Do you own an iPhone released anytime before iPhone X? Are they slowing down in performance and battery life? Or shall we say, are they appearing to be obsolete? This happens with iPhone models, once 2-3 generations are released.
Surely Apple iPhones costs way more than other smartphones of the same release time and soon enough turn obsolete when newer iPhone models release in the market.
This time, however, it has come to our notice that a French body has fined Apple heavily for intentionally slowing the performance of older iPhones.
Apple Fined by a French Body
France’s Competition and Fraud Body, DGCCRF has fined Apple with $27.3 million, for intentionally slowing the performance of older iPhones. Seen as an attempt to force users to upgrade their iPhones prior to their own requirements, the DGCCRF centered this complaint on battery management.
Apple would eventually disclose the feature but has agreed to pay the fine, along with displaying a press release prominently on its French website.
Apple has been dodging the fact that it artificially slowed the performance of older iPhones to force users to upgrade. Nevertheless, the company did accept in 2017 that it did actually slow down the performance but the reason behind this isn’t anything cynical.
The company claimed that these slowdowns were designed to reduce demand on the CPU for older devices where battery performance may be compromised. Essentially, the phones slow down to prevent premature shutdowns and jerky performance, and it was all above board.
How Did Users and Companies React to This?
Users, consumer groups and governments were all equally outraged, especially since Apple had never made it clear before then.
In early 2018, the French authorities began investigating the problem and after looking deeply into it to assure if there was truth to the idea that Apple was making functional devices appear obsolete, Apple immediately apologized and offered discounted battery replacements, with 11 million people paying $29 for a new one.
Since then, Apple has claimed to have redeveloped the power management system of its iPhone 11, for healthier battery life in the longer run.
For the upcoming month, there is also a banner on Apple France’s iPhone page, saying that Apple was found to have committed a deceptive business practice, and that it has paid a fine to settle the matter.