The Truth Behind ‘Apple Slowdowns’ and What You Need to Know

It’s a feeling that many iPhone users can relate to. One day, your phone is working like a dream—apps open instantly, scrolling is smooth, and your battery lasts all day. The next, everything feels sluggish: apps take forever to load, your screen freezes mid-scroll, and your once-reliable battery seems to drain in the blink of an eye.

Naturally, your mind wanders to the rumors you’ve heard: “Apple is slowing down my phone on purpose! They just want me to buy the new iPhone.” But is there any truth to this suspicion, or is it all just a misunderstanding?

What Are Apple Slowdowns, and Why Do They Happen?

The term “Apple slowdowns” gained traction after years of anecdotal complaints from users who felt their devices performed worse over time. This suspicion reached its peak in 2017 when Apple publicly admitted to implementing performance throttling on older iPhones—but not for the reasons most people assumed.

Apple’s Explanation

Apple claimed that the slowdowns were not a tactic to push users into upgrading but rather a practical response to a technical issue: aging batteries. Here’s how it works:

• As lithium-ion batteries age, their capacity to hold a charge diminishes.
• Older batteries struggle to deliver consistent power during high-demand tasks, which can cause phones to shut down unexpectedly.
• To prevent these shutdowns, Apple introduced a performance management feature in iOS that slows down the processor when battery health declines.

While the explanation made sense from a technical perspective, Apple’s lack of transparency led to widespread outrage.

The 2017 Controversy: What Happened and Why It Mattered

The performance throttling feature, initially implemented in iOS 10.2.1, wasn’t disclosed to users. It wasn’t until benchmarks and user testing revealed that older iPhones were performing significantly worse that Apple admitted to the practice.

Why People Were Angry

• Lack of Transparency: Apple didn’t inform users about the feature, leading many to assume the slowdowns were intentional and deceptive.
• Timing of Slowdowns: Many users noticed slowdowns around the same time that new iPhone models were released, fueling suspicions of planned obsolescence.
• Financial Impact: Instead of replacing their batteries (a relatively inexpensive fix), some users had already upgraded to newer phones, thinking their old devices were beyond saving.

The Fallout

Apple faced lawsuits and regulatory investigations in multiple countries, including the U.S., France, and Italy. To address user concerns, the company:

• Issued a formal apology.
• Introduced a discounted $29 battery replacement program for affected devices.
• Rolled out iOS updates with tools to monitor battery health and allow users to disable performance management.

While these actions helped rebuild trust, they didn’t fully erase the skepticism surrounding Apple’s practices.

Myth: Apple Slows Down iPhones to Force Upgrades

One of the most persistent conspiracy theories is that Apple deliberately slows down older devices to push users into buying the latest model.

What Critics Say

Critics argue that the timing of slowdowns—often coinciding with the release of new iPhones—is too convenient to be a coincidence. They also point out that performance issues often seem to appear after major iOS updates, which could theoretically be used to make older models feel obsolete.

What the Data Shows

Independent investigations and academic studies have found no concrete evidence to support this claim. Instead, the observed slowdowns are tied to:

• Battery Health: As mentioned earlier, aging batteries struggle to keep up with modern performance demands.
• Software Demands: New iOS updates often include features optimized for the latest devices, which can strain older hardware.

The Role of Cognitive Bias

When your phone slows down around the time of a new iPhone launch, it’s natural to connect the dots. However, this perception is often influenced by cognitive bias. In reality, the slowdowns are more likely caused by aging hardware and the increasing complexity of software updates.

Fact: Batteries Are the Culprit

At the heart of the slowdown issue is the lithium-ion battery—a marvel of modern technology but far from perfect.

Why Lithium-Ion Batteries Degrade

Lithium-ion batteries, like the ones used in iPhones, are subject to wear and tear. Key factors include:

• Charge Cycles: Every time you charge your phone from 0% to 100%, you complete one charge cycle. After about 500 cycles, most batteries retain only 80% of their original capacity.
• Chemical Aging: Over time, the chemical components inside the battery break down, reducing its efficiency.
• Temperature Sensitivity: Batteries degrade faster in extreme heat or cold.

How Degradation Impacts Performance

As batteries age, they struggle to:

• Deliver consistent power during peak usage.
• Maintain a full charge throughout the day.
• Prevent unexpected shutdowns during high-demand tasks.

Apple’s performance management feature was introduced to address these issues, but it came at the cost of reduced speed.

Fiction: A Battery Replacement Won’t Help

Some users believe that replacing an old battery won’t make a noticeable difference. This is a myth—battery replacements can significantly improve both performance and battery life.

The Science Behind It

• Power Delivery: A new battery can deliver consistent power, allowing the processor to operate at full capacity.
• User Feedback: Many users report that their phones feel “like new” after replacing the battery, with faster speeds and longer battery life.

Cost vs. Upgrade

Battery replacements are one of the most cost-effective ways to extend the life of your device. For $49–$69 (or less during special programs), you can avoid the expense of a new phone for at least another year or two.

How iOS Updates Affect Older Devices

Another common complaint is that iOS updates make older devices slower.

Why It Happens

• Feature Creep: New updates often introduce features optimized for the latest hardware, which can strain older devices.
• Increased Resource Demands: Each update includes new functionality, bug fixes, and security patches, all of which require more processing power and memory.
• Graphics and Animations: Modern visual effects and animations can be resource-intensive for older GPUs.

Apple’s Efforts to Optimize

In response to user concerns, Apple has taken steps to improve update compatibility:

• iOS 12: This update was specifically designed to improve performance on older models like the iPhone 5S.
• Performance Modes: Recent updates allow users to disable animations and other resource-intensive features for a smoother experience.

While updates can slow older devices, they also provide critical security enhancements, making them a necessary trade-off.

Tips to Keep Your iPhone Running Smoothly

If you’re not ready to upgrade, there are several steps you can take to maintain your device’s performance.

Maintain Battery Health

• Avoid exposing your phone to extreme temperatures.
• Charge your battery before it drops below 20% and avoid keeping it at 100% for long periods.
• Use official Apple chargers to ensure consistent power delivery.

Free Up Storage

• Delete apps you no longer use.
• Offload photos and videos to cloud storage or an external device.
• Clear cache files and old messages to free up space.

Adjust Settings

• Disable background app refresh to conserve battery and processing power.
• Turn off auto-downloads for apps and system updates.
• Use Low Power Mode when you’re running low on battery.

Update Smartly

• Research how new iOS updates perform on older devices before installing them.
• Wait for minor patches if early adopters report performance issues.

When Should You Upgrade Your iPhone?

At some point, even the best-maintained phone will show its age. Here are some signs it might be time to upgrade:

Performance Issues

• Apps take an unreasonably long time to open.
• Freezing and crashing occur regularly, even with basic tasks.

Compatibility Problems

• Your device no longer supports the latest iOS updates.
• Key apps or features are no longer compatible with your phone.

Battery Woes

• Your battery drains rapidly, even with light use.
• A replacement battery doesn’t significantly improve performance.

Understanding Apple Slowdowns

Are Apple slowdowns real? Yes, but not for the reasons many people believe. The slowdowns are primarily caused by aging batteries and the increasing demands of modern software, not by a deliberate strategy to force upgrades.

The controversy surrounding Apple’s performance management underscores the importance of transparency, but it also highlights the need for users to understand the technology they rely on. With proper maintenance—like replacing old batteries and managing storage—you can keep your iPhone running smoothly for years.

When the time does come to upgrade, you can make the decision with confidence, knowing the real story behind the slowdown myths.