Mobile Phones > iPhone & iOS iOS 9: The Basics Everything you need to know about iOS 9 By Sam Costello Sam Costello Facebook Twitter Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 27, 2021 Tweet Share Email iOS controls apps in the background. Apple, Inc. Tweet Share Email iPhone & iOS Switching from Android Whenever Apple debuts a new version of the iOS, the operating system for the iPhone and iPod touch, you have to figure out if your iPhone is compatible. Even if it is, you then have to decide if you should upgrade an older phone, since new software on old devices can be slow and buggy. There are lots of new features and bug fixes in iOS 9. Plus, the upgrade supports more devices than in any previous release. iOS 9 Compatible Devices The Apple devices that are compatible with iOS 9 are: iPhone iPod touch iPad iPhone 6S series 6th generation iPod touch iPad Pro iPhone 6 series 5th generation iPod touch iPad Air 2 iPhone SE iPad Air iPhone 5S 4th generation iPad iPhone 5C 3rd generation iPad iPhone 5 iPad 2 iPhone 4S iPad mini 4 iPad mini 3 iPad mini 2 iPad mini Important New iOS 9 Features This version largely focused on improving core functionality and the stability of the iOS. Many observers had said that was needed after the rapid pace of changes introduced in iOS 7 and iOS 8. Still, while generally well-received, some critics said iOS 9 delivered fewer major features than other versions of the iOS. Among the major features introduced with iOS 9 were: Features designed to understand the user's behaviors and proactively suggest tasks and features Support for the 3D Touch screen on iPhone 6S series Night Shift (in iOS 9.3 and up) Low-Power Mode for extended battery life Transit directions in Maps for selected cities Numerous improvements to built-in apps Interface changes on the iPad, including split-screen apps and picture-in-picture support for videos Privacy and security improvements Better support for older devices Public beta program for early access to iOS updates. Later iOS 9 Releases Apple released 12 updates to iOS 9 after its debut. Every update maintained compatibility with all of the devices in the list above. Some updates added support for devices and features that hadn't been released when iOS 9.0 was first released. These include iOS 9.1, which added support for the iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and Apple TV 4, and iOS 9.3, which added Night Shift and support for multiple Apple Watches being paired to the same iPhone. For a deeper look at every version of the iOS, check out iPhone Firmware & iOS History. What to Do If Your Device Isn't Compatible with iOS 9 If you don't see your device on this list, it can't run iOS 9. That may be disappointing, but don't despair: iOS 8 is a good operating system (or, it could be that your device is too new and it can only run later versions). That said, if your device is so old that it's not supported here, you may want to think about upgrading. You're probably eligible for an upgrade, so shop around. You might be able to get a great deal and some slick new hardware. Just make sure to check when the next model is coming out so that you don't buy just before something new is released. iOS 9 Release History iOS 9.3.6 release: July 22, 2019iOS 9.3.5 release: Aug. 25, 2016iOS 9.3.4 release: Aug. 4, 2016iOS 9.3.3 release: July 18, 2016iOS 9.3.2 release: May 16, 2016iOS 9.3.1 release: March 31, 2016iOS 9.3 release: March 21, 2016iOS 9.2.1 release: Jan. 19, 2016iOS 9.2 release: Dec. 8, 2015iOS 9.1 release: Oct. 21, 2015iOS 9.0.2 release: Sept. 30, 2015iOS 9.0.1 release: Sept. 23, 2015iOS 9 release: Sept. 16, 2015 Apple released iOS 10 on Sept. 13, 2016. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies