Still rocking an old iPhone? By the looks of iOS 9, you may want to hang on to it a little longer

Apple’s primary objective is to innovate, and test the limits of what technology can do in the hands of consumers, regardless of how tech savvy they may be.

Often times, the price of innovation is that consumers may find themselves left behind when something too new comes along too fast, especially when the product they know and love is suddenly made worse by a software update that could have waited a little longer.

Owners of the iPhone 4 and 4S have felt this way when iOS 7 and then iOS 8, were released, along with a series of instability issues and general slowness of their devices. The problem with a situation that, at least in theory, has encouraged upgrades to newer devices, is that since Android gained status as the switch-to platform for consumers on a smaller budget, has created the conditions for Apple to rethink a new game plan, where incentives to switch to Android from iOS, are cut down to size for lower-end users who may not be able to afford the latest devices.

Finally, those who still own older iPhones, including iPhone 4 and 4S will likely rejoice at the news that iOS 9 will contain updates that will make the mobile operating system more compatible with legacy devices, including first generation iPad Mini and iPhone 4, on which Apple is said to be testing iOS 9, in a ground-up approach that will gradually move development higher up to newer devices.

Less is more

With a new approach to development that is more focused on quality, rather than the introduction of the biggest volume of features, Apple is clearly going back to basics to create the conditions for stronger customer loyalty.

Word has it, Mac OS X users might see a similar trend, where owners of older MacBooks might find their devices updated with future versions of Mac OS X, with a redesigned core, optimized to deliver better performance, starting with older Mac devices.

Rock solid, but not without a few surprises

Aside from backward-compatibility, iOS 9 will come with a more compact array of features, however, these features will still be unlike anything seen in previous iOS releases.

While there is still talk on some of these features to be in the realm of rumors, split-screen could still make it into the update, as well as a brand new security layer, a HomeKit app designed to manage connected devices, an improved Apple Maps app, and a new default font, San Francisco, which has already made its way into the Apple Watch.