Apple: older iPhones slow down due to aging batteries

Apple has responded to claims that it purposefully slows down older iPhone models to promote sales. The company says that the slowdown is actually due to worn batteries, which are more likely to exist in older phones. In a statement to AppleInsider, the company said:

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.

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.