Apple Promises To Inform Users Before Throttling iPhone Performance

Last year, many people criticized Apple for pushing an iOS update that throttled the performance of iPhones and iPads.

The Cupertino giant has now signed an agreement with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that it will be “clearer and more upfront” with iPhone users regarding battery health and performance.

The agreement is the result of a decision taken by Apple several years ago. In 2017, Apple admitted that it deliberately slowed down older devices by pushing an iOS update.

Apple justified its actions by saying that the update was necessary to prevent devices from crashing as the processor of older devices required more power than the worn out batteries could deliver.

An official statement from the CMA said the update led people to repair or replace their device as they were unaware that the performance issues were due to a software update.

Moreover, there was no means of knowing the health information of battery that degrades over time.

In 2018, Apple ended automatic performance throttling in older devices and provided an update that allowed users to view the battery health and put the device in a low power mode.

After signing the agreement, Apple is liable to inform users about any software update that could impact the performance of current and future iPhones.

CMA’s official report says, “Today’s announcement locks the firm into formal commitments always to notify people when issuing a planned software update if it is expected to materially change the impact of performance management on their phones.”

If Apple is found violating the agreement, the CMA has the right to take action through the court.

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