Today, Apple is releasing major new versions of all of its operating systems, so if you use a supported iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or other Apple device, you’ve got an update waiting for you in the Settings app. I know that many people aren’t as enthusiastic about installing new software on their devices as I am, but I do think there’s one big reason everyone should push the Update button today. And no, it’s not an AI feature.

The reason you should update your Apple devices today is performance.

Having tested iOS 27 and its counterparts over the summer, I can say with confidence that my devices have never run better than they do now. From last year’s iPhone Air to my five-year-old iPad Pro, I’ve noticed improvements in speed and reliability across the board, and I’m thrilled about it.

When Apple announced this year’s software updates in June, it was clear that the big focus besides AI was going to be platform improvements. Engineers combed through the company’s operating systems looking for bugs, slowdowns, and pain points they could address to make using Apple devices more seamless, and they found a ton of them. Here are a few examples from my real-world use:

My iPhone Air switches from my home Wi-Fi to a 5G cellular connection much more quickly, eliminating that weird gap in connection when driving away from home that can prevent music playback.
On my iPad Pro, the Files app displays files and folders instantly without any loading time.
My iPad mini has had new life breathed into it, with much faster app launches and smoother scrolling everywhere.
Information in widgets is always fresh, especially on my Apple Watch, which would often show outdated information previously.
My Vision Pro connects to the internet much more quickly upon power-up than before.

These are just a handful of examples of ways the software on all of my devices has been improved. (I didn’t test macOS Golden Gate or tvOS 27, but I look forward to seeing the performance gains there as well.)

Apple’s operating systems have always been best-in-class, but any software builds up cruft and paper cut issues over time, and I’m thankful the OS teams have taken the time to work through so many of them this year. It makes the day-to-day experience of using Apple devices better in small ways that really do add up.

So I encourage you to give today’s OS updates a chance. I think you’ll be happily surprised by how well your devices – even older ones – run on the latest software.