Although the iOS updates should bring us not only new functions but also improvements in the performance of the terminals, here is that iOS 4.2.1 decreases the performance of the iPhone 3G and iPhone 4 terminals, or at least that is what emerges from the tests made by a website using several benchmarking applications available in the AppStore. According to these applications, the iPhone 3G performs worse on iOS 4.2.1 compared to iOS 4.1 in almost all aspects, except for running SunSpider scripts and displaying new content. The person who made these benchmarks tested how iOS 4.2.1 works on the iPhone 3G and the results from the real tests were contradictory to the data displayed in the benchmark, that is, the Notes, Safari, Calendar applications work quite fluently and data entry is quite fast. In conclusion, it is possible that the benchmark applications do not register the changes correctly.
Unfortunately, according to the tests, even the iPhone 4 does not perform exceptionally well on the new iOS 4.2.1, however, compared to the iPhone 3G, we have 4 areas in which the iPhone 4 works better. We are talking about the V8, SunSpider, Drawing Into View and Benchtest tests where iPhone 4 registers slightly better scores than iOS 4.1. Of course, the real-life tests proved that the terminal works well on iOS 4.2.1, so it could be said that the benchmarking applications do not work correctly with the new iOS.
I have iOS 4.2.1 installed on my iPhone 4 since noon and to be honest I haven't noticed much difference compared to iOS 4.1. Everything works just as well, maybe the applications open a little easier, but there is nothing out of the ordinary. I haven't been able to update the iPhone 3GS yet, but I will come back with details for it as well.
