Here’s everything you need to know…
Who Is iOS 10.2.1 For?
iOS 10.2.1 is for all iOS 10 compatible devices. This means the iPhone 5 or later, iPad 2 or later, iPad mini 2 or later, iPad Pro range and the 6th generation iPod touch or later.
Getting ahold of iOS 10.2.1 is simple. Upgrade prompts should be received on your device automatically, but if that hasn’t happened you can trigger it manually by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
iOS updates will differ in size depending on your device. iOS 10.2.1 is on the small side at between 30MB and 90MB, but appearances can be deceptive as it is actually a big deal.
The Deal Breakers
Firstly yes, there is no iOS 10.2.1 jailbreak and with attempts to hack iOS proving increasingly futile over the last year any users who cherish their jailbroken devices will need to stay clear.
Secondly a biggie: the ’30% Battery Bug’ remains unfixed. This is quite remarkable because since I exclusively reported the bug back in November, it has made headlines around the world and even the Chinese government got involved demanding Apple fix it. iOS 10.2’s release in December had suggested this would be imminent as it delivered battery diagnostic tools, but nothing has materialised from that and the company has made no comment since.
In fact Apple has still not publicly admitted the bug exists for any iPhone model except the iPhone 6S, so the timeline for action remains up in the air. I’d suggest Apple hurry up as based on my personal experience, I’ve never received more angry emails and tweets from impacted users about an iOS bug.
Apple's failure to deal with the 30% Bug in iOS 10.2.1 is frustrating and angering affected users.... [+]
Elsewhere a couple of isolated issues are being raised in Apple’s official Support Communities forum. Dimming displays, degraded WiFi performance and some Bluetooth issues have been cited and there is a small amount of momentum behind the dimming displays issue so I will keep a close eye on this.
Update: there are now further problems with this update which make it more of a risk to upgrade. Full details here.
So What Do You Get?
iOS 10.2.1 is a bug fix, pure and simple. In fact the release notes from Apple only state: “iOS 10.2.1 includes bug fixes and improves the security of your device”. There is not even the usual ‘performance enhancements’ reference Apple tends to include in most updates. And yet these fixes make iOS 10.2.1 essential.
Apple’s security content lists 11 significant vulnerabilities iOS 10.2.1 fixes across Auto Unlock (iPhones could unlock when unpaired from an Apple Watch), WiFi (a hack to access the home screen even when the phone is locked) and a WebKit flaw which could be exploited by pop-up ads.
But the big news is iOS 10.2.1 delivers a fix for two security holes where hackers could remotely execute code to take full control of your device.
“[Hackers] can add files, delete files, or execute any actions,” explained JP Taggart, senior security researcher at Malwarebytes. “Want to record conversations and forward them to someone else? It can do that. Want to install additional malicious software? It can do that. Want to uninstall programs on the affected phone? It can do that. Want to hide these actions, programs and files from the user? It can do that too.”
The good news is Apple revealed these flaws were never made public before they were patched in iOS 10.2.1, but they are now out there hence the need to upgrade. Interestingly Google’s Project Zero security program found nine of the flaws iOS 10.2.1 fixes and discreetly reported them to Apple rather than use them to damage a rival. It’s nice to see some love between these two companies now and again!
Apple iOS 10.2.1 Install Verdict: Upgrade For The Security Fixes
Apple iOS 10.2.1 is extremely frustrating. Apple’s ongoing silence about the 30% Bug is absurd, as is the lack of any clear timeline as to whether it will or will not roll out a fix. iOS 10.1.1 is widely regarded as causing the problem, so an iOS update should also be able to fix it and if not, customers deserve to know this not be left in suspense.
That said you need to upgrade to iOS 10.2.1 because of the serious security holes found in iOS 10.2. Right now Apple’s seamless upgrade process combined with its loyal partners (Google Project Zero is proving an invaluable ally right now) are working like clockwork. So you best take advantage of it.
The Road Ahead
No sooner had Apple released iOS 10.2.1 than it announced the first public beta of iOS 10.3. This will be a more feature rich update with things like tracking lost AirPod earphones, the addition of profiles to settings and a new file system.
Expect it to be in tested for 4-6 weeks and, if you’re affected by the 30% Bug, hope and pray Apple finally uses this release to roll out a fix. If it doesn’t, question must be asked: will one ever come?
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