14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has clarified in a letter sent to the US Senate that newer iPhone models like the iPhone 8 and iPhone X don’t require a power management issue that would reduce their performance because the company implemented other systems to prevent unexpected shutdowns.
The firm said in its official acknowledgment of iPhone throttling in late December that a tweak to reduce the performance of iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, and iPhone SE with degraded batteries was included in iOS 10.2.1. The same changes were then included in iOS 11 to target iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 as well.
“Anticipating unexpected shutdowns”
But in a response to Senator John Thune, head of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Cupertino-based tech giant says it turned to other systems to deal with unexpected shutdowns on its latest-generation iPhones and, as a result, no such performance throttling would be needed.
“All iPhone models have basic performance management to ensure that the battery and overall system operates as designed and internal components are protected. And, in the case of hot temperature, the performance management ensures that the device stays within safety limits. Such basic performance management is required for safety and expected function, and cannot be turned off,” the firm says.
“iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X models include hardware updates that allow a more advanced performance management system that more precisely allows iOS to anticipate and avoid an unexpected shutdown.”
Apple does not provide any other specifics on these new technologies, but it looks like the firm doesn’t want to make the same mistake twice and use a slowdown mechanism on its new-generation devices.
At this point, the company is under investigation in several countries for alleged planned obsolescence, and is sent to court as part of a growing number of class-action lawsuits claiming it slowed down iPhones on purpose without users’ consent.