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

[617660]

In all honesty, it’s really been a rough week for the company and this feels like it’s a bigger deal than scandals of the past.

My hope: it blows over. My fear: this is going to get way worse and will do some permanent damage to iPhone sales and Apple in general.

I would be lying if I said I am not incredibly concerned at this point in time, but my fingers remained crossed.

Still waiting for Apple’s response to all this. Assuming they are going to respond and not just act as though nothing has happened.

Except it hasn't been a rough week for apple. The stock is pretty much where it was before the batterygate news broke out.

this is no way to teach apple a lesson. To Tim, we are just a bunch of whiners with no impact to his pocket.

 

[ck2875]

Because they did this to the iPhone 6, 6S, and SE with iOS 10.2.1. They started doing it to iPhone 7 with iOS 11.2. So they aren't doing it as the devices release, but over a year after the point of purchase for anyone who buys at release.

They said they will introduce it to new devices in the future. It would be one thing if the devices were being throttled when they were sold, but they're introducing lines of code to slow down devices via software update. They said they plan to introduce lines of code to throttle performance on iPhone 8 & X in the future. People would likely be less up in arms if iOS was built to do this out of the gate, but as it stands, you buy a device and a year later Apple issues an update to slow it down once your battery ***** a brick.

Where I think its dodgy is that they are doing this over a year after the devices have gone on sale, so when your device suddenly slows down, it isn't something covered by your 1-year limited warranty in the US so good luck going to see the Genius Bar (not that battery degrading is covered under that anyway).

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Except 6/S/Plus do not slow down by default based on their purchase date. That would be evil and wrong. Software measures are only used if it is determined to be a bad degrading battery. My mother is still using my old 4.7" iPhone 6 and it is also fine (geekbench) just as my 6S Plus is and my brothers 13 month old 7 Plus.

No ****. I didn't say they did. I entirely see why that person said they weren't going to engage with you after you started twisting their words and only wanted to argue. I will not be replying to you further.

I said the update that introduced the throttling (10.2.1 & 11.2) released over a year after the devices (iPhone 6, 6S, & 7) launched, so anyone who purchased the device at launch would first start seeing their device slow down over a year after they purchased it.

• Phone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were released in the United States on September 19, 2014.
• iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus were released in the United States on September 25, 2015.
• iOS 10.2.1 released on January 23, 2017, throttling iPhone 6, 6S, and SE
  • 2 years 4 months 4 days after iPhone 6 launched.
  • 1 year 3 months 28 days after iPhone 6s launched.

• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were released in the United States on September 16, 2016.
• iOS 11.2 released on December 2, 2017, throttling the iPhone 7.
  • 1 year 2 months 16 days after iPhone 7 launched.

 

[617660]

I can understand the technical reasoning behind this. But not the decision that was made.

iPhone 6/6s had battery issues from launch.

A proper way would be to launch a campaign and notify the user that they can replace the battery at discount or at cost. Not doing it behind customers back.

And a punitive damage should be sought after on top of what you just said

 

[2128506]

Ah, that's interesting. Older MacBook Pro machines with removable batteries (I have one) run just fine on AC with the battery in or out of the machine. I would generally remove its battery whenever I was running it on AC for an extended time, just to extend the life of the battery.

Had battery failure in mine (2010 model, if I recall correctly). System became incredibly slow. Apparently it was designed to draw battery power during load spikes even when plugged in, hence the throttling.
[doublepost=1514178522][/doublepost]

Throttling saved millions of users from random shutdowns

Surely it saved thousands of lives too. And some whales for sure.

 

[thelatinist]

Wait...I’m confused. Does this affect phones that have new replacement batteries, of onlynones with worn-out batteries?

 

[dazz87]

Wait...I’m confused. Does this affect phones that have new replacement batteries, of onlynones with worn-out batteries?

No its the worn-out battery that is causing the slow down.....I feel bad for all the customers who felt they had to upgrade their phone. So instead of dropping $80.00 (battery replacement) to fix this issue they spent a lot more on a new phone.... sad day to be a apple fan

 

[iLLUMI]

Hmmm, I think the worm we all feared hiding within Apple has finally reared its ugly head... and slimy body.

Somehow I don't think its all to do with battery power being reduced on older models with degraded batteries. I've had a one year old device that has worked super fast on the iOS it came with, then upgraded and it instantly became laggy. The battery wouldn't have degraded within a year, surely?

Maybe there's more than one worm in this bad Apple?

 

[hugo7]

People would likely be less up in arms if iOS was built to do this out of the gate, but as it stands, you buy a device and a year later Apple issues an update to slow it down once your battery ***** a brick.

And that's it in a nutshell. Throttle from start, oh well. Throttled after a year of fantastic performance (and upgrading because of the incessant nagging), that's poor form.

 

[firewood]

Because they did this to the iPhone 6, 6S, and SE with iOS 10.2.1. They started doing it to iPhone 7 with iOS 11.2. So they aren't doing it as the devices release, but over a year after the point of purchase for anyone who buys at release.

They said they will introduce it to new devices in the future.

Makes perfect sense. The power controller settings are first set based on battery estimates from early engineering sample runs. Then, after Apple gathers vastly more actual statistical field data on how the battery changes under actual customer usage patterns on the new devices, for a year or more, they use that improved statistical data to better fine tune the algorithms that the power manager uses to maximize battery life and minimize crashes/failures over the rest of the product’s life. Makes perfect sense from the statistical optimization point of view. Maybe a machine learning algorithm is determining the proper optimization.

But that results in Bad Optics for the uneducated and numerically illiterate customer. Math education in the U.S. is failing.

 

[Stella]

You bought the wrong GPS. Several manufacturers give free map updates for life these days.

Silly comparison anyway. Comparing Apple to oranges.

I can't even upgrade the maps on my in-car GPS without spending another $300. Upgrading the entire OS? pffft...

 

[Ramchi]

I was playing a game today on a plane and surely enough it started lagging at one point. When i closed the game to see the battery level it was at 28%. Brand new battery with 21 cycles. Anyone who has passed a 12th grade physics exam knows why this happens. Apparently not many people did pass.

This scenario is different than the one being discussed.

In Android I have used voluntarily "battery against system performance management" options where the system would take up optimal parameters to save a healthy 100% efficient battery IS DIFFERENT from throttling the performance when battery efficiency drops (or deemed to have dropped) after using the device for a prolonged periods of time and especially when the system slows down along the lines of new product launches.

Super duper energy sucking processor (something competing desktop class) , thin form factor to host small battery all pointing to one think by taking the customers for rides to make enough $$$$ PROFIT

They use to make fun of Microsoft as M$, Apple is no different!!

 

[H2SO4]

I was playing a game today on a plane and surely enough it started lagging at one point. When i closed the game to see the battery level it was at 28%. Brand new battery with 21 cycles. Anyone who has passed a 12th grade physics exam knows why this happens. Apparently not many people did pass.

Not necessarily battery. Could be heat in your case.

 

[Michael Goff]

No ****. I didn't say they did. I entirely see why that person said they weren't going to engage with you after you started twisting their words and only wanted to argue. I will not be replying to you further.

I said the update that introduced the throttling (10.2.1 & 11.2) released over a year after the devices (iPhone 6, 6S, & 7) launched, so anyone who purchased the device at launch would first start seeing their device slow down over a year after they purchased it.

• Phone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were released in the United States on September 19, 2014.
• iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus were released in the United States on September 25, 2015.
• iOS 10.2.1 released on January 23, 2017, throttling iPhone 6, 6S, and SE
  • 2 years 4 months 4 days after iPhone 6 launched.
  • 1 year 3 months 28 days after iPhone 6s launched.

• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were released in the United States on September 16, 2016.
• iOS 11.2 released on December 2, 2017, throttling the iPhone 7.
  • 1 year 2 months 16 days after iPhone 7 launched.

Except that isn’t necessarily true. The patch doesn’t necessarily throttle anything. My sister has a 6S Plus that I got soon after launch that isn’t throttled at all.

I think you misunderstand what the patch does.

 

[Vytas Vytautas]

No ****. I didn't say they did. I entirely see why that person said they weren't going to engage with you after you started twisting their words and only wanted to argue. I will not be replying to you further.

I said the update that introduced the throttling (10.2.1 & 11.2) released over a year after the devices (iPhone 6, 6S, & 7) launched, so anyone who purchased the device at launch would first start seeing their device slow down over a year after they purchased it.

• Phone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were released in the United States on September 19, 2014.
• iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus were released in the United States on September 25, 2015.
• iOS 10.2.1 released on January 23, 2017, throttling iPhone 6, 6S, and SE
  • 2 years 4 months 4 days after iPhone 6 launched.
  • 1 year 3 months 28 days after iPhone 6s launched.

• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were released in the United States on September 16, 2016.
• iOS 11.2 released on December 2, 2017, throttling the iPhone 7.
  • 1 year 2 months 16 days after iPhone 7 launched.

No problem, i will survive.
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Not necessarily battery. Could be heat in your case.

Yes, heat causes it to drop in efficiency at lower levels.
[doublepost=1514187537][/doublepost]

Except that isn’t necessarily true. The patch doesn’t necessarily throttle anything. My sister has a 6S Plus that I got soon after launch that isn’t throttled at all.

I think you misunderstand what the patch does.

He has no clue what is happening. It's feels like throwing rocks at the wall. Doesn't matter how many times people correct the ACTUALLY twisted media version, but broken phone has already been started. Not to mention that i have tested this myself and haven't found anything wrong. Means these software measures are only used when it is really needed and not to slow phones to make people buy new ones. If that was really the case Apple would be buried in real lawsuits not this nonsense.

 

[Teammm]

Simple. dont upgrade the software.

Of course Apple could implement a "Turn of battery management" switch, then all the complainers can complain their iphones shut down instead.

This is a matter of Apple not disclosing and explaining to people what and why they are doing stuff to slow down people's phones. Customers should have all the information so they can make choices for themselves.

 

[Mork23]

Apple just did what most software developers are also likely to do to force their customers to give up their old units and buy their new software or product. What matters is that Apple-Users do not only have the financial capability but they also have the courage and time to sue a gigantic company- a very strong point that Windows-Users do not possess !

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

Tim Cook's response:

"But the animojis are snappier."

 

[Substance90]

My girlfriend's iPad Air has been rock solid up to iOS 9 inclusive but iOS 10 made it absolutely unusable. It's garbage now.

 

[Benjamid]

I’m white knighting Apple for years. This i s a spit in the face of all iSheep! We used considrable resources to defend Apple in pulblic, at work and in our families.
Apple has to fix this! I lost alreadty Christianity and Star Wars? I don’t wanna lose my last religous belief.

 

[MacHiavelli]

The iPhone Upgrade Programme, which allows people to change their phones every year, makes it clear that Apple thinks its hardware will only ever run smoothly and at full spec for a year.

This is further emphasized by sealed batteries: Apple doesn't really expect its devices to be serviced – it sees them as disposable and replaceable.

This battery throttling/management fits in with that completely.

Apple has a scheme that allows people to upgrade yearly. It also helps people to keep older phones going, even though they are degrading.

Don't see why Apple needs to document everything it does (let alone who would bother reading it), when it is so clear the devices really only have a 1-year life at full performance.

And bottom line: a crippled Apple device is still preferable for a lot of people to anything on offer by any other company.

 

[Azmazz]

this is simply "planned obsolescence" , forcing people to upgrade. they deserve to be sued!

 

[ck2875]

Except that isn’t necessarily true. The patch doesn’t necessarily throttle anything. My sister has a 6S Plus that I got soon after launch that isn’t throttled at all.

I think you misunderstand what the patch does.

I know what the patch is doing. I suffered from a 6S that would instantly go from ~40% battery to shutting down before 10.2.1 when I was walking to work when it’s cold out and tried losing certain apps. I’m all for them trying to prevent that from happening via software improvements. Apple still replaced the battery for free since that was happening before the 1 year warranty was up (and before they acknowledged certain 6s batteries needed to be replaced due to a manufacturing defect). I understand that it doesn’t effect a device unless the battery isn’t doing so hot due to being degraded since lithium ion only last so many cycles. Not everyone will burn through cycles at the same rate. My iPhone 7 Plus benchmarks are still amazing but the battery health is also still quite high after a year of use. I only use devices for a year anyway and then give the old devices to whatever random family member wants it. My original reply was only on why the optics of it look bad and why people complain about it, and I was simply saying it looks bad because the throttle update wasn’t released until after the phones had been out a year. It makes it look like they’re trying to get people to upgrade due to not being implemented until after the next gen phones are out and after the 1 year warranty is up.

 

[MH01]

I was actually responding with the regime part to the first quote and both of you with the design part. And you don’t have to buy a new iPhone when the battery dies. -_-

You did read the part where people have explained that when visiting genius bars, they were told their batteries did not need replacement , while thier devices were slowed down? Sure I can get the battery replaced....IF I knew it would solve the issue slowing my phone Down, which this thread is about. Do you not see a problem here ? If people were not being told it working as intended, I would not have an issue, but they are effectively being pushed to get a new device.

I had the same situation, awful performance , had my time wasted multiple times being told to do the stupid restores, all battery tests passed, and when finally a nice lady replaced my phone , things improve by quite a margin.

You know, many would have given up an upgraded...... hence sealed batteries and a support process that is designed to say all is okay, while your phone slows down is designed for upselling ..... and in such a situation an internal battery design is being abused for profit .

 

[MacHiavelli]

It makes it look like they’re trying to get people to upgrade..

But everyone knows Apple wants people to upgrade (and thinks an upgrade is necessary) after a year as it runs an upgrade program that replaces phones after just one year. It's not hiding anything. If Apple thought the phones were good enough to last two years at full speed, it would run a two-year program for upgrades.

How can it be a problem if Apple is helping people to keep old phones going by managing the degradation for them? That's just good customer service.

 

[MH01]

I know what the patch is doing. I suffered from a 6S that would instantly go from ~40% battery to shutting down before 10.2.1 when I was walking to work when it’s cold out and tried losing certain apps. I’m all for them trying to prevent that from happening via software improvements. Apple still replaced the battery for free since that was happening before the 1 year warranty was up (and before they acknowledged certain 6s batteries needed to be replaced due to a manufacturing defect). I understand that it doesn’t effect a device unless the battery isn’t doing so hot due to being degraded since lithium ion only last so many cycles. Not everyone will burn through cycles at the same rate. My iPhone 7 Plus benchmarks are still amazing but the battery health is also still quite high after a year of use. I only use devices for a year anyway and then give the old devices to whatever random family member wants it. My original reply was only on why the optics of it look bad and why people complain about it, and I was simply saying it looks bad because the throttle update wasn’t released until after the phones had been out a year. It makes it look like they’re trying to get people to upgrade due to not being implemented until after the next gen phones are out and after the 1 year warranty is up.

My 6S was one of the battery replacement units, Apple took thier time, I even bought thier battery cover due to this issue..... while i really respect the people who work on Apple stores, apple's practices these days are really all about profit. There used to be a balance.