Lifestyle

Your Suspicions Were Correct, Apple Slows Down Old iPhones

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Tony Maples Photography

 

iPhone users who haven’t bought a new, updated model of the phone in a while often have the same complaint – the phone starts acting more and more sluggish with each new model release. It became a rumor that Apple made the old iPhones slow on purpose to force people to buy a new version of the phone. Now, news outlets like ABC 13 are reporting that Apple says that it does, in fact, slow down older phones. But why?

“Apple has admitted it is slowing old phones — the 6, 6-S and 7, but the company said it is actually because of the old batteries. Apple says it’s intentionally throttling the speed of phone processors, to prevent random shutdowns,” ABC 13 writes. Since the issue is the old batteries, users are encouraged to get new batteries, and buying a whole new phone isn’t required.

If you’re experiencing the sluggish woes of having an old iPhone, the New York Times recommends, “paying a third-party repair shop to replace the aged battery with a fresh one. This will cost between $20 and $70, depending on where you live and which iPhone you own. Repair shops will probably recommend against installing a battery that has a larger capacity than the original, as there can be risks of damage.”