iPhone owners, brace yourselves. AppleiOS 12.1.3 is here and it not only ignores the biggest problem of iOS 12.1.2, it makes it worse…
Here’s everything you need to know about an upgrade which should be going nowhere near your iPhone.
Apple iOS 12.1.3 is breaking mobile data and Sprint has issued a warningAPPLE
The new update weighs in at up to 300MB, a significant size for an update which delivers no new features and omits the most essential fix. I say “up to” because the update size will vary depending on your device and which version of iOS it is upgrading from.
The Deal Breakers
Jailbreakers, yes you should avoid this but you already know that by now.
Moreover, the big reason to steer clear of iOS 12.1.3 is its serious problems with cellular data. iOS 12.1.1 started it, iOS 12.1.2 compounded it and now iOS 12.1.3 has made things even worse. For example, customers of major US carrier Sprint have been so badly affected it has had to warn users to stay away.
There are also isolated reports of problems with persistent notifications and dodgy WiFi, but these are mere sideshows to the main event.
So What Do You Get?
Apple’s official release notes describe iOS 12.1.3 as follows:
iOS 12.1.3 includes bug fixes for your iPhone. This update
- Fixes an issue in Messages that could impact scrolling through photos in the Details view
- Addresses an issue where photos could have striped artifacts after being sent from the Share Sheet
- Fixes an issue that may cause audio distortion when using external audio input devices on iPad Pro (2018)
- Resolves an issue that could cause certain CarPlay systems to disconnect from iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
This release also includes bug fixes for HomePod. This update:
- Fixes an issue that could cause HomePod to restart
- Addresses an issue that could cause Siri to stop listening
Yes, not only does iOS 12.1.3 not fix the cellular data bug which has left users without 3G and 4G signal for months, it makes no attempt to include any kind of fix. The fixes listed are undeniably useful, but I have not seen any of them reported anywhere on social media. Affected users will be pleased, but I have serious questions about Apple’s prioritisation here.
Looking at security, Apple’s official security page states iOS 12.1.3 has fixes for vulnerabilities in Bluetooth, FaceTime and WebKit (the engine behind Safari) among others.
Apple iOS 12.1.3 Verdict: Stay Away
Apple needs to get a grip on the cellular data issues introduced in iOS 12. First introduced in iOS 12.1.1, they have become progressively worse in iOS 12.1.2 and iOS 12.1.3 and there’s no way I recommend any user risks the core functionality of their iPhone for what are otherwise incremental updates. iPad users, even those with cellular data, appear to be unaffected so go for it.
This article will be continually updated, so be sure to bookmark it and check back to see if any further problems or fixes have emerged before you take the plunge.
worthwhile upgrade on paper, but only if Apple faces the music and delivers a fix to iOS’s ongoing cellular problems.
That said, I sincerely hope a smaller iOS 12.1.4 dedicated bugfix will appear beforehand because major point releases can take several months of testing before they are released. Your move, Apple.
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