Other Apple is slowing down older iPhones based on battery wear level [MERGED]

[boltjames]

I don’t want my 5s or 6 or 6s held back from new updates. If you want to stay on a particular release you shouldn’t update.

Ah, but that's the conundrum isn't it?

It's not about the evil throttle; it's about owners of old hardware who want it both ways and can't, you either need to opt for top speed + old OS or slowed speed + new OS.

Yes, I know that's the option all iPhone owners have now, but while the upside is made clear (new features) the downsides never are (will speed be compromised or no?).
[doublepost=1515954932][/doublepost]

I wouldn’t want my iPhones prevented from updating to new features either. Doing so would drive a lot of people away from iOS in a market where people are keeping phones longer. They already cost a lot of money so holding them back would diminish their appeal IMO.

I would never advise anybody not to update if one is available. We get constant security patches and not being up to date leaves your device vulnerable.,

Yeah, but just how valuable are the new features these days?

When I updated my iPhone 6 to iOS 11, what did I gain? Control Center was more customizable. I could press + hold an icon and get deeper into 3D Touch-like shortcuts. Fonts changed in email and iMessage. Can't think of much else.

And, by the way, though my 6 is gone my iPad Air II is still used daily and despite those new features I'm never going to move up to iOS 11, I'm sticking forever with iOS 10.

My opinion, the features offered these days are incremental at best and the downside of compromised performance just isn't worth it. It's been this way for 10 years, it's been going on since the 3GS ended and the 4 was launched. Smart users don't upgrade the iOS two versions forward. It's a no-no.
[doublepost=1515955062][/doublepost]

Has anyone confirmed apple will institute these changes with the 8/x? The wording by Apple was ambiguous.

Any chance they make changes for the 2018 models, or would that be admitting defeat?

The only change Apple has confirmed is making iOS more clear about what happens when the throttle kicks in, not an option to toggle the throttle on/off.

That's what we're currently discussing. What should Apple do in future releases. I'm in the camp that Apple should rollback iPhone 6 (and older) owners to older iOS's that worked well and freeze iOS progress on these older iPhone's, others think an on/off switch is the better approach. We'll see.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

If Apple start issuing ultimatums to users about performance and forcing people to upgrade more regularly or their devices will no longer be supported, appeal will start to reduce. Apple have always been admired for the quality of their products, their customer service and the longevity of their products. If they are suddenly unable to support devices that are a year or two old, that is a problem that is only going to get bigger.

If they were cheap throwaway products I could understand it, but the iPhone is a premium brand with a good reputation. The vast majority of Apples wealth comes from core iPhone users who have two year contracts. It’s not a market their can afford to lose.

Yeah, but just how valuable are the new features these days?

When I updated my iPhone 6 to iOS 11, what did I gain? Control Center was more customizable. I could press + hold an icon and get deeper into 3D Touch-like shortcuts. Fonts changed in email and iMessage. Can't think of much else.

And, by the way, though my 6 is gone my iPad Air II is still used daily and despite those new features I'm never going to move up to iOS 11, I'm sticking forever with iOS 10.

My opinion, the features offered these days are incremental at best and the downside of compromised performance just isn't worth it. It's been this way for 10 years, it's been going on since the 3GS ended and the 4 was launched. Smart users don't upgrade the iOS two versions forward. It's a no-no.

Hardware is just as, if not more incremental than the software. This is why iPhone users are upgrading less frequently. New software features are what keeps people interested.

Smart users who keep iOS devices on old versions don’t connect to the internet either. The security leak last week displayed why your devices need to be up to date.

 

[tonybarnaby]

If Apple start issuing ultimatums to users about performance and forcing people to upgrade more regularly or their devices will no longer be supported, appeal will start to reduce. Apple have always been admired for the quality of their products, their customer service and the longevity of their products. If they are suddenly unable to support devices that are a year or two old, that is a problem that is only going to get bigger.

If they were cheap throwaway products I could understand it, but the iPhone is a premium brand with a good reputation. The vast majority of Apples wealth comes from core iPhone users who have two year contracts. It’s not a market their can afford to lose.

This is exactly why I left Samsung and got my wife and myself iPhones. I assumed a new 8 plus and a new x would be good til 2020.

 

[Radon87000]

If Apple start issuing ultimatums to users about performance and forcing people to upgrade more regularly or their devices will no longer be supported, appeal will start to reduce. Apple have always been admired for the quality of their products, their customer service and the longevity of their products. If they are suddenly unable to support devices that are a year or two old, that is a problem that is only going to get bigger.

If they were cheap throwaway products I could understand it, but the iPhone is a premium brand with a good reputation. The vast majority of Apples wealth comes from core iPhone users who have two year contracts. It’s not a market their can afford to lose.

Except iPhones start to slowdown the more updates they receive.

 

[I7guy]

Except iPhones start to slowdown the more updates they receive.

My 5s hasn’t slowed down since iOS 7. In fact it’s faster on 11.2.5. My 6s hasn’t slowed down either sine iOS 9. In fact it’s faster on iOS 11.2.5.

So as a “fact” it’s more an anecdotal experience.

 

[Radon87000]

My 5s hasn’t slowed down since iOS 7. In fact it’s faster on 11.2.5. My 6s hasn’t slowed down either sine iOS 9. In fact it’s faster on iOS 11.2.5.

So as a “fact” it’s more an anecdotal experience.

When you buy an iPhone, a throttle update is issued a year later and around 2 years later the device slows down.

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

My 5s hasn’t slowed down since iOS 7. In fact it’s faster on 11.2.5. My 6s hasn’t slowed down either sine iOS 9. In fact it’s faster on iOS 11.2.5.

So as a “fact” it’s more an anecdotal experience.

I see this argument repeating itself again and again on this forum. Apple officially admitted that they are throttling/slowing down the iPhone 6, 6s, SE and 7 after a certain battery deterioration. So what is anecdotal about it? And yes your 5s is probably NOT slowing down, because it is not throttled by Apple, but your 6s will eventually.

Why insisting it is 'anecdotal' instead of 'fact' if it is already common knowledge, all in the open and officially admitted by Apple?

 

[boltjames]

Hardware is just as, if not more incremental than the software. This is why iPhone users are upgrading less frequently. New software features are what keeps people interested.

Smart users who keep iOS devices on old versions don’t connect to the internet either. The security leak last week displayed why your devices need to be up to date.

Respectfully disagree as it's Face ID, Edge-To-Edge Display, 4K Camera, and Wireless Charging that have me the most excited about the iPhone X and those are all physical changes. Even the new software Gestures that I love were brought about as a result of those hardware changes.

I think the industry is at the end of the line on what software can do and the next few years will all be about advances in the hardware.

 

[Hal~9000]

My 5s hasn’t slowed down since iOS 7. In fact it’s faster on 11.2.5. My 6s hasn’t slowed down either sine iOS 9. In fact it’s faster on iOS 11.2.5.

So as a “fact” it’s more an anecdotal experience.

Sorry, Radon is correct (not you). It's already common knowledge that major iOS updates slow down older devices but ArsTechnica also confirmed it. So much for your "anecdotal experience" of how your 5s is just as fast as it was on iOS 7

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/09/ios-11-on-the-iphone-5s-slower-but-not-quite-slow/

 

[Radon87000]

Sorry, Radon is correct (not you). It's already common knowledge that major iOS updates slow down older devices but ArsTechnica also confirmed it. So much for your "anecdotal experience" of how your 5s is just as fast as it was on iOS 7

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/09/ios-11-on-the-iphone-5s-slower-but-not-quite-slow/

I have an iPhone 6 which I have used right from iOS 8 till iOS 11. Just got the battery replaced s couple of months ago. The device is pretty much unusable at this point. It runs like a PC from 2002.

This video showcases the huge slowdown newer iOS versions inflict on older phones.

 

[Hal~9000]

I have an iPhone 6 which I have used right from iOS 8 till iOS 11. Just got the battery replaced s couple of months ago. The device is pretty much unusable at this point. It runs like a PC from 2002.

This video showcases the huge slowdown newer iOS versions inflict on older phones.

Perfect example Radon, hard for me to see anyone effectively arguing against visual proof like that.

Somehow though you'd have to think I7guy will try to spin the video anyway he can to somehow keep the "iOS updates never cause any slowdown" type narrative going

 

[I7guy]

Sorry, Radon is correct (not you). It's already common knowledge that major iOS updates slow down older devices but ArsTechnica also confirmed it. So much for your "anecdotal experience" of how your 5s is even faster on iOS 11 as it was on iOS 7

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/09/ios-11-on-the-iphone-5s-slower-but-not-quite-slow/

That article is 6 months old, so it’s out of date. I specifically mentioned the iOS 11 version.

And it’s not “common knowledge”. iOS 9 contained several JavaScript improvements and was faster than iOS 8. So much for your “facts”.
[doublepost=1515958301][/doublepost]

I see this argument repeating itself again and again on this forum. Apple officially admitted that they are throttling/slowing down the iPhone 6, 6s, SE and 7 after a certain battery deterioration. So what is anecdotal about it? And yes your 5s is NOT slowing down, because it is not throttled by Apple, but your 6s will eventually.

Why insisting it is 'anecdotal' instead of 'fact' if it is already common knowledge, all in the open and officially admitted by Apple?

When my 6s is throttled and I notice it, I will worry about it and discuss appropriately.

In the meantime my observations stand. It is not “fact” my 6s is any slower at this minute than the day I bought it.
[doublepost=1515958359][/doublepost]

When you buy an iPhone, a throttle update is issued a year later and around 2 years later the device slows down.

I don’t care about 2 years in the future. I am talking about this moment.

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

That article is 6 months old, so it’s out of date. I specifically mentioned the iOS 11 version.

And it’s not “common knowledge”. iOS 9 contained several JavaScript improvements and was faster than iOS 8. So much for your “facts”.
[doublepost=1515958301][/doublepost]
When my 6s is throttled and I notice it, I will worry about it and discuss appropriately.

In the meantime my observations stand. It is not “fact” my 6s is any slower at this minute than the day I bought it.

So the observation of your own 6s is anecdotal and provided by you as 'fact'. All the observations of others are 'anecdotal' and not 'fact' in your logic?

The official statement of Apple is conveniently ignored by you, because that does not fit in your logic too?

Something seems upside down here.
Try to take a small step back and review your own logic again...

 

[Radon87000]

That article is 6 months old, so it’s out of date. I specifically mentioned the iOS 11 version.

And it’s not “common knowledge”. iOS 9 contained several JavaScript improvements and was faster than iOS 8. So much for your “facts”.
[doublepost=1515958301][/doublepost]
When my 6s is throttled and I notice it, I will worry about it and discuss appropriately.

In the meantime my observations stand. It is not “fact” my 6s is any slower at this minute than the day I bought it.
[doublepost=1515958359][/doublepost]
I don’t care about 2 years in the future. I am talking about this moment.

The point was about longetivity. This whole fiasco proves they do not have the bragged about longetivity. After 1 year your device may be throttled. You got your battery replaced so your 6s observations do not have any benchmarks.
[doublepost=1515958622][/doublepost]

So the observation of your own 6s is anecdotal and provided by you as 'fact'. All the observations of others are 'anecdotal' and not 'fact' in your logic?

The official statement of Apple is conveniently ignored by you, because that does not fit in your logic too?

Something seems upside down here.
Try to take a small step back and review your own logic again...

Apple has stated older devices throttle/slow down unless you do an annual subscription for batteries. That's it. Game over.

 

[I7guy]

The point was about longetivity. This whole fiasco proves they do not have the bragged about longetivity. After 1 year your device may be throttled. You got your battery replaced so your 6s observations do not have any benchmarks.
[doublepost=1515958622][/doublepost]
Apple has stated older devices throttle/slow down unless you do an annual subscription for batteries. That's it. Game over.

My 6s will still get 5 years of updates till iOS 13. That’s my only benchmark. As long as I don’t notice the slow downs throttle away.
[doublepost=1515959231][/doublepost]

So the observation of your own 6s is anecdotal and provided by you as 'fact'. All the observations of others are 'anecdotal' and not 'fact' in your logic?

The official statement of Apple is conveniently ignored by you, because that does not fit in your logic too?

Something seems upside down here.
Try to take a small step back and review your own logic again...

You have taken official statements by Apple and applied your own interpretation, conveniently ignore facts that throttling may occur in some circumstances.

It’s a fact I don’t care if my devices are throttled provided it doesn’t impact my usage.

 

[AndyMacAndMic]

My 6s will still get 5 years of updates till iOS 13. That’s my only benchmark. As long as I don’t notice the slow downs throttle away.
[doublepost=1515959231][/doublepost]
You have taken official statements by Apple and applied your own interpretation, conveniently ignore facts that throttling may occur in some circumstances.

It’s a fact I don’t care if my devices are throttled provided it doesn’t impact my usage.

Nope, Apple officially stated that they throttle if the battery deteriorates below a certain point, you can hardly call that 'in some circumstances'. It happens eventually to all 6, 6s, SE and 7 phones. Also, all the tests until now show that the throttling (if it has started) is permanent (even if the phone is plugged in with a charger). Hardly anecdotal and hardly 'in some circumstances'.

Also the title of this thread is: Apple is slowing down older iPhones based on battery wear level. This is not disputed by anyone, except (it seems) still by you. What is there to deny?

This is turning into some pointless circular yes/no discussion and this is going nowhere. If this discussion would be constructive in some way I would gladly continue. But for now I am done.

 

[I7guy]

Nope. Apple officially stated that they throttle if the battery deteriorates below a certain point, you can hardly call that 'in some circumstances'. It happens eventually to all 6, 6s, SE and 7 phones. Also, all the tests until know show that the throttling (if it has started) is permanent (even if the phone is plugged in with a charger). Hardly anecdotal.

This is turning into some pointless circular yes/no discussion and this is going nowhere. If this discussion would be constructive in some way I would gladly continue. But for now I am done.

Yes. Can you prove every battery will deteriorate in the same exact way? Or maybe the life span of a battery is dependent on usage and abuse and not your opinion of what Apple has written. In other words, can you tell me if my 6s, 6s, it 7 is throttled? I’m not disagreeing Apple is stating throttling can occur...that is not this conversation.

Yes I agree this is going around in circles as well. Thanks.

 

[Hal~9000]

This is turning into some pointless circular yes/no discussion and this is going nowhere. If this discussion would be constructive in some way I would gladly continue. But for now I am done.

Just a heads up that I appreciated your input AndyMac. Great points by yourself and Radon the last few pages. You can't change everyone's mind but it is refreshing to see yourself and others in the thread who "get it" and don't want to put up with Apples throttling nonsense

 

[I7guy]

Just a heads up that I appreciated your input AndyMac. Great points by yourself and Radon the last few pages. You can't change everyone's mind but it is refreshing to see yourself and others in the thread who "get it" and don't want to put up with Apples throttling nonsense

That’s correct. You can’t expect everyone to see your (or one) point of view, but a civil discussion makes disagreement more palatable.

 

[Hal~9000]

That’s correct. You can’t expect everyone to see your (or one) point of view, but a civil discussion makes disagreement more palatable.

Agreed, sometimes I get a lil passionate about this "issue" (I understand not everyone sees it as one) since I like Apple and want them to make this right for me. My apologies though I7guy if I poked fun at all earlier. Thanks for being very nice throughout the discussion and bringing good debate

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Respectfully disagree as it's Face ID, Edge-To-Edge Display, 4K Camera, and Wireless Charging that have me the most excited about the iPhone X and those are all physical changes. Even the new software Gestures that I love were brought about as a result of those hardware changes.

I think the industry is at the end of the line on what software can do and the next few years will all be about advances in the hardware.

That’s all new to the iPhone but nothing we haven’t seen before on other platforms. Apple are just a couple of years late adopting those features and marketing them as premium. Mainstream iPhones haven’t changed much since the iPhone 6 apart from minor incremental updates.

Apple are in a unique position where they have plenty of scope in terms of software and hardware because they have held back features compared to other market leaders. They can drip feed future devices like they’ve done for years. Whether or not consumers are wise to that is another matter. The upgrade cycles are certainly levelling off.

 

[boltjames]

That’s all new to the iPhone but nothing we haven’t seen before on other platforms. Apple are just a couple of years late adopting those features and marketing them as premium. Mainstream iPhones haven’t changed much since the iPhone 6 apart from minor incremental updates.

Apple are in a unique position where they have plenty of scope in terms of software and hardware because they have held back features compared to other market leaders. They can drip feed future devices like they’ve done for years. Whether or not consumers are wise to that is another matter. The upgrade cycles are certainly levelling off.

Good post, all true except:

As iPhone owners we don’t know a thing about anything Android so they could release a Huueii Galaxy whatever that could bake bread and we wouldn’t care. All that matters is what Apple does and to us Wireless Charging is a brand new Apple innovation, very exciting.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Good post, all true except:

As iPhone owners we don’t know a thing about anything Android so they could release a Huueii Galaxy whatever that could bake bread and we wouldn’t care. All that matters is what Apple does and to us Wireless Charging is a brand new Apple innovation, very exciting.

A lot of iPhone owners do know what Android offers but choose iOS for its ease of use and continuity. It’s no big secret and many consumers have tried both platforms at some point. A 2012 Nexus 4 has wireless charging and it’s been commonplace within the Android market for the past 6 years. It a feature we’ve been discussing whether or not Apple will finally use it for many years now. I wouldn’t say it’s exciting they’ve finally incorporated it but rather ‘better late than never’.

 

[boltjames]

A lot of iPhone owners do know what Android offers but choose iOS for its ease of use and continuity. It’s no big secret and many consumers have tried both platforms at some point. A 2012 Nexus 4 has wireless charging and it’s been commonplace within the Android market for the past 6 years. It a feature we’ve been discussing whether or not Apple will finally use it for many years now. I wouldn’t say it’s exciting they’ve finally incorporated it but rather ‘better late than never’.

Respectfully, you’re incorrect. Even in this forum filled with enthusiasts you have people who have no idea what Android is about (raises hand), step outside into the real world it’s even worse. Android people know both platforms, iPhone people know iPhone only. Children, students, the unemployed, and day workers excepted.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Respectfully, you’re incorrect. Even in this forum filled with enthusiasts you have people who have no idea what Android is about (raises hand), step outside into the real world it’s even worse. Android people know both platforms, iPhone people know iPhone only. Children, students, the unemployed, and day workers excepted.

There is a proportion of iPhone users that have never used Android and you are in that category but there are also iPhone users who have used both platforms. I am one of them and this forum is full of people like that hence why the alternatives section is so popular. A lot are either ex iPhone users or those who alternate between platforms. I’d say most of the people I know have owned an android device at some point despite now using iPhones and I know android users who were long time iPhone users previously. The market is so rich with choices these days you’ll find less brand loyalty than a few years ago.

You can’t generalise by saying ‘iPhone people’ because that is a description that lacks substance in how you are purporting it. I’m an ‘iPhone person’ as of 2012 onwards but I am well aware what technology is currently in the market. It would be a bit silly taking an interest in tech and discussing it but only focusing on one brand. It would leave me very unqualified in certain discussions here.