Encrypted backup or device transfer?

[Webcat86]

This isn’t a question I’ve previously thought about, I do the device transfer since Apple offered it. I can’t think of anything this missed, apart from signing into banking apps.

Is there a benefit to doing an encrypted backup on the Mac and restoring the new phone from that?

And is there any real benefit to starting from scratch each time? This feels like placebo to me, and I’d rather not do it because of the extra time, but if there’s a genuine benefit like improved battery then I will.

 

[dave006]

Encrypted backups can include information that unencrypted backups don't:

1. Wi-Fi settings
2. Website history
3. Health data
4. Call history

Encrypted backups don't include Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode data

Dave

 

[jz0309]

This isn’t a question I’ve previously thought about, I do the device transfer since Apple offered it. I can’t think of anything this missed, apart from signing into banking apps.

Is there a benefit to doing an encrypted backup on the Mac and restoring the new phone from that?

And is there any real benefit to starting from scratch each time? This feels like placebo to me, and I’d rather not do it because of the extra time, but if there’s a genuine benefit like improved battery then I will.

I have always used phone to phone migration in the past, and while it can take some time, it never failed me.
This go around, I used Apple's offer of a free iCloud backup and when in the store used restore from iCloud backup to setup my 17PM, it was a very unpleasant exercise, AW had to be re-paired, the actual restore process too like 4.5hrs and I had to sign in again into every single app that had a user account incl banking apps. And, I had to reload all my ripped music.
Never ever going to go that route again, will only do phone to phone again.
I did also have an encrypted backup to Mac but that was really a backup solution for me.

Reason for not setting up as new (I do set with every AW I get) is I want to keep my photos and messages. I do not use iCloud and don't want to have to restore that stuff manually. I doubt that new install will have a benefit for battery life.

 

[NoBoMac]

Is there a benefit to doing an encrypted backup on the Mac and restoring the new phone from that?

Not really imo. Last couple of times I've setup a new phone was via device to device transfer and all was good. Ditto my newest/month-old MacBook.

The encrypted backup is good if you lost the old phone (read: crushed, lost, stolen, etc). A once a week task for me where I make the encrypted backup so that there is something relatively fresh that can restore to. If I'm taking a long trip and not taking the Mac, will do an iCloud backup for just in case reasons.

And is there any real benefit to starting from scratch each time? This feels like placebo to me

Feel it's placebo as well. Add in all the apps, switches, options, logins, etc etc that one needs to setup to get their phone back to the state they want if starting from scratch, would spend way too much time mucking with the device for little/no added benefit. Tough to remember all the options, and at times, odd places they might be buried.

I've only done two setups as new: first iPhone and the 8. Did new setup for 8 due to issues but ultimately it turned out to be an OS issue that was fixed a few days later.

And yes, that just me and my $0.02. There are others that swear that need to setup as new.

 

[Webcat86]

Encrypted backups can include information that unencrypted backups don't:

1. Wi-Fi settings
2. Website history
3. Health data
4. Call history

Encrypted backups don't include Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode data

Dave

That’s encrypted to unencrypted though, but is there any benefit to encrypted vs phone to phone?

 

[palemonkey]

Typically I do a phone to phone transfer. I recently did an iCloud restore (advanced data protection enabled) and the experience was superior, even some banking apps remained logged in.