Planned Obsolescence, or Every New iOS Update Making iPhones Older than the Newest Model Slower

[Hutch1]

My 6s that was replaced by a 7 plus when it took a dip in the pool seemed fine.

 

[trifid]

If downgrades are available more people could be on older/different versions which means more fragmentation. All fairly straightforward. That doesn't have to be the reason or a large part of it, but it is a reasonable one. Whether or not a particular reason might play a big role still doesn't change anything as far as some sort of confirmation or proof of it all being for "sinister" reasons.

I disagree but I guess we are down to opinion vs opinon.

 

[Thor_1]

Running iOS 10.x.x on a 5s, 6s and 7's. Of course the 5s is the slowest, but see no issues on the 6s.

 

[HEK]

The OP already has a similar thread on this, guess that was not enough.

Keep beating a horse that won't run. I along with vast majority of users don't experience a slowdown with latestet software. If you don't want to upload latest IOS don't. OP just wants to make it seem more of an issue by periodically bringing one of his pet peeves up over and over. That's quite all right, I'll keep stating my experience that I find no obsolescence in using the latest IOS software on any of the iPhones and iPads I have owned.

 

[Booji]

What's amazing about these frequent accusations of deliberate obsolescence is reality. I use a iPad 2 on a daily basis. I have considered upgrading every year and dismissed it because the damn thing just keeps working. Yeah, it's a little slower at some things, like browsing and facecrap; but it's as smooth as day one for video, Netflix, audio and light gaming.

There is NO planned obsolescence of these devices. It's just the reality of how computers work. A new OS uses more resources.

The fact that a iPhone 5 can still support the latest version of iOS is proof that Apple seeks to support older hardware as long as possible

 

[JT2002TJ]

The fact that a iPhone 5 can still support the latest version of iOS is proof that Apple seeks to support older hardware as long as possible

Again, the complaint is not that they are not supporting old devices, it is that they aren't optimizing the OS' for all versions of active hardware. Good programming (I am a software engineer) requires optimizing the users experience, regardless of the device they are using. It is understandable that actions requiring advanced hardware are either not available, or run significantly slower. But when it comes to simple navigation of the home screen, this should not be noticeable to the user.

To me, it boils down to Apple trying to come out with a new major OS every year. The cycle continues, and seems to be getting worse. Every year the X.0 software runs almost perfectly on the latest hardware, but runs buggy on all older hardware. Apple then chases their tail with all X.X and X.X.X versions until, once again, they repeat the cycle... Just when they get it better for the older devices, they restart the cycle again. For example 8.4.x was great on all older devices, but it came out something like a month before 9 did, which again started the cycle until the last version of 9. So it appears like planned obsolescence, but in reality it is bad OS programming.

MS changes the major OS after years, does Service Packs a couple times per OS, but does security and small feature updates weekly. This cycle may not be perfect for Apple, but how about change the annual cycle to maybe a biennial (once every 2 years) cycle. This gives more time to optimize the current OS for older devices, while adding new features for the "s" device as a "service pack".

Remember there are FAR more older phones out in the wild than the newest each year, why not focus on the larger group of your customers?

 

[trifid]

Again, the complaint is not that they are not supporting old devices, it is that they aren't optimizing the OS' for all versions of active hardware. Good programming (I am a software engineer) requires optimizing the users experience, regardless of the device they are using. It is understandable that actions requiring advanced hardware are either not available, or run significantly slower. But when it comes to simple navigation of the home screen, this should not be noticeable to the user.

To me, it boils down to Apple trying to come out with a new major OS every year. The cycle continues, and seems to be getting worse. Every year the X.0 software runs almost perfectly on the latest hardware, but runs buggy on all older hardware. Apple then chases their tail with all X.X and X.X.X versions until, once again, they repeat the cycle... Just when they get it better for the older devices, they restart the cycle again. For example 8.4.x was great on all older devices, but it came out something like a month before 9 did, which again started the cycle until the last version of 9. So it appears like planned obsolescence, but in reality it is bad OS programming.

MS changes the major OS after years, does Service Packs a couple times per OS, but does security and small feature updates weekly. This cycle may not be perfect for Apple, but how about change the annual cycle to maybe a biennial (once every 2 years) cycle. This gives more time to optimize the current OS for older devices, while adding new features for the "s" device as a "service pack".

Remember there are FAR more older phones out in the wild than the newest each year, why not focus on the larger group of your customers?

You raise good points and I think it really boils down to Apple putting profits ahead of user experience more now than ever before. Lets assume there is no conspiracy theory. Since optimization costs money, and the side effect of not optimizing is sluggish experience on older hardware, that leads to more sales of new iPhones, which is consistent with what Apple's vision is, profits above all. This coupled with the rushed 2-4 weeks signing period which gives very little time for downgrades is the perfect combination.

This is consistent with how Apple operates now, for example soldering ram on mac mini for pure profit at the expense of the user. Or putting 5400rpm drives along with 4k screens in 2016.

So while it might or might not be intentional, it serves Apple's new vision, of reaching record high profits that have never been reached before while neglecting their former core vision of user experience first.

 

[I7guy]

Again, the complaint is not that they are not supporting old devices, it is that they aren't optimizing the OS' for all versions of active hardware. Good programming (I am a software engineer) requires optimizing the users experience, regardless of the device they are using. It is understandable that actions requiring advanced hardware are either not available, or run significantly slower. But when it comes to simple navigation of the home screen, this should not be noticeable to the user.

To me, it boils down to Apple trying to come out with a new major OS every year. The cycle continues, and seems to be getting worse. Every year the X.0 software runs almost perfectly on the latest hardware, but runs buggy on all older hardware. Apple then chases their tail with all X.X and X.X.X versions until, once again, they repeat the cycle... Just when they get it better for the older devices, they restart the cycle again. For example 8.4.x was great on all older devices, but it came out something like a month before 9 did, which again started the cycle until the last version of 9. So it appears like planned obsolescence, but in reality it is bad OS programming.

MS changes the major OS after years, does Service Packs a couple times per OS, but does security and small feature updates weekly. This cycle may not be perfect for Apple, but how about change the annual cycle to maybe a biennial (once every 2 years) cycle. This gives more time to optimize the current OS for older devices, while adding new features for the "s" device as a "service pack".

Remember there are FAR more older phones out in the wild than the newest each year, why not focus on the larger group of your customers?

The 4s and ipad 2 cpu/ram were fine for circa 2011, but in 5 years the complexity of the O/S and hardware have moved forward tremendously.

But apple does optimize it's O/S for older devices, imo. IOS 9 runs better, smoother on my ipad 2 than ios 8. I notice no slowdown with IOS 10 on my 5s, 6 or 6s and all that will be moot when the iphone 5 hits 5 years and apple concentrates on 64 bit devices.

MS monthly patch cycle covers way more territory and is far more complex due to the myriad of configurations. The winsxs folder is testament to that.

 

[JT2002TJ]

You raise good points and I think it really boils down to Apple putting profits ahead of user experience more now than ever before. Lets assume there is no conspiracy theory. Since optimization costs money, and the side effect of not optimizing is sluggish experience on older hardware, that leads to more sales of new iPhones, which is consistent with what Apple's vision is, profits above all. This coupled with the rushed 2-4 weeks signing period which gives very little time for downgrades is the perfect combination.

This is consistent with how Apple operates now, for example soldering ram on mac mini for pure profit at the expense of the user. Or putting 5400rpm drives along with 4k screens in 2016.

So while it might or might not be intentional, it serves Apple's new vision, of reaching record high profits that have never been reached before while neglecting their former core vision of user experience first.

Oh, don't get me wrong, not having a specific written/verbal policy of planned obsolescence and the consequences of not optimizing OS' to the majority of their customers are the exact same thing. I agree... They do spend 3/4 of a year trying to optimize the current OS for older hardware, but if you are religious with upgrades (I am), it is painful for most of the second year of my devices life cycle.

My wife and I do this. I bought the 6+ new, I had it for 2 years, now it is my wife's for 2 years as I got the 7+. She only really notices the slow down during her second year with the phone. Before I give it to her, I can clearly see the glitches, but since that phone is faster than her previous model, she doesn't see it.

I'm not sure why people here think that it is standard practice to replace one's phone every year or every 2 years. Just because upgrades (don't really exist now) were available doesn't mean majority of customers rushed to upgrade their phones. Us on this forum are a small minority of cellular users, we try to upgrade as much as we can afford. I would assume (yes, I have no researched facts or sources) that the average customer in the US upgrades in 3+ year increments. Manufacturers and carriers are trying to accelerate this by getting customers used to "leasing" their phones following the auto industry (with trade ins and/or leasing).
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The 4s and ipad 2 cpu/ram were fine for circa 2011, but in 5 years the complexity of the O/S and hardware have moved forward tremendously.

But apple does optimize it's O/S for older devices, imo. IOS 9 runs better, smoother on my ipad 2 than ios 8. I notice no slowdown with IOS 10 on my 5s, 6 or 6s and all that will be moot when the iphone 5 hits 5 years and apple concentrates on 64 bit devices.

MS monthly patch cycle covers way more territory and is far more complex due to the myriad of configurations. The winsxs folder is testament to that.

I agree that they do optimize their iOS' for older devices, but only AFTER the X.0 release. It is a pattern, the first major release is glitchy on older devices (some worse than others), then Apple spends the rest of the year trying to fix these issues, making the final release the best (better than the previous year's OS). Then they drop that iOS and start all over again. The problem I see it is, there is too short of a time before the next X.0 release where the user gets a great experience.

So if a user, myself included, likes to upgrade immediately (or doesn't wait half a year of fix-it sub-iOS' before updating), they spend most of the second+ years experience annoyed with glitches.

 

[Math889]

True. The thing is there's pretty significant improvement in ARM CPU/GPUs with every iteration that by the time you reach 3 or 4 firmware updates, new hardware is sometimes already 8-16x as fast as your 3-4 year old phone.

That said, I wish iOS would stop nagging you to update. It's getting hard to stay on older firmware when the device is asking you to update every few hours.

It's really annoying when the device asks me to update every hour . I wish Apple remove this annoying feature . Usually I download the update and after few hours I install it . But these few hours it's really annoying . I really want to see how iOS 11 will perform on my SE and Air 2.Though I really want an 12.9 iPad so I may be upgrading my iPad next year ( because I want the 12.9 screen) . My phone I plan to keep for a while .

 

[JT2002TJ]

It's really annoying when the device asks me to update every hour . I wish Apple remove this annoying feature . Usually I download the update and after few hours I install it . But these few hours it's really annoying . I really want to see how iOS 11 will perform on my SE and Air 2.Though I really want an 12.9 iPad so I may be upgrading my iPad next year ( because I want the 12.9 screen) . My phone I plan to keep for a while .

To be fair, you can delete updates after they are downloaded. This will prevent the notification. But, you will have to do this every new release, as it will automatically do it again. Not really the best user experience, and the average user has NO idea how to do this... (the pop-up should ask the user to install now, install later, or ignore this update).

 

[C DM]

It's really annoying when the device asks me to update every hour . I wish Apple remove this annoying feature . Usually I download the update and after few hours I install it . But these few hours it's really annoying . I really want to see how iOS 11 will perform on my SE and Air 2.Though I really want an 12.9 iPad so I may be upgrading my iPad next year ( because I want the 12.9 screen) . My phone I plan to keep for a while .

Well, as discussed earlier in the thread, you can deal with that: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...est-model-slower.2024532/page-3#post-24131539

 

[I7guy]

Oh, don't get me wrong, not having a specific written/verbal policy of planned obsolescence and the consequences of not optimizing OS' to the majority of their customers are the exact same thing. I agree... They do spend 3/4 of a year trying to optimize the current OS for older hardware, but if you are religious with upgrades (I am), it is painful for most of the second year of my devices life cycle.

My wife and I do this. I bought the 6+ new, I had it for 2 years, now it is my wife's for 2 years as I got the 7+. She only really notices the slow down during her second year with the phone. Before I give it to her, I can clearly see the glitches, but since that phone is faster than her previous model, she doesn't see it.

I'm not sure why people here think that it is standard practice to replace one's phone every year or every 2 years. Just because upgrades (don't really exist now) were available doesn't mean majority of customers rushed to upgrade their phones. Us on this forum are a small minority of cellular users, we try to upgrade as much as we can afford. I would assume (yes, I have no researched facts or sources) that the average customer in the US upgrades in 3+ year increments. Manufacturers and carriers are trying to accelerate this by getting customers used to "leasing" their phones following the auto industry (with trade ins and/or leasing).
[doublepost=1483113493][/doublepost]

I agree that they do optimize their iOS' for older devices, but only AFTER the X.0 release. It is a pattern, the first major release is glitchy on older devices (some worse than others), then Apple spends the rest of the year trying to fix these issues, making the final release the best (better than the previous year's OS). Then they drop that iOS and start all over again. The problem I see it is, there is too short of a time before the next X.0 release where the user gets a great experience.

So if a user, myself included, likes to upgrade immediately (or doesn't wait half a year of fix-it sub-iOS' before updating), they spend most of the second+ years experience annoyed with glitches.

I don't get annoyed with minor glitches, every o/s has them. Heck Microsoft released a security patch that affect dhcp. You often can't see m/s isdues because many of them are under the covers.

 

[JT2002TJ]

I don't get annoyed with minor glitches, every o/s has them. Heck Microsoft released a security patch that affect dhcp. You often can't see m/s isdues because many of them are under the covers.

I get minor glitches, but it I do not accept "minor" glitches like delayed home page switching, OEM apps opening slowly or requiring to be force closed because they are acting funny. If these errors are across the OS, I'm also ok with it. What I do take issue with are when these glitches are non-existent on the newest hardware, but exist on even last years model. This is an insult to those who spend almost $1k on a phone the year before.

 

[macfacts]

iPhone upgrade program. This program is evidence Apple wants Americans to upgrade every year so Apple can increase sales and have refurbished iPhones to sell in India.

 

[DaIfoneboss]

Yet my 2011 Lenovo laptop works great with Win 10. Faster than many entry level laptops. Try using a 5 year old iPhone on the latest IOS. It's not fine, it's not even close to acceptable. It's entirely possible to create an IOS that still runs smooth on older devices with the option to turn off cpu intensive options.

It's the same as durable goods. Make a good too durable you won't see repeat customers for a long while. Make your durable goods last just long enough that they stop saying 'didn't I just get a new washing machine?' and they will buy another.

To make older iPhones run as "fast as as launch" that would mean then they would have to strip features and api feature set off these older iPhones for slightly better performance again, you cant win. Take away features and stuff for older iPhones and they will complain. Add on the features like they do now and people still complain.

 

[I7guy]

I get minor glitches, but it I do not accept "minor" glitches like delayed home page switching, OEM apps opening slowly or requiring to be force closed because they are acting funny. If these errors are across the OS, I'm also ok with it. What I do take issue with are when these glitches are non-existent on the newest hardware, but exist on even last years model. This is an insult to those who spend almost $1k on a phone the year before.

All I know is the 6s, 5s and 6 don't experience those glitches you describe.

 

[JT2002TJ]

All I know is the 6s, 5s and 6 don't experience those glitches you describe.

Sorry, the 6+ did in fact experience this with the initial release of 10.0. This such as keyboard missing from messages app, search features missing keyboards... While the 7+ didn't have these glitches.

I compared a freshly whipped 6+ with my new 7+ before I gave the 6+ to my wife. Plus, I checked with all my friends with 6's that moved to 10.0, and many many many threads on this forum describing glitches, that were virtually absent from the 7's.

 

[I7guy]

Sorry, the 6+ did in fact experience this with the initial release of 10.0. This such as keyboard missing from messages app, search features missing keyboards... While the 7+ didn't have these glitches.

I compared a freshly whipped 6+ with my new 7+ before I gave the 6+ to my wife. Plus, I checked with all my friends with 6's that moved to 10.0, and many many many threads on this forum describing glitches, that were virtually absent from the 7's.

I don't have that phone, but the 6+ For some has the same issues out of the box as I read about it here. So it didn't seem to change unfortunately. But I have used my co-workers 6+ and that's one phone is smooth; at least smooth enough.

 

[JT2002TJ]

I don't have that phone, but the 6+ For some has the same issues out of the box as I read about it here. So it didn't seem to change unfortunately. But I have used my co-workers 6+ and that's one phone is smooth; at least smooth enough.

It is better now (still has issues, but much better)... Now that we aren't on 10.0 anymore. We are up to 10.2... Each version after X.0 the older devices get better, the problem is each time they move to the new X.0 the cycle continues.

 

[I7guy]

It is better now (still has issues, but much better)... Now that we aren't on 10.0 anymore. We are up to 10.2... Each version after X.0 the older devices get better, the problem is each time they move to the new X.0 the cycle continues.

Been like that since the first release I suppose. But it seems the general theme in the software industry.

 

[macTW]

Unwrap the newest iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, and on the latest iOS version both will feel buttery smooth with zero indication of lag or a slowdown. It's a cycle every year: the newest iPhone will undoubtedly perform flawlessly on its respective iOS version that was released alongside it for at the least its first few months. Then, magically as if it was by design it'll begin to exhibit the slightest hiccups and holdups just doing menial tasks.

Sure, Apple does add new features every year to iOS that use up more resources. It's not expected that an iPhone 7 that feels absolutely smooth in every aspect today will feel the same way in five years. However, having owned every single iPhone I am confident in stating that it's doubtful it will perform or feel the same in a year from now when iOS 11 is released.

My iPhone 6s Plus like my iPhone 6 Plus before it slowly started to lag past the point of usability so much so that I had to do a factory reset. Even with a factory reset though, it still is not as buttery-smooth as it was on iOS 9 the year before. Frames are noticeably dropped even doing a UI task as basic as using Force Touch.

It's absolutely expected that Apple's newest flagship phone is buttery-smooth and that the latest iOS version is optimized for the best experience on the newest phone. But the question is whether Apple purposefully neglects to optimize to retain that smoothness on older devices. All that is immediately apparent is that Apple creates the best experience for its new software versions around its newest devices, which is totally fine. If you want the best iOS 9 experience, buy an iPhone 6s. If you want to use the newest iOS 10 to its fullest potential, buy an iPhone 7. Just don't expect either to perform as well as out-of-the-box on newer software versions after a year, even with a factory reset. Apple's not the only one doing it, and updating to a new phone every year isn't a huge hassle provided they continue adding a myriad of desirable features annually.

Ok. So the fact that technology has advanced yearly such that processors get smaller and do more as well as ram getting smaller and cheaper and can do more, as well as the minds at Apple coming up with more and better features and they design those features for the latest and greatest phones.... you think that's planned obsolescence?

I hear there's a sale on tin foil hats.
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It's obvious that older phones are purposefully slowed down. The evidence is in simple tasks like typing.

When I got my iPhone 4S it was blazing fast. Typing felt exactly like when I got my 6S+. I've upgraded every year (skipping the 7 since I need a headphone jack) but kept my 4S as an iPod.

Well, after a few years of upgrading iOS the 4S is like walking through 3 feet of mud. Click a letter... wait... the letter appears on the screen... click another letter... wait...

It's a joke. My old Vic 20 from 1980 doesn't have a problem making letters appear on a screen after typing.

If I could corner Tim Cook I would ask him that one question. Why is the processor that was lightning fast when new, now all of a sudden slowed to a crawl doing a task that is exactly the same as it was back then?

Nothing has changed in the way iPhones type. And yet, the 4S can no longer handle it.

It's obvious. The new OS is programmed to specifically slow down older devices to the point that they are unusable.

You're right. It is obvious. Obvious that the latest iOS has more background tasks running which takes up ram and slows down normal tasks. Clearly isn't planned obsolescence. Replace the original iOS on the device and it runs flawlessly. But using a device with 512 MB ram with an iOS designed for 2GB of ram.... its obviously stupid to expect a quality experience.
[doublepost=1483125244][/doublepost]

The fact that Apple disables the ability to go back to a previous version so quickly (2-4 weeks) to me screams planned obsolescence. Their excuse might be security but that's BS to me.

If iOS10 feels sluggish when typing for example, why can't I go back to iOS9 buttery smooth lag-free experience?

Apple wants people to feel sluggishness and blocks downgrading so they buy a new iPhone.

Or they don't want "man with iPhone hacked and loses everything!!!" Article that fails to mention "he was running a three year old iOS with security flaws" because that would get the media and public flaming Apple for the mans stupidity.

 

[mrochester]

Yes, that is very much understood. However, my past two iPhones felt like they were older than they were after just about nine months. Meanwhile my 2012 rMBP is running Mac OS Sierra and feels as smooth as most modern Macs. I feel like they're not optimizing the interface as well as they could.

Development in mobile hardware is currently at a much faster pace than in desktops and laptops. You will therefore notice bigger variations in speed between mobile devices than desktops and laptops. Once mobile hardware has matured sufficiently, there will be much smaller variations and speed differences won't be as noticeable.

 

[Domen151]

My 6s Plus feels just as fast as it was a year ago.

 

[C DM]

iPhone upgrade program. This program is evidence Apple wants Americans to upgrade every year so Apple can increase sales and have refurbished iPhones to sell in India.

Which isn't evidence of anything sinister or some sort of conspiracy.