iOS 9 release: Apple opts for subtlety over changes that are revolutionary

This week, after upgrading to the most recent variant of iOS iPad and iPhone owners are going to instantly see a modest but pleasing change. As you put in your password after installing iOS 9 to sign, the letters on that tiny keyboard is going to take a lower case font, just changing back to the recognizable capitals when you press the shift key.

Other smartphone computer keyboards have used this technique for a long time, but the iPhone’s previous allcaps approach caused it to be confusing to tell when you had been really typing in upper case or lower case.

This type of change is iOS 9 all over: step-by-step yet rewarding, if overdue.

The verdict

With its biggest new feature still a work-in-progress, iOS 9 may not be revolutionary. But at a mere 1.3GB download — compared with iOS 8’s huge 4.5GB — it is worth finding the space on your iPhone for.