compatible iPhone
Every time Apple releases a new version of iOS, people flock to update. New versions bring new features, a new look and that fresh feeling to an existing phone. The only downside is that sometimes the new version doesn’t work as expected on an older device like the iPhone 4S. Unfortunately for those struggling with older devices, iOS 7 has been out for almost a month and Apple’s no-rollback clause has already kicked in, so going back to iOS 6 is no longer an option.
While both the iPhone 4 and 4S are supported, the truth is that iOS 7 was actually designed for the iPhone 5 and above. It takes full advantage of the larger screen, faster processor, and stronger GPU of those devices, delivering a richer experience.
Having said that, there are definitely ways to tweak the new OS to get the most out of it and your iPhone 4S.
The first and simplest thing you can do is give the new operating system room to breathe. Make sure you have enough free space on your iPhone 4S by uninstalling apps you don’t use and deleting songs that make you groan every time they appear on your playlist. Ideally, you should have done this before installing the new operating system, but you can still benefit from doing it afterwards.
One of the selling features of iOS 7 was better background integration. All iPhone users are familiar with the infamous app update badge that seems to pop up on your phone almost every day to tell you that you need to update one or more apps. No matter how fast you do it, it always seems like there’s another app that needs updating by the time you turn around. iOS 7 breaks that cycle by moving updates to the background.
It’s a great idea, but like any background process, it needs power and CPU cycles to run, and iOS 7 is optimized for devices with more CPU power than the iPhone 4S. Turning off auto-update can not only save battery life, but also help prevent your iPhone from getting stuck with background tasks. It’s not just App Store updates to consider, there are several other services that offer updates in the background, and the more you turn them off, the better your overall performance will be.
Another thing to keep in mind is iCloud. By default, iOS 7 shares your documents and data with iCloud, which is a great benefit for anyone who uses multiple devices. Unfortunately, while it’s a great idea, its implementation is less than stellar on the iPhone 4S.
The problem is the delay. Much delay. Lots of lag every time you open the keyboard and start typing. It pops up with everything from texts to emails to messages, making the features almost unusable for some users. This is more than the normal lag associated with a new operating system, for some users it can be almost overwhelming.
Fortunately, there is an easy solution for most users. All you have to do is go into iCloud settings and disable “Documents and Data” and the excessive lag will be gone.
The iPhone 4S wasn’t made for iOS 7, but with a few tweaks, the new operating system can happily live on your current phone.