iPhone vs iPhone: This isn't going to be pretty
Almost since the first iPhone was introduced people have been jailbreaking them. Jailbreaking, for those that don’t know, is the name given to the process of removing the hardware restrictions Apple implements on its iOS devices. Once these hardware restrictions are removed, users have more control over the customization of their iPhone and what they can install on them. In this way, a jailbroken iPhone offers customization and configuration comparable to what a Mac or Windows user can do with their PC out of the box.
Apple DOES NOT like you jailbreaking your iPhone. It voids the handset’s warranty and should you take a jailbroken iPhone into an Apple Store one of those blue t-shirt-wearing geniuses is likely to burn you at the stake. In addition to this, each new iteration of iOS makes it harder for hackers to crack Apple’s software, as the company closes security holes, exploits and gaps in the source code.
Be that as it may, plenty of punters prefer their iPhones jailbroken and when you see just what’s possible with a jailbroken iPhone, from third party app stores to customisation, you might just be persuaded as well.
Jailbreaking is usually always done by running a third-party app on your Mac or PC with your iPhone connected via USB. Popular jailbreaking apps include TaiG and PP Jailbreak. There are many benefits to jailbreaking your iPhone but also some HUGE drawbacks. Here we pit a jailbroken iPhone versus a regular iPhone to see how they compare.
iPhone vs Jailbroken iPhone: Apps & Games
While Apple’s official App Store has millions of apps for non-jailbroken iPhones what those apps can do–and the iPhone hardware they are allowed to access is dictated by Apple. For example, no third-party app can get access to Siri. When you jailbreak your iPhone, not only do you allow apps to access off-limits hardware and services, you can also install alternative App Stores, likeCydia. This and similar jailbroken app stores will offer thousands of apps that Apple doesn’t allow–apps like ad blockers and video rippers.
Using jailbroken app stores also gives your iPhone access to many more games from other platforms. That’s because a jailbroken iPhone is capable of running game emulators, which you can load pirated ROMs into. So a jailbroken iPhone could, for example, run a (very non-legal) ROM of Super Mario Bros.
Another big plus a jailbroken iPhone has is users can uninstall the default apps the iPhone comes with, such as Mail, Photos, and more.
iPhone vs Jailbroken iPhone: Customization
Another big bonus a jailbroken iPhone has is customization. Jailbroken iPhones can run themes and skins (just like Android devices can). You can also tweak the look and feel of iOS elements like the Dock and Control Center. You can even give Siri new voices and change the default icons of apps.
However, Apple has slowly been adding customization options to iOS each year. For example, it used to be only jailbroken iPhones could use third-party keyboards, but since iOS 8, now all iPhones can. Still, a jailbroken iPhone offers much greater control over the look and feel of iOS than a non-jailbroken iPhone does.
iPhone vs Jailbroken iPhone: Security
Security is an area where a non-jailbroken iPhone wins big time. Matter of fact, if you care about security DO NOT JAILBREAK YOUR IPHONE. Doing so opens it up to a host of malicious attacks from vulnerabilities you introduce when jailbreaking. Why is this? Because the act of jailbreaking itself is hacking your iPhone to remove specific security protections. This leaves your iPhone open and vulnerable. For example, the recent KeyRaider breach infected at least 225,000 jailbroken iPhones–and 0 non-jailbroken iPhones–and not only did it steal usernames and passwords, but it made some of those jailbroken iPhones inaccessible until people paid the hackers money to remove the ransomware that they installed.
iPhone vs Jailbroken iPhone: Warranty
A jailbroken iPhone also voids your Apple warranty, so if something goes wrong with your device–for example, it gets bricked while jailbreaking (meaning it becomes completely fried and non-functional)–it is automatically not covered by any remaining warranty. This means that when jailbreaking your iPhone you accept the risk that you may soon have a $700 piece of aluminum and glass that does nothing.
And even is you don’t brick your iPhone while jailbreaking it, if you need help with your iPhone and bring it into an Apple Store for assistance, the Geniuses will not be able to offer you advice on your iPhone problems as soon as they see it’s jailbroken.
iPhone vs Jailbroken iPhone: Software Updates
Another drawback to jailbreaking is that if you restore your iPhone using iTunes the jailbreak is automatically removed (or your iPhone can even become bricked). Further, you can’t apply new iOS updates to a jailbroken phone without removing the jailbreak or risking a bricked phone. This means that you need to wait for the jailbreak community to release a jailbroken version of iOS updates. Sometimes this takes months after the iOS update hits non-jailbroken phones–and sometimes it never happens at all.
iPhone vs Jailbroken iPhone: Battery
The final drawback to jailbreaking your iPhone is in the battery department. Jailbroken iPhones are generally less power efficient because of all the hacks and your battery will drain much faster.
iPhone vs Jailbroken iPhone: Verdict
A jailbroken iPhone can be a lot of fun if you have a high risk tolerance, but it does leave you open to sever cyber threats and hacks. If you do want to jailbreak your device, don’t make it your main iPhone. Use the iPhone 3G that’s been sitting in a drawer for three years. For the rest of us, it's better to skip the temptation of jailbreaking and use the iPhone as Apple intended–and if you don’t want to do that, there’s always Android.
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