iPad 2, iPhone 4s Are iOS 8 Ready? Yes, But Really Maybe [u]

Apple has publicly said that the iPad 2 and iPhone 4s are iOS 8 ready. However, anyone that has tried in the past to upgrade an older iThing to latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system knows that there is iOS 8 ready and iOS ready to tear your hair out.

Take my friend Andrew, for example, who knew better than to try to install iOS 8 on his aging yet cherished iPad 2. While plenty o’ folks were able to install iOS 7 on their iPad 2s and live happily ever after, he had gotten badly bitten trying to install iOS 6 on his.

[u] For what it’s worth, Fairer Platform reader Ove reports that iOS 8 works just fine on his iPad 2 and iPhone 4s. As always, it pays to remember that your mileage could vary, both positively and negatively.

So, the iPad 2 is iOS 8 ready? Not so much. Search the web for iPad 2 + iOS 8 and you will find no shortage of people advising against installing it. Ditto that for the also not so iOS 8 ready iPhone 4s.

Specifically, there are a range of iOS 8 ready issues people are having with the iPad 2 and iPhone 4s. Given that these two devices don’t support many of iOS 8’s headline new features (ie Apple Health, Handoff, TouchID, OpenGL ES 3.0, Metal graphics API, 64-bit apps), discretion before valor strongly suggests iPad 2 and iPhone 4s stay right where they are — the potential gains are surely outweighed by the published performance and stability pratfalls.

That said, while some iPhone 5 owners are reporting iOS 8 ready issues, if past is prologue, it’s highly likely Apple will resolve most of those problems with iOS 8.x.x updates.

iOS 8 Ready Or Not

Still going to press ahead? As the example Ove shows, not every iPad 2 and/or iPhone 4s owners is experiencing problems with iOS 8.

Two simple tips that could reduce potential headaches: 1.) backup before attempting to install iOS 8 and 2.) apply the update from within iTunes while your iPhone or iPad is connected to a Mac or PC.

Yes, over-the-air updates are convenient, but upgrading your iThing to iOS 8 the old fashion way, while connected to your Mac, is the way to go.

Further, by backing up to a Mac or PC before upgrading, you give yourself a way back to iOS 7.x should the iOS 8 upgrade fail. Seriously, take the time to back up (aka save your own ass)…

What’s your take?