Deliberate action by Apple? Yes and no
The longer you use your iPhone, the longer your iPhone seems to get slower. It works like this: when you first take your iPhone out of the packaging, it is still completely empty. There are no apps on it and nothing running in the background. If you have used your device intensively for a few weeks and various apps have been active, your device may become slower. And if a new update is available for your device, your device may also be (temporarily) less efficient. You can read how this is possible on this page.
- #1 New features are often designed for faster iPhones
- #2 Developers take older devices less into account
- #3 iOS updates are a heavier burden
- #4 iPhone ‘filling up slowly’
- Deliberately slowed down by Apple?
- Summary: You can do this yourself
#1 New features are often designed for faster iPhones
Apple tries to add new features and capabilities in every iOS update. If your (slightly older) iPhone also gets an update, that is something to be happy about. But new functions that use AR or machine learning, for example, demand a lot from the device and work best on the newer models with a powerful processor. Your iPhone with a processor that is a few years old is less suited to this. To avoid disappointments, some announced functions only work on newer devices.
But there are also new iOS features that are just good enough to be available on older iPhones. In that case, you will get the function, but the performance will be a bit disappointing compared to friends who have a more recent device. Apple could solve this problem rigorously by only releasing updates for devices for one or two years. But of course we would rather not do that.
#2 Developers take older devices less into account
The increasing slowness is also noticeable in third-party apps. In iOS updates, Apple adds new techniques, for example to make the graphics in games even smoother. Developers start working on these innovations, but often use a relatively new device for testing. As a result, they do not realize that the fantastic new function on your device works less well.
If you use an older device, it is best to be more selective about which apps you use. Most standard apps such as WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook will continue to perform well, but advanced apps may feel slow on an older iPhone.
#3 iOS updates are a heavier burden
It happens every year when a new iOS version is released: some people experience short battery life, while others complain that performance has dropped by leaps and bounds. This is sometimes because there are still minor bugs in the update, but also because all kinds of background tasks still need to be completed. For example, your photos may need to be re-indexed. And don’t forget: after a new release you are also much more busy discovering everything. This also affects your battery life.
The solution is to put less strain on your device after a major update. When using simple apps such as WhatsApp and iMessage, you should not notice any performance loss.
#4 iPhone ‘filling up slowly’
An iPhone functions best when it is fresh out of the box, with a brand new battery and empty memory. As you use your device more intensively, more apps and processes will run in the background. The iPhone automatically frees up memory when necessary, but this only works to a certain extent. There may be processes that are disruptive and have an impact on performance. You can solve this by restarting your iPhone regularly.
It can also help to perform a clean installation every two or three years, so that you get rid of any ballast from the past. It’s a bit more work, but you’ll find that it not only results in a tidy iPhone, but also a tidy feeling.
If there are a lot of apps on your device, this will not affect the performance. They do take up storage, but are not permanently in memory.
#5 Deliberately slowing down by Apple?
Does Apple deliberately make your iPhone slower so that you buy a new device more quickly? Yes and no. It is true that Apple reduces the performance slightly on older devices. This has to do with battery wear. As soon as the condition of the battery deteriorates, Apple reduces the performance so that the device will not simply crash or switch off. According to Apple, it is a way to extend the lifespan of devices. If you want to get the original performance back, you can disable this function.
It is not the case that Apple consciously applies planned obsolescence. Apple often ensures that older devices perform better in iOS updates. Apple wants to sell iPhones, but at the same time they also want satisfied customers and ensure that products last a long time.
If you want to prevent your iPhone from becoming slower due to battery wear, you can do a number of things. The best solution is to replace the iPhone battery. If your battery shows signs of wear within two years (this means that it can no longer be charged to 80%), then this is covered by the warranty. Apple will then replace your battery free of charge. In other cases you have to pay for it yourself. Below you can read what the options are for replacing your iPhone battery.
Summary: You can do this yourself
To avoid being annoyed by an increasingly slow iPhone, you can do the following:
- Don’t compare with friends who have a much newer iPhone. It contains a much newer, better processor.
- Restart your iPhone occasionally, for example every week or every month.
- Opt for a clean installation every two or three years
- Have the iPhone battery replaced if it becomes worn out.
- Check out our tips on how to speed up your iPhone.
Has your iPhone really become too slow to work with it? Then it’s time for a new iPhone! In our overview you can see which models are currently a good purchase.
