Apple admits to intentionally slow down your iphone

[WelshBloke]

I'll take that over not getting security patches or software updates once your Android phone is more than a year old. 18 months max. Unless you pay the ridiculous amount that google wants for their pixel 2 phones.

My S7 is just over a year old, rarely get any security updates, will likely never get the Oreo update. And Samsung/android just throttles the CPU whenever it feels like it.

Say what you will about Apple but at least their hardware still gets all the software support for as long as 5 years or more.

I'm not sure what that has to do with the issue in question. How is gimping the CPU speed helping with updates?

 

[Zaap]

"Atleast my iPhone gets updates... that Apple uses to purposefully slow it down!"

^^ When the concept of getting updates and watching a number change and it having a detatched relationship to an 'update' actually doing anything positive for your device.... goes completely off the rails.

 

[sweenish]

They also fail to realize that Pixel 2's are price competitors with iPhones. So, what was their point, actually?

 

[ultimatebob]

It looks like Apple is getting sued for this:

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/22/apple-sued-after-it-admits-to-slowing-down-older-iphones.html

What's funny is that I had the exact opposite problem with my iPhone 6. It never noticed it slowing down when the battery started going bad, but it would randomly turn itself off when it got below a 40% charge. It also showed a "Battery Performance Degraded" warning in the settings screen, so iOS must have had some inkling what was going on.

The option to throttle the CPU on the device to prevent it from randomly powering off would have been nice, but then we all know that Apple doesn't really believe in options. It's the "Apple Way" or the highway with those guys.

 

[ultimatebob]

True, earlier versions of Android were horribly optimized. And there was some huge performance gains when certain versions (such as 4) came out. iOS has always been pretty well optimized, so there is less to gain over new versions to offset the more advanced features. There is also the fact that older hardware may be missing certain hardware feature sets that the newer OS utilizes. Such was the came when iOS 4 (I think it was 4) came out and is was almost unusable on an iPhone 3g.

Oh yeah, it was iOS 4 alright. It basically bricked my iPhone 3G to the point where I had to get a new (Android) phone to replace it. They eventually patched iOS 4 so it ran somewhat better on the 3G, but it was never as good as the older OS. Apple also never released a newer iOS version for that phone.

Sadly, that Android (Verizon Droid X) phone ended getting so much carrier bloatware installed on it over it's lifetime that it got just as bad as the iPhone, causing me to switch back to team Apple

 

[mikegg]

Well effing duh! They only make ONE phone product.

Apple has multiple phone products. My iPhone 5s just got the latest update and it's 4 years old.

And they barely get that right.

Yes, they barely got it right and it's somehow the most profitable product in the world. Imagine if they did get it right?

 

[mikegg]

Except that with a Android phone you are actually in control, and can root and install any version you wish, there are alot of roms out there that get regular updates. Some even get nightly updates.

I think what geeks fail to understand is that 98% of the population does not care about rooting or customizing everything.

 

[mikegg]

Not always true. I've had increased performance from some Android updates.

My last Nexus phone became completely unusable after 1.5 years.

 

[luv2liv]

someone asked me many years ago....if Apple is intentionally crippling their older products, why isnt anyone suing?
well here you go: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/dec/22/apple-lawsuits-intentional-slowing-older-iphones

i had apple products before, cant fool me the 3rd time.

 

[KB]

I always thought this was the case. My Ipad 2 is practically unusable at this point as the letters appear 5 seconds after you type them and the internet is much slower, yet the battery life seems to last just as long as it did. I would gladly take faster typing and internet and having to recharge more often than this. Thanks Tim Crook!

 

[WelshBloke]

My last Nexus phone became completely unusable after 1.5 years.

Are you saying that Google have downclocked the SOC in the nexus with updates? Because that's what this thread is about.

 

[Stuka87]

So many people not understanding what is going on. Including that lawsuit.

1: This has nothing to do with battery life
2: This was not implemented until iOS 10
3: Its dynamic and does not effect all phones, only phones where the wear indicator on the battery is over some level
4: It was implemented to address a specific issue.

People saying they have thought this for years(!!!) can go on and keep thinking that if they wish. The people that filed at least one of the lawsuits have no clue what they are talking about (not surprising being that they lawyers after all).

 

[pmv]

So is this dependent on the condition of the battery or does it kick in automatically even if you've put a fresh battery in?

Edit - stuka87 just answered my question, thanks.

(I don't have an iPhone, but it's a pet-peeve of mine that so many electronic gadgets these days aren't designed to have user-replaceable batteries, on the assumption you'll just throw them away when the battery degrades...presumably because 'the market' values having as slim and tightly-sealed a case as possible over longevity?).

 

[WelshBloke]

So is this dependent on the condition of the battery or does it kick in automatically even if you've put a fresh battery in?

Just if the battery is degraded.

 

[Rifter]

I think what geeks fail to understand is that 98% of the population does not care about rooting or customizing everything.

If they dont care about rooting and customization of their devices they have no leg to stand on when they complain about the lack of carrier updates, they can fix that issue but choose not to.

What they also fail to realize is that its the carriers not samsung that lack updates after a year, if you buy a unlocked international version of the samsung phone then you usually get updated for several years, its mostly the carrier locked phones that get abandoned for updates after a year.

 

[MrSquished]

If they dont care about rooting and customization of their devices they have no leg to stand on when they complain about the lack of carrier updates, they can fix that issue but choose not to.

What they also fail to realize is that its the carriers not samsung that lack updates after a year, if you buy a unlocked international version of the samsung phone then you usually get updated for several years, its mostly the carrier locked phones that get abandoned for updates after a year.

As big of an Android fan as I am we really can't expect the general population to start rooting their phones in order to update them. Something has to happen between Google/Phone manufacturers and the carriers so they get a minimum of 2 years of updates, preferably 3. Just now Google is guaranteeing Pixel 2 owners three years of OS updates - so it's taking awhile on the Android side.

 

[Rifter]

As big of an Android fan as I am we really can't expect the general population to start rooting their phones in order to update them. Something has to happen between Google/Phone manufacturers and the carriers so they get a minimum of 2 years of updates, preferably 3. Just now Google is guaranteeing Pixel 2 owners three years of OS updates - so it's taking awhile on the Android side.

Will never happen with carrier locked phones, the carriers have zero incentive to do this, they want you to buy another phone and renew your contract yearly or bi yearly same as apple. Its the same as Apple is doing just a different approach, the carriers stop updating OS forcing you to upgrade your hardware, apple gimps speed forcing you to upgrade hardware. Different approaches to same "Problem". Best bet is buying unlocked phone from manufacturer, such as the pixel if you arnt a techie.

At least with android you have other options to switch OS's and continue to get updates as long as you wish to use the hardware. i still have my old note 4 kicking around running a custom rom that gets updates monthly, its not my main phone but its still functional, i use it essentially as a remote to stream to my chromecast in my living room, as well as game on it. GF still has her note 3 running as well.

I leave my phone stock till the 1 year warranty is up then when factory OS updates end between the 1-2 year mark i root it and pick a well supported rom to run till i get a new phone in a few years, i generally keep my phones for 3-4 years as my main use device. I love having the freedom to be able to do this, I realize rooting can be scary to some, but you can pay professionals to do it for you if you are not a tech person, and its a small price to pay for 1-2 more years of usability from your device.

 

[ChronoReverse]

As big of an Android fan as I am we really can't expect the general population to start rooting their phones in order to update them. Something has to happen between Google/Phone manufacturers and the carriers so they get a minimum of 2 years of updates, preferably 3. Just now Google is guaranteeing Pixel 2 owners three years of OS updates - so it's taking awhile on the Android side.

The Essential, for all its flaws, is getting 2 years of OS updates and 3 years of security updates (assuming Essential doesn't fold lol). More manufacturers should do this.

 

[Red Storm]

Looking at the Apple subreddit, it's crazy how many posters there are trying to defend Apple's actions.

 

[WelshBloke]

Looking at the Apple subreddit, it's crazy how many posters there are trying to defend Apple's actions.

Its amazing how many here are talking about anything except this.

 

[Elixer]

They are basically overclocking the phones when they are new / fresh batteries, and when the batteries wear out, they are forced to go back to normal speeds, and yes, that will show as the device being slower than it was before.

It is as if they did this so they would have good reviews and people can say how snappy it is...which is true, for a set time period.

Just goes to show you that all devices should have removable batteries, then they can just get new ones when the speed falls too low for the user.

 

[artless1]

w0w.

and didn't Jobs once say, "We aren't selling technology. We're selling MAGIC."

huh...

 

[QueBert]

I think what geeks fail to understand is that 98% of the population does not care about rooting or customizing everything.

And don't forget a good number of Android phones aren't rootable, and/or don't have an unlockable bootloader, so no custom roms. And many that are rootable have absolutely laughable support as far as roms and such. I know my Galaxy Note 5 (AT&T model) isn't rootable and never will be, so no roms for me. Same with the 2 Android phones I had before that. And the last rootable Android phone I had, pretty much zero XDA community support. That said, I do love a good Android phone that has a big community presence on XDA.

 

[mrochester]

Will never happen with carrier locked phones, the carriers have zero incentive to do this, they want you to buy another phone and renew your contract yearly or bi yearly same as apple. Its the same as Apple is doing just a different approach, the carriers stop updating OS forcing you to upgrade your hardware, apple gimps speed forcing you to upgrade hardware. Different approaches to same "Problem". Best bet is buying unlocked phone from manufacturer, such as the pixel if you arnt a techie.

At least with android you have other options to switch OS's and continue to get updates as long as you wish to use the hardware. i still have my old note 4 kicking around running a custom rom that gets updates monthly, its not my main phone but its still functional, i use it essentially as a remote to stream to my chromecast in my living room, as well as game on it. GF still has her note 3 running as well.

I leave my phone stock till the 1 year warranty is up then when factory OS updates end between the 1-2 year mark i root it and pick a well supported rom to run till i get a new phone in a few years, i generally keep my phones for 3-4 years as my main use device. I love having the freedom to be able to do this, I realize rooting can be scary to some, but you can pay professionals to do it for you if you are not a tech person, and its a small price to pay for 1-2 more years of usability from your device.

Your logic is sound but your conclusion is backwards. By reducing the speed of the phone to prevent it from crashing, Apple are in fact lengthening the amount of time someone is likely to keep their phone.

 

[Red Storm]

Your logic is sound but your conclusion is backwards. By reducing the speed of the phone to prevent it from crashing, Apple are in fact lengthening the amount of time someone is likely to keep their phone.

I disagree. If the phone has issues shutting off, the person would know its the battery and can pursue replacement which is much cheaper than a new phone. If the phone is acting slow, people are being misled into thinking the phone itself is going bad, so the idea of a battery replacement is never there. This makes Apple more money. It's a deceitful, greedy move.