Now Apple says sorry for slowing down iPhones
APPLE has apologised for slowing down ageing iPhones – and says it will slash the price of new batteries for older handsets so they maintain optimal performance.
It follows a backlash against the tech giant from customers who said they were kept in the dark about software that deliberately slows their phones as the battery deteriorates.
The problem came to light when users of the iPhone 6, iPhone 6S and iPhone SE and 7 reported that handsets seemed more sluggish over time.
A 17-year- old American schoolboy claims he was the first to expose the issue. Tyler Barney, from Tennessee, said he investigated when his iPhone 6S ‘became buggy’.
He added: ‘It was a big mess all the time. Even typing was painful. Seconds passed between keystrokes.’
Tyler compared his handset’s performance with a newer model owned by his brother, which was much faster. After replacing his own battery, the speed improved remarkably.
He detailed his experiences on social website Reddit, triggering tests by experts and investigations which led to Apple’s admissions. Many suspected it was a ruse to pressure customers into upgrading to new models potentially costing more than £1,000.
Apple admitted it had used software updates to change the way the handsets operate as the battery ages – but insisted it made the changes to help customers by extending the life of the handset on a single battery charge.
The firm said the feature is applied only when the battery is older, in extreme high or low temperatures, or when there is low battery charge.
There are eight lawsuits over the issue in the US, while legal action has also been threatened in Israel and France. Yesterday, Apple said: ‘We’ve been hearing feedback from our customers about the way we handle performance for iPhones with older batteries and how we have communicated that process. We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologise.’
The firm also said it would reduce the price of a replacement battery from $79 (£58) to $29 (£21). The UK prices have not yet been revealed.