AfterDawn: Tech news

Does iPhone get slower over time?

Written by Petteri Pyyny @ 10 Oct 2017 7:16 User comments (7)

Does iPhone get slower over time?

It doesn't require much googling to find all sorts of conspiracy theories about Apple intentionally slowing down previous iPhone models shortly after the company has released new models.
According to Google Trends, the search term "iPhone slow" increases dramatically shortly after each new iPhone model is released.

However, developers of 3DMark testing suite have looked at their database of test results and found out that the conspiracy theories don't have truth behind them.

The "slowing down" effect is mostly psychological - users know that there's a new model available that runs faster, has better cameras, etc so the current phone they're using, suddenly feels like an outdated one. Obviously, each new iOS version also adds new features that are best suited for new models, making the old phones *feel* slow when the users start using the newly introduced features, with old hardware.



But Futuremark's findings are clear: neither CPU nor GPU processing power hasn't decreased from iOS9 to iOS11 on any of the models that support those operating system versions.

So, the apps you used two years ago, provided that they haven't gone slower due updates in functionality, run at the exact same speed they did two years ago. Sure, some apps tend to "bloat" over time, as new functionalities are added, but that isn't Apple's fault.

Previous Next  

7 user comments

110.10.2017 08:38

That's not necessarily the whole story. A lot of what makes a phone feel fast or slow is in the responsiveness of the menus and browsers...a clean dual-core android can feel faster than the newest phone with too much bloatware, even if it falls on its face in a benchmark.

210.10.2017 15:18

Originally posted by KillerBug:
That's not necessarily the whole story. A lot of what makes a phone feel fast or slow is in the responsiveness of the menus and browsers...a clean dual-core android can feel faster than the newest phone with too much bloatware, even if it falls on its face in a benchmark.
Completely agree and to add to it if new upgraded OS has features that require more ram and CPU power it can do more then just slow down a phone it can make it seem almost unusable. I am not saying that there is a conspiracy to make a old phone absolute when a new one is released but it is not impossibility.

311.10.2017 13:46

And.......slowing down over time, especially in concert with new releases is considered "PLanned obsolescence" and is highly illegal.

Toshiba got busted for this back like 13 years ago.

Planned obsolescence is the epitome of dishonest business practices and is rather evil. Those caught doing this should be punished with extreme prejudice.




Now..........Android is another story as it truly bogs down with serious gumption after about 6 months. By design, not intent IMO.

The vast majority of Android users agree with this but there are a few dummies out there that adamantly state "mine is just as fast" nonsense.

People are truly unthinking so often.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 11 Oct 2017 @ 1:47

415.10.2017 11:12

Originally posted by hearme0:
Now..........Android is another story as it truly bogs down with serious gumption after about 6 months. By design, not intent IMO.

The vast majority of Android users agree with this but there are a few dummies out there that adamantly state "mine is just as fast" nonsense.
We have had this conversation before. I already know your argument is that your wife bought an Android, filled it with trash, and then you didn't even know how to clean it up in spite of supposedly being a network engineer (a network engineer who has said that he can't make an i5 system run Excel smoothly). I'm not going to go through all the things you could have done to make that phone even faster than it was new. I won't waste time telling you how my phone works versus when it was new because even if you believed me you wouldn't admit it. Just stop with the hate bait. Please.

516.10.2017 10:18

Originally posted by KillerBug:
Originally posted by hearme0:
Now..........Android is another story as it truly bogs down with serious gumption after about 6 months. By design, not intent IMO.

The vast majority of Android users agree with this but there are a few dummies out there that adamantly state "mine is just as fast" nonsense.
We have had this conversation before. I already know your argument is that your wife bought an Android, filled it with trash, and then you didn't even know how to clean it up in spite of supposedly being a network engineer (a network engineer who has said that he can't make an i5 system run Excel smoothly). I'm not going to go through all the things you could have done to make that phone even faster than it was new. I won't waste time telling you how my phone works versus when it was new because even if you believed me you wouldn't admit it. Just stop with the hate bait. Please.

WTF are you talking about. I HAVE NEVER EVER EVER EVEN REMOTELY MENTIONED an "I5 system run Excel smoothly" you f'ing idiot!

We have NEVER had this discussion. You are recalling possibly a small percentage, like 10 of the conversation that I vaguely recall.

STFU you putz! I, as a foremost expert in networking, and most things technical, would NOT have any issue with getting a system to run smoothly.

As for Android, you defending it from the notion that it bogs down in 6 months just makes you an ignorant and highly incorrect doof!

618.10.2017 14:04

Thanks. Laughter improves health.

728.10.2017 17:30

I have a 7 Plus and there's really no reason for it to be slower and buggy, yet it is. I'm seriously thinking of ditching Apple after this one.

Comments have been disabled for this article.

Latest news

VLC hits milestone: over 5 billion downloads VLC hits milestone: over 5 billion downloads (16 Mar 2024 4:31)
VLC Media Player, the versatile video-software powerhouse, has achieved a remarkable feat: it has been downloaded over 5 billion times.
2 user comments
Sideloading apps to Android gets easier, as Google settles its lawsuit Sideloading apps to Android gets easier, as Google settles its lawsuit (19 Dec 2023 11:09)
Google settled its lawsuit in September 2023, and one of the settlement terms was that the way applications are installed on Android from outside the Google Play Store must become simpler. In the future, installing APK files will be easier.
8 user comments
Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets Roomba Combo j7+ review - Clever trick allows robot vacuum finally to tackle home with rugs and carpets (06 Jun 2023 9:19)
Roomba Combo j7+ is the very first Roomba model to combine robot vacuum with mopping features. And Roomba Combo j7+ does all that with a very clever trick, which tackles the problem with mopping and carpets. But is it any good? We found out.
Neato, the robot vacuum company, ends its operations Neato, the robot vacuum company, ends its operations (02 May 2023 3:38)
Neato Robotics has ceased its operations. American robot vacuum pioneer founded in 2005 has finally called it quits and company will cease its operations and sales. Only a skeleton crew will remain who will keep the servers running until 2028.
5 user comments
How to Send Messages to Yourself on WhatsApp How to Send Messages to Yourself on WhatsApp (20 Mar 2023 1:25)
The world's most popular messaging platform, Meta-owned WhatsApp has enabled sending messages to yourself. While at first, this might seem like an odd feature, it can be very useful in a lot of situations. ....
18 user comments

News archive