Is Apple Over?

There are currently around 588 million Apple users worldwide, as of 2017. The iPhone is Apple’s most popular product, and so far, there have been 14 different versions of the iPhone, most recently the iPhone X, which has multiple new features, such as facial recognition and wireless charging, but comes at the cost of $999 in USD. iPhones are built to last up to four years, according to Apple, however, the average iPhone only lasts for 2-3 years. Why is this? Usually, iPhone batteries begin to slow down after two years of use, and many have dismissed it, thinking that the phones are old, and often shell out money for the newest models. However, when Apple released the IOS 10.2.1 update, it caused many battery and loading issues for those who had older iPhones. After the outrage, Apple confirmed with a message on its website, stating that it does, in fact, slow down older phones.

iPhones run on lithium-ion batteries, which are meant to make the phones charge faster and last longer. However, as these lithium-ion batteries age, their ability to hold a charge diminishes. In other words, the older the phone gets, the worse it gets. In order to combat this, Apple released IOS 10.2.1 for older models of iPhones (such as the iPhone 6, 6 plus, and SE), which helped alleviate some of the battery problems but also slowed down the older phones. The IOS 11.2 update released for newer phones (like the iPhone 7 and 7 plus) helped with the battery problem but did not slow down phones. Apple users came to the obvious conclusion that Apple was in fact, slowing down the older phones in order for their customers to purchase the newer, more expensive models. The iPhone 7 and later cost over 600 USD, while older models cost half as much. Many users, instead of buying a brand new phone, are buying new batteries for their phones. A new battery can cost anywhere from 29 to 79 USD.

Apple now faces multiple lawsuits in many different countries, the largest being for almost 1 trillion USD. It is currently unclear if Apple will reach a settlement with the government, meaning that they will send some form of compensation to its users. A similar thing occurred when Volkswagon, a car company accused of cheating on emissions tests, agreed to a settlement and sent money to its customers. It is unclear how much the settlement will be if Apple agrees, and who will be receiving that settlement. Many users have decided to switch to Samsung, Apple’s longtime enemy, and others will just buy the cheaper batteries. Apple has yet to comment on the lawsuits and decide on an appropriate settlement, but many users are eagerly waiting for closure on the deal.