iOS 14.5 could completely change how Apple delivers security updates: Report

A new report suggests that iOS users will now be able to choose whether they want to install only a security update - or install the full iOS update instead.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro. (Unsplash)

When it comes to updating and supporting smartphones, there's no company that can compete with Apple with its five-or-more years of software support. On the Android end, the closest competitor in terms of support is Samsung, with four years of security updates for its current devices, while Google has promised four years of security updates with new Qualcomm chipsets starting with the Snapdragon 888.

It now appears that Apple is working on a crucial new update to its iOS operating system as part of the latest iOS beta, that could revolutionise the way it delivers updates on the platform. According to a report by 9to5Mac, the latest iOS beta contains updated internal codes which will allow users to install security updates separately from the iOS operating system updates.

This new system of separating security updates from system updates is a crucial one because Apple has always updated iOS with the latest security patches through an iOS point version update - such as iOS 14.4, which means the company has to release a separate update just to install those patches.

According to the report, the beta code suggests that users will now be able to choose whether they want to install only a security update or install the full iOS update instead. This is how macOS currently allows users to install security updates without having to install the latest macOS version available.

For those readers that are wondering why some users might want to hold off before installing the latest version of iOS as soon as it is released, the primary reason is stability. Many users rely on their phones and expect it to be completely bug-free, which is why having the option to keep your phone up to date with the latest security updates is a great option.