Why does your iPhone slow down each time a new one is released?

By: J. Nemr

It is old news that Apple innovates its designs yearly. Each from September to September new Macs, Airpods, iPads and iPhones never fail to surprise us with new stunning designs, software updates and features which are simply out of this world. While this may be true, it is no question that its previous models noticeably become less efficient around the same time each year. Coincidence? I thought so too, until I came across the number of results for the same question typed into my search bar (about 92,200,000 results to be more exact): "Why does my iPhone slow down when a new is released?"

According to an article published in the digital magazine Vox, in 2017, Apple admitted it had been deliberately slowing down a significant number of devices around the same time the company's new models were being released that year. The delay in typing messages or refreshing users' e-mails were justified by Apple as a way to protect ageing batteries. Even though this reasoning is valid enough, some customers were still sceptical the company's justification.

This whole discussion began on Reddit, when people who owned iPhone 6, 6s, and 6s Plus devices complained earlier this year that they were spontaneously shutting down despite the fact that there was still sufficient battery left. These complaints went viral and so, John Poole, a Geekbench developer decided to take this matter into his own hands. His analysis indicated that the glitch was in the version of the device's software (iOS 10.2.0) itself rather than on the device. He also came to the conclusion that since Apple is constantly renewing its processors, the iPhones are often unable to keep up with the amount of information running though their hardware.

John Poole stated that: " Once the phone is shut down, the battery is in a state where the only way to get the phone back online is to plug it into a charger. If you’re out with your phone on the go, that’s clearly not a great situation to be in,” 
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​“So Apple, with this fix, basically limited the processor from overtaxing the battery. But the flip side of that is now the processor can’t run as quickly as it might in a new phone with a new battery.”

The good news was that Apple confirmed the developer's theory by reassuring users that their goal is to deliver "the best experience for customers, which includes overall performance and prolonging the life of their devices. Lithium-ion batteries become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, have a low battery charge or as they age over time, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components." Additionally, they apologized for the bug and promised they “never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product.”

Even though this case seemed to be closed, the media didn't stop there (does it ever?). It wouldn't even be worth writing about if a good old Conspiracy Theory was not involved. Word is that Apple purposefully decreases the speed of its iPhones as new ones come out in order to convince you into buying a new one instead of getting your current device fixed. We are all aware of Apple's value and
credibility and even though the theory makes sense, it is more sensible to believe that this is untrue.

​One way, or another, the internet and its conspiracies never fail to entertain us.