Apple is going to pay $113 million to settle “batterygate”, an investigation into Apple intentionally slowing down old iPhones, that many believe was a tactic to force customers into buying newer models of iPhones.
The “batterygate” scandal started in 2017, when people started observing their iPhones slowing down after installing a new update. At the time, Apple admitted that the updates would slow down older iPhones, in order to stop the iPhone’s aging batteries to randomly shut down.
When customers questioned Apple’s motives, insinuating that Apple purposely slowed down older iPhones to push people to buy new, more expensive iPhones, Apple pushed back.
In their statement in 2017, Apple said, “We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologize…First and foremost, we have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades.”
Apple now has to pay the hefty settlement price because they were not transparent about their iPhone battery problems in 2017.
Arizona Attorney General Brnovich said the settlement revealed Apple’s misleading tactics, saying, “Big Tech companies must stop manipulating consumers and tell them the whole truth about their practices and products…I’m committed to holding these Goliath technology companies to account if they conceal the truth from their users.”
Not only will Apple be paying millions of dollars, but they have also agreed to provide updates about iPhone battery health, performance and power management on their website or in installation notes.
