Apple Being Sued for 'Purposefully Slowing Down Older iPhone Models' [Updated]

[krause734]

Planned Obsolescence is just a fancy word for the Apple Upgrade Program.

But seriously people are too attached to their iPhone 5.

 

[Bacillus]

Is it being perceived that Apple was trying to hide what they did? I do agree they could've been a little more specific but doesn't exactly mean they were hiding anything.

And telling us the difference between hiding and not showing comes too close to transparency?

 

[2807]

I would like to see a side by side video of a perfect phone next to a throttled phone.
Until then, we could all be upset over almost imperceptible changes.

Proof, via video, would be best.

 

[RickInHouston]

Let's face it.

In the end, I think Apple WILL offer a low-cost battery replacement for any iPhone more than two years old with the 64-bit A-Series SoC (iPhone 5S and newer) and will update iOS so that once the new battery is is installed, the phone will go back to full speed operation.

Apple and lowlcost. You make me laugh.

 

[asdavis10]

Good luck proving that Apple did this for one specific model to encourage people to upgrade their phones. And good luck proving that you wouldn't have upgraded your iPhone otherwise.

 

[Bacillus]

I agree Apple could’ve unnecessarily explained in detail to the majority of casual iPhone customers who don’t care and possibly wouldn’t understand about the details of how and why the throttling process works. At the same time, given the choice, most people would prefer a slower, stable phone over a “fast” phone that randomly crashes.

That being said you can still replace the battery on the iPhone if you really wanted to.

With 200B on the bank, you might spend some time explaining your customers (whatever analphabetic they are, they made you what you are...) why to cripple their device.

 

[MrGuder]

I have a fear that this will all backfire on the customer's, what Apple is doing is actually finding ways to conserve your battery when it's running low. I have no problem with this, if my battery is already weak why not program the device so that it doesn't shut down on the customer at the time when you need it most.

My fear is that Apple will change all this because of a lawsuit and batteries will no last nearly as long as they do now. If your getting 2 years or more on your original battery, how would you like only 1 year? I'm on my original 6s bought brand new, still on original battery after 2 yrs and it's still working fine. That's a testament to Apple's, technology. I've had so many people tell me (who are android users) that yeah I wouldn't buy an iPhone but they sure do make there batteries last long.

 

[Bacillus]

Apple has no clue how to do thermal design. This problem arose because of overheating in Apple notebooks. Once they created the throttling software they use it for everything, CPU, battery, etc. It became cheaper for Apple to continue to use it rather than doing the proper thermal or battery design. Couple that with Ive's personal, out of control, need for thin and sleek and you have Apple today. Every single one of Apple devices throttles and every single one of Apple's devices are nothing more than overpriced toys.

So true. This fixation on glass shows how little thermal know-how (or concern) Ive has.

 

[Someyoungguy]

Good luck proving that Apple did this for one specific model to encourage people to upgrade their phones. And good luck proving that you wouldn't have upgraded your iPhone otherwise.

Maybe all that has to be proven is that Apple slowed devices without consent from their owners and that the slowdown impacts the utility of the device. The fact that this occurs before Apple's own diagnostics indicate the battery should be replaced is just icing on the cake, and further indicates bad faith (see threads here and elsewhere for numerous examples).

The question as to whether someone would have upgraded anyway will probably not come into play until damages are assessed, and the question of whether this was a single model is completely irrelevant - why would Apple only want upgrades from one model?

 

[Baymowe335]

About time. What they are doing is highly unethical. Their involvement with my property stops after payment.

So you want no software updates or support?

You didn’t even think about what you said, but hey, posting for likes has that effect.

 

[filterdecay]

I suspect lawsuit(s) will force Apple to be more transparent and maybe add user options to iOS to control battery / performance balances.

maybe they will be compelled to develop better batteries. But if the slow down is based on phone version / os version then they are in trouble. My ipad 2 is slow on a usb power port and battery.
[doublepost=1514046212][/doublepost]

So you want no software updates or support?

You didn’t even think about what you said, but hey, posting for likes has that effect.

I will prefer a functioning device then new updates if those are the choices. I dont want to make those choices but if apple is purposely slowing down phones based on what os they are running then its a suckers game.

 

[ewkid]

They should have made thicker phones with thicker batteries but instead they feed Jony Ive's obsession with thin and install inferior batteries.

 

[nviz22]

Not with the screen though.. but I’m all for older iPhones ticking along with new batteries!
I do wonder what else is Apple purposely meddling with though, like antenna power, to force you to upgrade, I mean make your battery last.. they aren’t exactly forthcoming with what they are doing...
[doublepost=1514031164][/doublepost]

Prove it! Post a link to Apple where they stated this in their release notes... I mean an actual genuine link to Apple.

Is that because of the age and tech? It still is a HD screen to be fair. The 8 still is also a regular HD LCD.

 

[wildaman37]

The only fact we have is that Apple applied a patch which throttled our phones, but otherwise, there is no indication of their motives. It doesn’t help that there is just enough truth in this matter to continue fuelling the popular conspiracy theory that Apple deliberately slows down your devices to force users to upgrade.

Huh, that's funny that you really conveniently left out the whole "without telling us about it and then, when confronted with evidence, claiming it's a feature" bit. That's a fact too, which says far more about their intentions than any canned PR response.

 

[TheHangMan]

Had an iPhone 6. Changed battery in August. Performance got better but still sucked. Sold and got an iPhone SE. Freaking flies, no problem at all.

Really don't understand this thin and sleek fetish Apple has. "Omg should we have 6 more hours of battery life or 1mm less?" ffs

 

[Ladybug]

Do you know how many MILLIONS of people would be saying, "What the heck does THIS mean?" And the phone calls that would ensue? I know I would be getting calls from several (not in the know) people asking ME what to do here. People just want their phones to work and don't want to think about how to do ANYTHING and making choices. That is Apple's intent in the first place.

Or Apple could simply not slow down users phones to begin with. As for the calls, that's called support and built into the premium prices they charge.

 

[albebaubles]

Never assume. Lot's of sympathetic Judiciaries out there these days.

so you believe Apple has done nothing wrong?

 

[firewood]

maybe they will be compelled to develop better batteries. But if the slow down is based on phone version / os version then they are in trouble.

I see no signs they are doing that. My 5s, 6, and 6s with iOS 11.2 run at the same CPU speed as they did years ago when new.

Something else is wrong with the slow iPhones reported here.

Maybe flash too full. Maybe background downloads. Or they have an unusually below average battery that many people don’t have.

 

[2128506]

It's funny Apple doesn't "help" users of their notebooks in this fashion. You know, throttle down MacBooks everywhere without letting the users know. Good enough for a iPhone, why not notebooks too?

They actually do this on MBPs as well. Had battery degradation in mine - SMC started throttling CPU like crazy, no matter if plugged in. Like 10 minutes boot-up time.

 

[Altis]

I have a fear that this will all backfire on the customer's, what Apple is doing is actually finding ways to conserve your battery when it's running low. I have no problem with this, if my battery is already weak why not program the device so that it doesn't shut down on the customer at the time when you need it most.

My fear is that Apple will change all this because of a lawsuit and batteries will no last nearly as long as they do now. If your getting 2 years or more on your original battery, how would you like only 1 year? I'm on my original 6s bought brand new, still on original battery after 2 yrs and it's still working fine. That's a testament to Apple's, technology. I've had so many people tell me (who are android users) that yeah I wouldn't buy an iPhone but they sure do make there batteries last long.

"conserve your battery when it's running low" -- Nope, they're throttling batteries that Apple considers in "Healthy" status and not in need of replacing, and at every charge level (it's health-based).

"When you need it most" -- They even throttle when it's plugged in and fully charged to 100%

"That's a testament to Apple's, technology" -- 2 years is not an impressive duration, and Apple's throttling phones that were bought new this year.

If you're impressed by this, that says more about your standards and expectations than anything else. We have a 4S and 5 that are still going great on their original batteries, without throttling or unexpected shutdowns (well, the 4S had them but since going back to iOS 6 on it it goes right to 1% before shutting off).

 

[Baymowe335]

maybe they will be compelled to develop better batteries. But if the slow down is based on phone version / os version then they are in trouble. My ipad 2 is slow on a usb power port and battery.
[doublepost=1514046212][/doublepost]

I will prefer a functioning device then new updates if those are the choices. I dont want to make those choices but if apple is purposely slowing down phones based on what os they are running then its a suckers game.

Then your phone may shut itself down and you’d still complain.

“Apple is lying. My phone says 30% battery but shuts down. Sue!”

 

[firewood]

The only fact we have is that Apple applied a patch which throttled our phones, but otherwise, there is no indication of their motives. It doesn’t help that there is just enough truth in this matter to continue fuelling the popular conspiracy theory that Apple deliberately slows down your devices to force users to upgrade.

And it’s a provably false theory, as many people with old iPhones report no slow down after installing the latest iOS update. All Apple has to do is walk one into court with a 2 or 3 year old iPhone that runs normally after installing the latest iOS update.

 

[albebaubles]

i don't know why there is even a discussion about this?! if it's such a great feature just add it to iOS when a new version comes out and also enable it for the newest device... but they don't! they decide that every new phone should be fast no matter how bad the battery is but then suddenly after 1 year they add the super cool power management "feature" to slow down devices with "bad" batteries. also without actually telling the customer that they're adding it.

You would like to know when your battery is degrading heavily?
[doublepost=1514048430][/doublepost]

Nope, Apple devices are throttled for many reasons. One is because they cannot handle the thermal load of the CPUs running at full speed. They run full speed for a short while, so they can pass industry benchmarks, but otherwise don't expect to use an Apple device for anything requiring a full speed CPU.

I use my X to supply internet to my home, 24x7 - yes, the phone is quite warm to the touch.

 

[filterdecay]

Then your phone may shut itself down and you’d still complain.

“Apple is lying. My phone says 30% battery but shuts down. Sue!”

I guess ill live with the risk of my phone shutting down. If only I had a source of readily available electricity to use I could avert such a crisis.

 

[Altis]

You would like to know when your battery is degrading heavily?
[doublepost=1514048430][/doublepost]
I use my X to supply internet to my home, 24x7 - yes, the phone is quite warm to the touch.

If it's so bad that the phone is throttling, absolutely the user should know.

Of course, it's throttling when the battery is at 90% health and Apple still considers it "Healthy" and not in need of replacement. And since they didn't tell anyone, you'd have no reason to suspect it for making your phone slow