5 Things to Know About the iOS 10.3 Update!

Apple recently released its iOS 10.3 update and today we want to take a close look at everything we know, right now, about the the iOS 10.3 update and its release for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
iOS 11 rumors are starting to pickup but a release is still several months away. For the moment, Apple’s focused, at least publicly, on iOS 10. And after a lengthy stint in beta, the iOS 10.3 update is now available for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
As expected iOS 10.3 is a huge update for Apple’s mobile devices bringing new features, fixes and a ton of security patches with it.
Today we want to take an updated look at the most important things to know about the iOS 10.3 update and its release.
We’ll continue to update this roundup with new details so check back for frequent updates as we push into the month of April. 

iOS 10.3 REVIEW

We’ve downloaded the iOS 10.3 update on the iPhone 7, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 5.

                                                    

                           

The iOS 10.3 update is massive, over 600MB for the iPhone 7, and the installation process took a lot longer than usual due in part to Apple’s new APFS file system.

We didn’t run into any issues but the download/installation took upwards of 20 minutes on all of these devices so make sure you set aside some time to monitor the download and the installation.

So far, we haven’t noticed any major problems with any of these devices. In fact, we’ve seen some nice improvements on the eldest device.

Battery life is currently holding up on all four phones. We haven’t experienced any weird drain when in use or standby. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular data are also stable.

We’ve noticed some improvements to the iPhone 5’s boot speed and its UI. The user interface feels faster and more fluid than the previous versions of iOS 10.

As of right now, iOS 10.3 is treating these three devices well and it’s recommended if you’re interested in iOS 10.3’s features, protecting your device from potential harm, or if you’re suffering from an unfixable iOS issue.

If you’re doing fine on iOS 10.2.1, you might want to wait a few days for more long-term feedback to emerge. We’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, we’ve put together a list of reasons to, and not to, install the iOS 10.3 update right now.

If you’re having an excellent experience on iOS 10.2.1 or below, we highly recommend digging into those reasons before making the move to iOS 10.3.

iOS 10.3 PROBLEMS

iOS 10.3 went through a lengthy beta but problems have slipped through the cracks.

iOS 10.3 users are complaining about a wide range of issues including weird battery drain, issues with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, lag, random reboots, and issues with third-party apps.

As of right now, these issues are isolated. They’re also extremely common after a major iOS update release.

Most of these iOS 10.3 problems can be solved from the comfort of a computer chair at work or your home.

If you’re seeing an issue after downloading iOS 10.3, take a look at our list of fixes. You’ll also want to report it to Apple so that its engineers can get to work on a fix.

DOWNGRADE & iOS 10.3.1

If you decide to download the iOS 10.3 update know that there is no longer a way to drop down to another official version of iOS 10.

If iOS 10.3 is causing problems for you you’re stuck until Apple rolls out a new version of iOS 10.

Apple’s no longer signing off on iOS 10.2.1 which means you can’t drop down to it if you’re unhappy with the iOS 10.3 update’s performance on your iPhone or iPad. Unfortunately, you can’t drop down to anything older than iOS 10.2.1 either.

Also note that you can now “upgrade” to iOS 10.3.1.

Apple’s released an iOS 10.3.1 update with bug fixes for iPhone and iPad. The update is tiny but it could have an impact on your device’s performance.

For more on the iOS 10.3.1 update, take a look at our walkthrough. It goes over performance, problems, and more.

CLIPS NOW AVAILABLE FOR iPHONE & iPAD

A new feature, which requires the iOS 10.3/iOS 10.3.1 update is now available.

                        

Earlier this year, Apple announced a new Clips application. The company promised a release in April and Clips is now out on the App Store.

Clips allows select iOS 10.3/iOS 10.3.1 users to create unique videos. It lets you combine video clips, photos and music that you can share via iMessage, Instagram, Facebook or another popular social networking platform.

It also features Live Tiles which will let you create animated captions and titles using your voice. You’re then able to add effects like comic book filters, speech bubbles, shapes and full-screen animated posters.

For more on Clips, take a look at our roundup. Clips isn’t available for the iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, or iPad 4.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Apple’s already confirmed the next iOS 10.3 update.

The iOS 10.3.2 update is currently in beta ahead of an unknown release date. As of right now the update appears to be a maintenance release which means it’ll probably deliver bug fixes and security patches as opposed to features.

While you might be tempted to try the iOS 10.3.2 beta ahead of time, be aware that Apple’s early software can cause problems.

Issues with apps and services, connectivity, and battery life are common beta issues and we expect these, and other problems, to plague the iOS 10.3.2 update as it passes through the company’s beta program.

INSTALL iOS 10.3.1 IF YOU WANT BETTER SECURITY

If you value your security, you'll want to seriously consider downloading the iOS 10.3.1 update on your iPhone or iPad. 

iOS 10.3.1 brings a single security patch for a potential Wi-Fi exploit. But if you failed to install iOS 10.3, your iOS 10.3.1 update will bring its monster list of patches as well. 

The iOS 10.3 update delivered over 60 known patches for potential exploits. That's substantial, even for a milestone upgrade. The previous version of iOS 10, iOS 10.2.1, brought 14 known patches.

Among them is a patch for a Safari ransomware bug that scammers used to extort iOS users who viewed pornography on their device. 

These patches enhance the security on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch making them ideal for those of you who store sensitive files/data on your device. Most people do.

If you skipped the iOS 10.2.1 update and/or the iOS 10.2 update, know that iOS 10.3.1 brings their security patches with it as well. Again, the iOS 10.2.1 update had 14 important patches on board. You can see them all right here. 

If you failed to install Apple's iOS 9.3.5 update, iOS 10.3.1 will also bring the three crucial security patches it delivered last year. These patch up serious security problems that could potentially expose your calls, contacts, texts, and emails.

If security is important to you, iOS 10.3.1 is probably worth a download right now.