14 DAY TRIAL // A report by the Times of India yesterday revealed that Apple had halted sales of the iPhone 4 in emerging markets, citing a partner as saying that the phone had run its course. However, another source noted that an additional reason was the poor performance of the handset when used with iOS 7.
iPhone 4 is obsolete, and has been so for a while
While the report in question centered around the fact that Apple had stopped sales of iPhone 4 handsets in markets like India, Brazil, and China, focusing on figures, there was more than one takeaway to look at.
For instance, one of Apple’s partners said the phone had simply run its course, while another noted that the new buyback programs were starting to make the 4S look more attractive, rendering the iPhone 4 virtually obsolete (not that it wasn’t already).
Yet another person is then cited as saying that “Apple has been globally chided by the tech community for the poor performance of its latest operating system on iPhone 4 and hence this factor too played a role... since it mars the entire Apple experience among first-time buyers.”
An issue originally confirmed by Softpedia in 2013 with the help of a developer testing Apple’s new software on the 2010 hardware, the poor performance of iPhone 4 handsets under iOS 7 is a generally accepted fact these days. The visual pleasantries in the new operating system simply put too much strain on the old phone’s processor and RAM.
While it may not sound like much of a problem now, wait until iOS 8 comes out and Apple makes the sad announcement that 2010 hardware can’t make the cut.
Just ask your savvy friends
Any power user will tell you this is common sense. The company needs to move forward and, for that to happen, so must the users. But non-techies still stuck with an iPhone 4 eagerly anticipating iOS 8 to appear in their Software Update pane will be in for a surprise. Or not, since a surprise generally consists of something actually happening. In a nutshell, they won’t be getting it.
So consider this your first warning that if you’re carrying an iPhone 4 with high hopes of using Healthbook or Maps with Transit Directions later this year, you’re going to be disappointed.
As per the aforementioned “partners,” Apple already offers attractive buyback prices for customers taking their old iPhones in to be swapped for a newer model, so perhaps you should consider doing that if you plan on upgrading your OS. While it’s by no means confirmed that iPhone 4S will be supported, you can be sure iPhone 4 will be dropped out of the mix.
What other devices won't support iOS 8
Needless to point out, owners of older-generation hardware like the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G will be in the same boat with iPhone 4 owners starting this year. The iPad 2 will probably have the same fate, and don’t bank on your 5th-gen iPod touch getting any special attention either. Since it’s based on the same A5 SoC (system on a chip) that the iPad 2 uses, chances are Apple will leave you out in the cold as well.
Let the planned-obsolescence conspiracy begin!