iOS 11.3 Beta to Get Throttling Kill Switch in February as Apple Trials 'Reserve a Battery' System in Canada [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Following a report that the United States government is investigating Apple's power management function that slows down some older iPhone models, Apple issued a statement on late Tuesday confirming that it has "received questions from some government agencies" and is "responding to them."

In the statement, Apple also confirmed the timing of its promised power management toggle, allowing customers with an iPhone 6 through iPhone 7 Plus to disable the function: it will be rolling out in a future iOS 11.3 beta version in February. The software update will be publicly released later this spring.

Apple's full statement was shared by Axios earlier today:

About a year ago, we delivered a software update that improves power management during peak workloads to avoid unexpected shutdowns on certain iPhones with older batteries. We know that iPhones have become an important part of the daily lives of our customers and our intention was to improve the customer experience.

We sought to further improve the customer experience in December by announcing a significant discount on replacement batteries for certain iPhones. We also announced that we began developing a new iOS feature to show battery health and which would recommend when the user should consider replacing their battery. These actions were taken to further assist our customers and help extend the life of their iPhones. In addition, users will be able to see if the power management feature is being used to prevent unexpected shutdowns, and turn if off if they so choose. These features will be included in a developer release next month and a user release this Spring.

As we told our customers in December, we have never -- and would never -- do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades. Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love. Making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that.

We have received questions from some government agencies and we are responding to them.

Apple's power management function can also be sidestepped by replacing an iPhone's battery if necessary. We've previously outlined steps on how to initiate this process at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.

In related news, Apple recently added a "Reserve a Battery" option to its support website in Canada. This system, not available elsewhere yet, allows customers with an iPhone 6 or newer to reserve a battery online and have Apple contact them when a battery is available at their preferred Apple Store.

This system can be found by signing into your Apple ID on Apple's Get Support page and selecting Battery, Power, and Charging -> Battery Replacement -> Reserve a Battery. These steps can also be completed in the Apple Store app on the iPhone itself without needing to enter a serial number.

A tipster named K.C. told us that Canada is a trial country, suggesting Apple may choose to expand this reservation system to other regions.

Apple promises to contact customers within three to five days to let them know when their battery replacement can be completed. Its support website currently quotes an estimated two to four week wait in Canada.

MacRumors previously obtained an internal Apple memo that stated iPhone 6 Plus replacement batteries were in short supply and unavailable until late March or early April around the world. Apple's internal document quoted a shorter wait of "approximately two weeks" for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s Plus batteries.

Apple said batteries for all other eligible iPhones were expected to be available "without extended delays" in most countries.

In addition to probes from the United States government, over 50 class action complaints have been filed against Apple since it fully disclosed the power management changes it made in iOS 10.2.1, nearly a year after the update was released. Apple apologized for its lack of communication in a letter to customers.

Update: While Apple has yet to add a dedicated "Reserve a Battery" button to its U.S. support site, the company is asking customers in the United States who need a battery replacement to contact Apple support via a phone call or online chat session to reserve a battery before visiting an Apple Store. Calling ahead of time should prevent customers from going to an Apple Store only to find that the necessary battery is out of stock.

Article Link: iOS 11.3 Beta to Get Throttling Kill Switch in February as Apple Trials 'Reserve a Battery' System in Canada [Updated]

 

[ChazSch]

I am going to try this AND get free battery. They is no reason I should have 10 second delay on typing text messages and very slow email (all since ios11). They lied when they said it slows things down SOME. its a heck of a lot.

 

[TimUSCA]

"I'd like my phone to turn off unexpectedly instead of running slowly."

Choices are good, I guess.

 

[A MacBook lover]

What will all the Apple haters who post on macrumors have to complain about now?

 

[needfx]

still conflicted tbh

 

[sinsin07]

What will all the Apple haters who post on macrumors have to complain about now?

“It still doesn’t make toast”

 

[thisisnotmyname]

I still think they should label this switch "Crash my Phone"

 

[citysnaps]

Good move. I'll be replacing my iPhone 6 battery soon.

 

[MacsRgr8]

I am an absolute Apple-lover, not hater.
But this switch was the obvious thing to do in the first place. Give the user the choice.

 

[snow755]

Good move. I'll be replacing my iPhone 6 battery soon.

i think you are better off then upgradeing too a iphone 8 or 8 pluse

 

[timborama]

"I'd like my phone to turn off unexpectedly instead of running slowly."

Choices are good, I guess.

I’d prefer “0% battery really means 0% battery” and “don’t throttle my phone” switch. I accept a device shutting down at 0%, but not at 30%.

 

[UL2RA]

"I'd like my phone to turn off unexpectedly instead of running slowly."

Choices are good, I guess.

This is what Apple said would happen ... not what real world users have said. So this claim remains to be seen. I have a feeling a lot of phones won't be randomly shutting down with this off. The incessant need to defend a claim from Apple without verifiable proof is a bit disconcerting.

 

[unobtainium]

What will all the Apple haters who post on macrumors have to complain about now?

Their old iPhones suddenly shutting off under load.

 

[Leguna24]

Just signed up to reserve a battery, let's see how this works out...

 

[th-gates9345]

"I'd like my phone to turn off unexpectedly instead of running slowly."

Choices are good, I guess.

I'd like they'd tell me what they're doing and then I decide if buy a new phone or change battery or let my phone to turn off unexpectedly.

 

[iamPro]

What will all the Apple haters who post on macrumors have to complain about now?

Better battery/CPU management? Despite constantly touting superior hardware and software integration, a battery that can't keep up with the CPU, or is it the CPU that requires a "super" battery that doesn't exist to maintain its processing power after a year or two sure sounds like the opposite.

 

[urkel]

What will all the Apple haters who post on macrumors have to complain about now?

Blaming the consumer for product issues created by a corporation?

I'm an annual upgrader so I never experienced the speed throttling issue. But over the holidays I saw a lot of family and experienced their perspective of the throttling first hand. Its bad. Like, "This phone is unusable. I guess I should buy a new phone bad." And whether it was Apples intention or not, there are a lot of iPhones being sold to people who wouldn't have spent $800 for an upgrade if they knew that the solution to their awful phone experience was a battery pack or a $79 battery replacement.

Its a shame that this battery situation has come to this but the complaints are legitimate.

 

[neutralguy]

We will find out whether the phones really shutdown or not after 11.3

 

[CoZmicShReddeR]

I was supposed to be in line to get a new battery end of March for my iPhone 6 Plus but I couldn't deal with the battery dying in three hrs and apps being a bit laggy and everyone around me was buying new phones so I went out bought an iPhone X 256 never been happier!

I didn't think I would be able to get used to the Facial scanner but it's actually more convenient then using the thumbprint scanner! Not to mention every app I use that required log in or the finger print was upgraded to be used with the Face scanner!

 

[Tozovac]

Is there any possibility of over-heating a battery and risking even more damage when turning throttling off?

In unrelated news, I sure wish they'd add a button in OS or iOS to stop all the stupid use of light-grey text and barely-discernible lighter grey borders and really-stupidly-oversized "buttons" that don't look like choices/selections/buttons and which take up an entire screen when they could instead be organized in a much more professional, refined, and efficient manner as was the norm before 2013 back when form followed function, not led.

 

[citysnaps]

i think you are better off then upgradeing too a iphone 8 or 8 pluse

I already have an X. Keeping my 6+ as an in-home WiFi device.

 

[NinjaHERO]

The iPhone does hundreds of things that we users can't toggle off and on. And it does thousands of things in the background that we aren't even aware of. All of these things make it the product we love. If we didn't, we'd stop buying it. People getting upset at Apple over their attempt to improve the iPhone experience are going a bit overboard I think. Batteries degrade over time. It's just the technology we are all currently using.

I'm glad everyone who wanted the toggle will now have that option. Also congrats if you got a new battery and needed one.

Now, if we want to start a list of all the options in the Iphone I'd like to be able to toggle on and off...we'd be here a while. lol

 

[deanthedev]

What will all the Apple haters who post on macrumors have to complain about now?

Something like this:

“I paid $1,000 for an iPhone X after I was tricked into upgrading. For my inconvenience, pain and suffering I should be refunded the $1,000 I paid. Oh, and I should get to keep my iPhone X.”

 

[sinsin07]

This is what Apple said would happen ... not what real world users have said. So this claim remains to be seen. I have a feeling a lot of phones won't be randomly shutting down with this off. The incessant need to defend a claim from Apple without verifiable proof is a bit disconcerting.

This is what users have said:
Macrumors 2016 IPhone 6 shutting down
Macrumors 2015: Some iPhone 6s Owners Seeing Their Phones Randomly Shut Off
Macrumors 2016 iPhone 6 Pluse [shutdown]
Macrumors 2016: South Korea Considering Investigation of iPhone 6s Battery Shutdown Issue
[URL='https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-6s-turning-off-at-10-20.1954530/']iPhone 6s turning off at 10-20%
Plenty plenty more links from 2015 to 2016.
Haven’t even checked Reddit yet.[/url]https://www.macrumors.com/2016/12/13/korea-potential-probe-iphone-6s-battery-shutdown/https://www.macrumors.com/2016/12/13/korea-potential-probe-iphone-6s-battery-shutdown/

 

[Smooley]

This is what Apple said would happen ... not what real world users have said. So this claim remains to be seen. I have a feeling a lot of phones won't be randomly shutting down with this off. The incessant need to defend a claim from Apple without verifiable proof is a bit disconcerting.

This incessant need to attack everything Apple does without verifiable proof is a bit disconcerting. You literally say "I have a feeling" to support your point but demand "verifiable Proof" for theirs. Hypocrite much?