Is the software in your iPhone slowing it down?

APPLE faces allegations its software actively slows down the performance of iPhones as the handset and battery age.

In theory the age of the lithium ion battery in a smartphone should not have any impact on the speed of services.

However, laboratory tests suggest Apple may also use software to actively slow the handset’s performance as a result of the battery ageing.

On a positive note, the slowing of performance might eke out the battery life for longer. However, it might also have the effect of encouraging owners to upgrade to the latest high-speed handset costing as much as £1,000, which would boost Apple sales.

Tests were carried out by the US firm Primate Labs, which collects data on the performance of thousands of iPhones.

The tests involved iPhone 6S handsets which were using Apple’s iOS 10.2 operating software and the same devices on a new version of the software – iOS 10.2.1.

The results showed that handsets using the new operating system began slowing down in five stages over time.

Primate Lab’s John Poole said: ‘I believe Apple introduced a change to limit performance when battery condition decreases past a certain point.’

Apple was contacted for comment.