Apple Reveals Why Old iPhones Slow Down Over Time

There have been many complaints by Apple users that older models of their phones are slowing down. One of the main reasons people buy iPhones is that they don’t slow down or lag with time like some Samsung devices. Apple has been relatively silent over the issue but in a statement earlier this week, they revealed the reason.

“Our 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.”

We know that batteries don’t last a lifetime and they have a lifespan after which they need to be replaced. The phones are slowing down due to the same reason. As the battery ages, its ability to retain charge decreases and it is unable to provide the same power it was once able to. But, in this case, Apple has a hand in deliberately slowing down phones. Their statement continued.

“Last year we released a feature for iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE to smooth out the instantaneous peaks only when needed to prevent the device from unexpectedly shutting down during these conditions. We’ve now extended that feature to iPhone 7 with iOS 11.2, and plan to add support for other products in the future.”

Apple is the reason that phones are slowing down, and it might be favorable in the long run as it means the phone will only slow down where it would have normally turned off in unfavorable conditions. However, every problem has a solution, and a Reddit user pointed out that replacing the iPhone battery will lead to “returned performance and CPU clock speeds back to normal”

A new battery costs around $80 to replace. It is much better than the alternative to replacing your phone which costs hundreds of dollars.