From the day the iPhone was released, there has been an ongoing conspiracy that Apple was deliberately slowing down their batteries in an attempt to get users to upgrade to the newest model. While many tech enthusiasts laughed off these claims and Apple vehemently denied them, recent revelations have shown that this conspiracy was actually true. As a result of this controversy, Apple has had to face multiple class action lawsuits and an astronomical level of public backlash. In this blog post, we will explore how the iPhone battery conspiracy ultimately turned out to be true, and the impact it has had on Apple’s reputation. We will examine the evidence that led to the discovery of this conspiracy, as well as the implications for Apple and for consumers going forward.
1. Apple’s Admission of Slowing Down Older iPhones
In December 2017, Apple finally admitted that it had been slowing down older iPhones due to battery issues. It had been long suspected by users that the company was deliberately doing this to encourage people to upgrade to newer models of the phone, but Apple had denied the claims until the issue was finally put to rest. It was confirmed that iPhone 6, 6s, SE, and 7 models were being deliberately slowed down in order to prevent unexpected shutdowns due to battery issues. Apple addressed the issue with an apology and a battery replacement program, but it was too late to prevent the conspiracy from being proven true.
2. Consumer Outrage Over iPhone Battery Conspiracy
When the iPhone battery conspiracy first broke, many consumers were outraged. Some accused Apple of deliberately slowing down their phones in order to force them to buy new ones. Others argued that it was a form of planned obsolescence, as Apple was allegedly trying to shorten the life of its products in order to drive sales. There was much debate over the ethical implications of the conspiracy, and some consumers even filed lawsuits against Apple. However, after much investigation and the release of new information, it became clear that the conspiracy was true, and that Apple had indeed been manipulating the performance of its phones to preserve battery life. This caused even more outrage among consumers and led to calls for Apple to compensate those who had been affected.
3. Class Action Suits against Apple
As proof of the iPhone battery conspiracy, there have been multiple class action suits brought against Apple. The first was in December 2017, when two iPhone users filed a class action suit claiming that Apple had misled them into believing they could expect their iPhone batteries to last the lifetime of the phone, when in fact the batteries were designed to only last a few years. This suit was followed by several other class actions suit in the US and around the world, including one in the UK and one in Australia. In response to these suits, Apple eventually apologized and offered battery replacements at discounted prices.
4. Apple’s Battery Health Feature
Apple’s Battery Health Feature is the company’s answer to the infamous iPhone battery conspiracy. This feature was first introduced in iOS 11.3, and it allows users to check the health of their iPhone’s battery. The feature provides a comprehensive report of the battery’s current capacity, as well as its maximum capacity when it was brand new. It also informs users of the battery’s cycle count and its maximum capacity, allowing them to make an informed decision about whether to replace their battery or not. Apple’s Battery Health Feature is a great tool for iPhone owners trying to confirm or deny the battery conspiracy.
5. Apple Settlement Offer to Consumers
In March of 2020, Apple agreed to pay out $500 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by consumers over the iPhone battery conspiracy. The settlement includes up to $25 in cash or a $50 credit for an out-of-warranty battery replacement for eligible customers. Apple also agreed to provide more information about the iPhone battery health and performance, including the ability to view battery health and disable performance throttling. The settlement is a clear admission of guilt by Apple, and shows that the iPhone battery conspiracy was indeed true.
In conclusion, the iPhone battery conspiracy theory turned out to be true. Apple admitted that it was slowing down iPhones with older batteries and apologized for not being more transparent about the issue. The company also offered discounted battery replacements for customers and added a new feature to the iPhone settings that allowed users to check the health of their battery. With this, Apple has worked to rebuild customer trust and prove that it values the customer experience.