Apple has admitted to temporarily slowing down iPhones in cases where their battery is old or deteriorated, to avoid sudden shutdowns or other errors that would render them unusable. The admission was released by the company to respond to a broad comparison between users born in recent days on Reddit, following the analysis on the behavior of iPhones when they are almost discharged or have a very worn battery. The analysis seemed to confirm the appellant accusation against Apple that the new versions of its operating system, iOS, are designed specifically to slow down older iPhones and thus incentivize the passage and purchase of the most recent models. so-called “planned obsolescence”. Apple's version is different and seems to at least partially dispel this misconception.
The discussion arose following a report on Reddit and a following post by John Poole, a developer of Geekbanch, a company that produces systems to evaluate the performance of devices of various types. Poole has monitored the performance of an iPhone 6s and an iPhone7 over time, concluding that iOS versions 10.2.1 and 11.2.0 introduced a system to temporarily reduce the computing capacity of these models. Version 10.2.1 was introduced by Apple about a year ago precisely with the aim of solving a problem that sometimes affected the iPhone 6 and 6s: they turned off suddenly and without warning, even if the battery indicator indicated still available charge. . Apple had also done something similar recently, with 11.2.0, to address the same problem with the most recent iPhone 7s with old or deteriorated batteries from numerous charge / discharge cycles.
In his analysis, Poole has published some graphs where it is evident that the system for de-powering the iPhones comes into operation when a “peak” occurs, that is when the processor begins to require a lot of energy to perform an action that requires a greater number of calculations and processing (if you are using a video game with 3D effects, for example). Simplifying, if battery performance is not adequate, iOS steps in and spreads the processor work over a longer period of time, in order to mitigate the spike and sudden demand for more battery power. This solution makes it possible to make a worn out battery more stable, preventing its malfunction from causing the phone to switch off automatically to prevent damage. The side effect of this solution is that the iPhone becomes temporarily slower, because the processor is not working at its full capacity.
In recent days, endless discussions have arisen on Reddit and social networks, sometimes accompanied by some conspiracy theory. Several users, for example, reported that their iPhones did indeed get faster after replacing the old battery with a new one.
So it's true Apple intentionally slow down old iPhones. Proof: My iPhone 6 was bought 3years ago and recently got really slow. APP 'CPU DasherX' shows iPhone CPU is under clocked running at 600MHz. After a iPhone battery replacement. CPU speed resumed to factory setting 1400MHz. pic.twitter.com/pML3y0Jkp2
– Sam_Si (@sam_siruomu) December 20, 2017
Many have therefore thought that the slowdown imposed by iOS was a strategy by Apple to induce them to buy a new iPhone, instead of simply replacing the battery (an operation that is expensive, however, if entrusted to an Apple Store or to a partner Apple center). These impressions were fueled by Poole himself, who wrote in his explanation: “This solution will lead users to think 'My phone has become slow so I should change it' and not 'My phone has become slow so I should replace the battery' “.
Given the dimensions that the discussion was taking, Apple released a statement where – which is quite rare – it confirmed one of its strategies used to improve the overall performance of iPhones, especially if dated:
Our goal is to deliver the best customer experience, which includes performance as a whole, and extend the life of our devices. Lithium-ion batteries become less able to respond to power surges when they are cold, low on charge, or old, which can result in the device shutting down unexpectedly to protect its components.
Last year, we rolled out a feature for iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, and iPhone SE to mitigate sudden spikes when you need to prevent the device from turning off unexpectedly. We have extended this functionality to iPhones 7c with iOS 11.2, and we plan to use the same solution for other products in the future
Apple's confirmation illustrates a system that has existed for a year now and that – without their knowing it – has allowed millions of people to continue using their iPhones even with a worn-out battery, avoiding the risk of damage to their components. phones that would make them unusable in the long run. The problem is therefore not with iOS or directly with the way iPhones are made, but with the batteries. Apple, like other large smartphone manufacturers, invests hundreds of millions of dollars every year in the study and development of the lithium-ion batteries that will end up in its devices. This technology has been around for years and, while it has improved, it continues to be the sweet spot of smartphones.
Reliable batteries not only mean that they last a long time, but also that they withstand a good amount of charge / discharge cycles, that they are stable in very hot or very cold weather, and that they possibly do not blow up putting the safety of users at risk, such as took place last year with Samsung's Galaxy Note 7.
One way to make sure the battery doesn't mess around is to monitor it through software. In recent years, iOS and Android have introduced several ways to do this: they make sure that it is in good condition and that it supplies current in the correct way to the different components, mitigating jolts or unexpected variations. The system analyzed by Poole is one of the most effective in avoiding nasty surprises, but it is inevitably the result of a compromise: better a phone that is a little slower than a phone that suddenly turns off.
Although paradoxically it was perceived to the contrary, Apple's goal is to make sure that its older iPhones continue to work, compatibly with their batteries and their computing capacity. According to many observers, the wrong perception is a responsibility of Apple, which preferred not to give clear information when it introduced the temporary slowdown system, speaking generically of a solution to avoid sudden shutdowns of iPhones. More transparent communication would have avoided the controversy of recent days, which for many has reinforced the myth that Apple slows down old phones so you buy a new one.
IOS itself may provide some more information, with an icon next to that of the battery, when it enters the mode to reduce spikes. The operating system only provides a warning when the phone's battery is drained to the point of requiring assistance. Some observers have pointed out that Apple probably doesn't have much interest in communicating that replacing the battery can, in some cases, get the phone back to working better and running faster.
Replacing a battery with an original spare and work done by Apple costs around 90 euros, and offers some more security than do-it-yourself replacements, especially as regards the quality of the spare. Many sites, starting with the famous iFixit, still offer very detailed and step-by-step guides to replace the battery for less than a third of what Apple requires, but you have to take the risk of opening an iPhone and hope not to do damage. .
Many smartphone manufacturers now prefer to seal the battery inside the phones, making it impossible to replace them without unscrewing screws or detaching other components. They justify this choice with the fact of having to save as much space as possible or integrate other components in the same battery, which cannot remain in more external parts of the device. Of course, there are also economic reasons: non-removable batteries cost less and, considering that they perform at their best in the first two years of life, they are well suited to the average life cycle of a smartphone expected by companies of 12-24 months maximum.
