Batterygate

Batterygate

Batterygate refers to a controversy involving Apple Inc. and its practice of throttling the performance of iPhone devices with aging batteries. This issue came to light in late 2017 and led to widespread criticism, legal challenges, and changes in Apple's policies regarding battery management and transparency.

Background

In December 2017, users on the website Reddit began reporting that their older iPhone models were experiencing significant slowdowns. These reports coincided with the release of iOS updates, leading to speculation that Apple was deliberately slowing down older devices to encourage users to purchase new models.

Investigation and Findings

Following these reports, the software benchmarking company Geekbench conducted tests and confirmed that iPhone performance was indeed being throttled. The tests showed that devices with older batteries were running at reduced speeds compared to their original capabilities.

Apple subsequently admitted that it had implemented a feature in iOS to manage the performance of iPhones with aging batteries. The company explained that as lithium-ion batteries age, they become less capable of supplying peak current demands, which can result in unexpected shutdowns. To prevent this, Apple introduced a power management feature that dynamically manages the maximum performance of some system components when needed to prevent a shutdown.

Public Reaction

The revelation sparked outrage among consumers, who felt that Apple had not been transparent about the performance throttling. Many users believed that Apple was intentionally slowing down devices to push consumers towards purchasing newer models, a practice known as planned obsolescence.

Legal and Regulatory Actions

The controversy led to multiple class-action lawsuits against Apple in the United States, Europe, and other regions. In 2020, Apple agreed to a settlement in the U.S., offering up to $500 million in compensation to affected users.

Regulatory bodies in several countries also launched investigations into Apple's practices. In 2020, the French Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control fined Apple €25 million for failing to inform consumers about the throttling feature.

Apple's Response

In response to the backlash, Apple issued an apology and reduced the price of battery replacements for affected iPhone models. The company also introduced a new feature in iOS that allows users to monitor the health of their battery and disable the performance management feature if desired.

Impact and Legacy

The Batterygate controversy has had a lasting impact on Apple's policies and consumer trust. It highlighted the importance of transparency in how companies manage device performance and battery health. Apple has since made efforts to improve its communication with consumers regarding battery management and has introduced more robust battery health monitoring tools in its devices.

See Also

• Planned obsolescence
• iPhone
• Apple Inc.

References

• "Apple's iPhone Slowdown Explained: What You Need to Know." CNET.
• "Apple Apologizes for iPhone Slowdowns, Offers $29 Battery Replacements." The Verge.