Apple’s decision to throttle CPU speeds on iPhones with older batteries isn’t a feature its competition is eager to copy.
Both Samsung and LG have come out with statements today saying that none of their phones use similar power management tactics. Their claims echo other Android makers Motorola and HTC who made the same claim yesterday.
“Never have, never will! We care what our customers think.” said Samsung in a statement to The Verge. “We do not reduce CPU performance through software updates over the lifecycles of the phone.”
Apple has come under fire from customers after the company confirmed that it slows CPU performance in order to prevent random reboots from occurring. As an iPhone’s battery ages it isn’t able to provide as much peak demand for a CPU. In an iOS 10 update, Apple added a feature that lowers CPU demand as the battery ages.
In an apology to customers yesterday, Apple said that it will offer $29 iPhone battery replacements throughout 2018. The company also plans to come out with an iOS 11 update in early 2018 that gives users more battery health information.
It’s clear that Apple’s practice isn’t an industry-wide behavior. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a bad thing though. Apple claims by making the CPU adjustments it prolongs the life of iPhones so that customers enjoy their devices more.
Despite its public apology, a number of lawsuits have already been filed against Apple by iPhone customers seeking damages for having their iPhones slowed down.
