Safari takes a performance hit in the iOS 11.2 update to gain Spectre attack protection

by Daniel Petrov / Jan 08, 2018, 2:42 PM

Safari takes a performance hit in the iOS 11.2 update to gain Spectre attack protection

Just as promised, Apple released a new, 11.2.2 update for iOS that will patch the Safari browser used on its iPhones and iPads from the Spectre vulnerability, adding to the Meltdown patch in 11.2.

Apple warned that the update may slow Safari down a bit, as you can see in the excerpt below, but those gaping chip vulnerabilities that are raging this season aren't ones you can afford to stay open against.

Our current testing indicates that the Safari mitigations have no measurable impact on the Speedometer and ARES-6 tests and an impact of less than 2.5% on the JetStream benchmark.

The JetStream test Apple is referring to is a JavaScript benchmark that probes performance in "the most advanced web applications," but still it is unlikely that it will notice the difference in your daily interactions with an iPhone. Scrolling feels much faster in iOS 11 compared to previous editions anyway, so those two percentage points of slowdown or so, will likely go unnoticed.

source: Apple

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28 Comments

7. tiz_meh

Posts: 78; Member since: Aug 11, 2017

Slowly but surely iOS is a carbon copy of Androids features including lagginess and fragmentation.

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 3:32 PM 6

10. cnour

Posts: 2305; Member since: Sep 11, 2014

No, Apple will not succeed to do this....

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 3:41 PM 0

12. darkkjedii

Posts: 31304; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

On my 12.9 Pro, and X, iOS is a bug filled glitchy OS. It's honestly nothing I can't handle, but the bugs are there often. I'm shocked Apple is still battling bugs at this point. Cnour, I have some Charmin for you.

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 3:48 PM 7

17. BuffaloSouce unregistered

You don’t own a X...you just say you do so you can be a cool kid and go after Apple. In the article Android Oreo Update Pace Is Still Slow, you said you buy nothing but Notes and Galaxy S. If iOS is such a buggy mess, what reason other than to troll, would you claim to get the IPad Pro over something like the Tab S3?

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 4:45 PM 2

18. maherk

Posts: 6953; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

I don't like iOS yet I have an iPad Pro 10.5, shocking eh? And I guess my eyes were deceiving me, it must be someone other than DJ who sent me pictures of his 256 Black iPhone X?

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 4:56 PM 7

20. darkkjedii

These iFolks dont realize the difference between an iOS user, and an iOS fanboy...I'm a user. Let him and the flock continue to call me a liar, I actually find it funny. IPads and iPhones, are so cheap on CRAIGSLIST, anyone who wants one can easily obtain it bro. He'll mow think you're a liar as well...we both know the truth though.

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 5:15 PM 4

23. maherk

I honestly don't care what he thinks about me. I just found it kinda amusing how he's accusing one Apple's oldest fans on this site to lie about what iProducts he has. I guess he's new to this site.

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 5:48 PM 3

25. darkkjedii

New perhaps...blind definitely. You know they fell, you can’t be an Apple fan, and tell it like it is...according to the flock.

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 6:04 PM 1

19. darkkjedii

When I said I buy Notes and Galaxy S, I was pertaining to android devices. I have about 50 movies, maybe 100 TV shows (lotsa Dave Chapelle), over 1,500 songs, and 40 +music videos on my iPad since I've had one, since 2010. I also have quite a few iOS exclusive apps, like all in notes. That iOS content won't be coming to a Galaxy Tab, and there's no need for it to. I'm a fan or iOS, but not a fanboy or blind sheep. I call it like I see it, and iOS needs more features and stability. I've used iOS since July 10th 2007, when I bought my first iPhone, and I've liked the OS since. You're also a liar. I never said (nothing) but Notes and Galaxy S. I said "only", and that pertains to android devices. Consider this my being respectful to you. I won't explain myself again.

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 5:12 PM 7

21. Rich123

Posts: 88; Member since: Oct 30, 2014

I updated our iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8+ today. I don't see any observable slowdown in the 3.

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 5:33 PM 1

24. cmdacos

Posts: 4264; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

Um, I should hope not lol

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 6:01 PM 0

22. Trex95

Posts: 2383; Member since: Mar 03, 2013

Have an iPad mini 4 just updated to iOS 11.2.2 funny thing safari performs better than iOS 11.2.1! Used to be slow with 11.2.1.

posted on Jan 08, 2018, 5:38 PM 0

30. ozgur781sen

Posts: 37; Member since: Mar 11, 2015

Anyone know why Chrome is so much faster on iOS and slower on Android in page and content loading? I have the iPhone 7 Plus Unlocked model and the Google Pixel XL. I noticed that Chrome on iOS is even faster then Safari but on the Android version it is not as fast as on iOS.