If you're a jailbreaker trying to weigh the benefits of updating to iOS 6 versus staying on iOS 5.1.1 and keeping your jailbreak, we can help you make that decision. Do the features of iOS 6 bring enough to the table to make you hang up your jailbreak, at least for now?
While it'll come down to personal preference and what functionality you just can't live without, follow along and we'll give you a rundown of your options.
Jailbreak and iOS 6
While it is already possible to jailbreak iOS 6 if you've got an A4 device (iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4th gen users), it's meant to be a developer build and should only be used as such unless you desperately need to update and jailbreak.
It'll be a tethered jailbreak and it won't come with Cydia. You'll have to manually install it. It's also not compatible with many devices yet. If you've got an iPhone 4 or 4th generation iPod touch, you can check out our how to and weigh out your options.
As with any major iOS update, iOS 6 may render a lot of jailbreak applications useless or buggy until they're updated to support it. So keep in mind even if you decide to update and jailbreak, many of your favorite apps may not even work.
Should you update to iOS 6
iOS 6 brings with it a ton of new features that may outweigh the reasons you currently jailbreak. If you heavily rely on apps such as LockInfo or IntelliscreenX, you may want to hold off. The same goes for your favorite quick reply messaging apps. iOS 6 still has not integrated a quick reply feature so if that's on your must have list, iOS 5 is where you'll want to stay for now.
Again, carefully weigh out what features iOS 6 brings with what you depend on daily with your jailbreak under iOS 5 before making the jump. If you need help deciding, check out our comprehensive guide to everything iOS 6.
iPhone 5 and jailbreak
Considering the iPhone 5 will run on Apple's new A6 chipset, it'll create a new set of hurdles that jailbreak developers will have to tackle. If you plan on picking up Apple's latest and greatest device, you'll most likely have a while to wait before a jailbreak will be compatible.
The iPhone 5 will come with iOS 6 stock and you'll have to stay that way for as long as it takes the jailbreak community to release a tool that supports it.
Older iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models
Unless you've got an iPhone 4 or an iPod touch 4th gen, there's currently no option when it comes to jailbreaking the official release of iOS 6. If you're still on iOS 5.1.1 you're better off staying there if losing your jailbreak is out of the question.
The bottom line
iOS 6 is a pretty large update and whether or not you should update is your decision. It'll take a while for jailbreak developers to update their apps with iOS 6 support and many of them will not work in their current state. Consider this before making your final decision.
As for our recommendation? If you're on iOS 5.1.1 and jailbreak is super important to you, stay where you're at for now. If you're jailbroken but don't take advantage of too many tweaks and hacks and can part with it for a while, update to iOS 6. You won't be disappointed.
