Apple admits slowing older iPhones, says it's to prevent battery issues

CNET ^ | December 20, 2017 | Shara Tibken

[Krosan]

It wasn’t a no brainier for me and it still isn’t, but I weighted things and found that Comcast can block things from me so I can’t use others and Google can make their service so good that I wouldn’t want to use others.

I found that a key difference.

[FXRP]

A battery and the tools needed to change it are under $20 on eBay. Go to YouTube and search for replacing iPhone battery and see how to do it yourself.

It’s not evil to make a feature that extends your aging battery’s life. The article doesn’t say that your phone has been slowed down when the battery is charged fully and in good condition. It says that when the battery is running low, the phone slows down to extend its operating time. That’s a good feature.

Every phone should have that feature.

[a fool in paradise]

General Performance Tips

#1 Update to the latest software.
Apple software updates often include advanced energy-saving technologies, so always make sure your device is using the latest version of iOS, macOS, or watchOS.

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So the top thing you can do to protect your battery life is to install the latest updates and let Apple downthrottle your performance. Got it.

[Getready]

Cell phones must have replacement hatteries and the shouldnt be more than about 20 bucks. The whole enterprise is built for planned obsolesence with no ability to keep a product for longer than 2-3 years..it is a racket....someday youll get a smart cell phone at 15 bucks with replaceable battery capability with universal wifi service and net ...not to mention free apps that dont spy on you...in the meantime..bow deeply and open that wallet.

[a fool in paradise]

Also there is nothing there about whether it is bad to completely deplete a phone (repeatedly) or to recharge a phone when it is only down by 20% (80% charge or above).

Only references are when long term storing a phone, it should be charged or depleted to 50% charge and turned off.

[EvilCapitalist]

I’ve got you beat. I have an iPhone 3G S.

[Swordmaker]

Swordmaker, are you quite sure of this? Fellow FReeper wardaddy said he and his son felt the slowdown in regular use. I have also felt the slowdown.

As I posted on another thread, it’s possible that there are other issues going on in iPhones of the same model. It’s a minority of iPhone users of each of these models that are experiencing these problems.

However, we do know that within models the interior components can vary by supplier. For example Apple uses two different suppliers of cellular radios. Often two different makers of WIFI chips. It is entirely possible that one set of iPhone 6 is experiencing slowdown problems that another set of iPhone 6 does not due to a difference in firmware for one of the differing chipsets.

I know an entire run of iPhone 6s models had WIFI connectivity problems after an update due to a batch of WiFi radio Chips that we’re not quite meeting the standard. Apple had to send out a new update for the WIFI firmware to allow more "wiggle room" in the frequency, so those particular chips would reliably connect. . . But the rest from the same manufacturer, same part number, were fine. . . it was just a production run that had problems. There was no way that beta testing the iOS release could catch those. . . it was only after full public release and users’ complaints were they able to identify which chips were at fault and figure out a fix. They’d worked fine before tightening the WIFI bands.

So, these minority older iPhones with slowdowns may be something like that. . . a combination of hardware that isn’t playing right. I know a couple who work in my office and who both use iPhone 6 phones, bought together. . . Same day. Both are updated on the same schedule. His has slowed, hers hasn’t. Go figure.

Another theory I’ve read is the "Tin Whisker Theory" which was impacting older iPhones as they reached four to five years old. This is caused by the Obama EPA banning the use of lead in solder (lead poisoning, you know) which prevented the growth of Tin crystal whiskers. The new required solders alloys without lead did not impede Tin crystal growth and the printed circuit traces are so close on ICs that the crystal whiskers can grow enough to touch across traces, causing electronic problems. It takes four to five years to grow the crystals. . . and they grow in batteries too.

Tin whiskers growing between traces on an IC

[Flick Lives]

The operating system slows down your device to prevent it from shutting down, Apple says, but only in cases of cold temperature, a low battery charge or very old batteries.

Like most so-called news, yet another click-bait article.

I've had an iPhone 6 for several years. A single charge is good for the day. On the rare occasions where the battery reserve actually gets low enough, the phone informs you it is going into power saving mode. With this mode engaged, the screen is dimmed to save power along with other power saving actions such as not actively fetching new mail in background. The alternative would be no power management and running down the battery to zero. Then people would whine about that.

[GailA]

Has a lot to do with it. And all those CONSTANT up dates draining your battery. My Samsung Note 3 operates just fine, the only problem is the DRAINED battery from all those APPS I don’t want or use. Who in the world uses Scrapebook on their phone? Can’t delete the crap, part of the operating system.

I’m about out of Memory, but I don’t want a more complicated phone. Hubby’s Samsung S8 is way beyond my user friendly ability. I’m not a computer or phone nerd.

[LouieFisk]

Not just planned obsolescence, they give ya forced obsolescence.
Pretty much in the same league as MS “giving” Windows 10 to unsuspecting 7 & 8 users.

[oil_dude]

So they are doing it all for me? God bless them! What would I do without Apple! /s

[LouieFisk]

“I wonder if this is what has degraded the battery life of my 6S Plus.”
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Dunno about that, but there is a “40-80 rule” for charging.
https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Tech/2014/0103/40-80-rule-New-tip-for-extending-battery-life

[longtermmemmory]

IOW this is a product defect because there is no simply user battery switch system. (carry a spare battery)

class action suit in 3, 2, 1, .....

[LouieFisk]

“generally linux for headless server requirements.”
—
I’m using Mint desktop at the moment, but until I’ve had my second cuppa coffee it’s a headless server.

[captain_dave]

I just switched to Android, an unlocked Motorola e4 Plus, which I bought at Best Buy for $200. A new iPhone at more than 3x the price was not worth it.

[itsahoot]

A new iPhone at more than 3x the price was not worth it.

Too you apparently, but you are not an Apple user anyway are you?

[The_Media_never_lie]

Bastards! If they were really worried about degrading battery they wouldn't slow the phones silently, but rather warn users and tell them they can get the old speed back with a battery replacement.

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Absolutely! Who wants a slowing down phone?

[bigtoona]

My iPhone 6 is unusable, I hate them for this. Put a setting in there and let me choose to run slow mode!

[Krosan]

You have to wait a bit, but they say it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0Dbdd2PZMs

[windcliff]

ping