Why does apple slow down old devices?

Faith2105 wrote:

I had the same problem with my iPad but I recently got a new one..

one of my friends said that Apple has discontinued new updates on old iPads.

But I have no idea why😕

Older iDevice hardware cannot handle more recent iOS updates.

So, Apple puts restrictions on what its hardware and software can handle.

Just like any other technology/computing company.

Does NOT mean the devices are NOT still safe to use.

I am STILL using older IPad 1, 2 and 3 models on a regular basis.

My wife is STILL using her IPad 3 on iOS 9.3.5 and I, an IPad 2 on iOS 9.3.5.

IDevices running iOS 9.3.5 is STILL getting daily app updates, but no more OS updates.

Still perfectly fine to use these older devices.

There is little security risk.

I have a two year old iPad Air 32Gb (bought in Canada where they are a LOT cheaper) and have seen it updated through versions 8 (I think it started here), 9, 10 and now 11. On each occasion the performance has degraded due entirely to the changes in OS. I don't keep a lot a data on it - that is not what its for - it still has 25.91Gb free. There are two reasons why updating is necessary:

1. The march of the hackers. All OS's are vulnerable - that is their nature and each update will try to keep us safe. But this comes at a cost - the software is hampered by security.

2. The march of what I call "gee wiz" improvements. This is the rubbish that the manufacturer things we need - more and more emojis, more connectivity, more...

You could avoid updating (although Apple's endless nagging to install the latest is annoying) but this does make the device exposed to new attacks. You have a choice - risk a hack or slowly make your device redundant. The latter is of course preferred and encouraged by companies like Apple and Microsoft. Even the free Linux systems available are not immune - but at least it's free to upgrade them and curiously doesn't age the device. I have a 20 year old Toshiba that originally came with Windows XP installed and it is now happily running Lunux Fedora even faster than it ever ran XP!

This applies to all devices, not just iPads and iPhones.

There are incremental slowdowns for all older iDevices and computers when running newer OSes.

My iPad 2 and 3 models are, probably, running a litle slower on iOS 9.3.5, but overall in these iPads, they are running very well and very smooth with minimal lag or slowdown!

The ONLY issue I have with both the iPad 2 and 3 is restarts and boot up times take a little over 2 minutes to complete.

Once both iPads are running, they run just fine.

No complaints.

I think you may have missed the point. Any device is initially loaded with an OS system that is the cutting edge of design at that time. Subsequent revisions place more demand on the device architecture until it begins to creek. You are partially right in as much that the device can no longer cope - but this is because the OS has been updated beyond the abilities of the device. Hence my view that all updates (for security reasons or whatever) will always make the hardware out of date.

Apple’s move to degrade performance to avoid crashes is something else. The design fault - and it is a fault- is in not making it easy to replace the rechargeable battery. If an android phone battery needs replacing it costs peanuts and the user can do it 2 minutes. If an Apple iPhone needs it the phone must be taken to the shop for experts to put a new expensive battery in. Not good.

Furthermore, if it was a “battery issue” then why was I told my device needed to be upgraded due to the new features included in the ios updates instead of getting a battery replacement. This was a pure deceptive corporate strategy to boost profits and nothing less!

Who “told” you to do anything?

Do you EVEN KNOW anything?

No one forces you to upgrade your iDevice.

Who told you, that upgrading your iPhone 6 would improve its performance?

iOS 11 will give you new features, yes, but most times the trade off is you get a plethora of new iOS features, but sometimes those features come with a slight HIT in performance.

Up until two weeks ago, no one knew that Apple had DIRECTLY targeted iPhone 6/6S/6S Plus models by programming code into iOS 11 to purposely slow down these phones when the hardware/sofware detected a poor performing battery.

The only iDevices, directly, affected by Apple’s iOS 11 CPU slow down code was iPhone 6 and 6 variants.

The CPU was coded to slowdown to prevent constant and consistent iPhone shutdown due to prevent thermal shutdown of older iPhone 6 models older, aging, degrading, performing batteries!

The iPhone slowdown affects ONLY ONE particular iPhone lineup! Period!

Any other iDevices that have been slowed by any other iOS and/or iOS 11 are having issues for other reasons.

I have NEVER have had ANY significant slowdowns of ANY of my iDevices.

I own older iPads that are still running fairly well on iOS 9.3.5.

The only sisgificant issues I have with my older iPads is a long two minute boot up/restart times.

One these iPads are up and running, all of them are running fine!

No complaints.

My iPad Pro and my wife's iPhone SE are all running very well on the current iOS.

I’m sure my accurate post discussing

technical issues and problems caused by Apple’s ios updates will be removed as usual.

While your posts, as an Apple support community member are acceptable? You attack people who post relevant and technical concerns about the slow down issue. All you do is support Apple.

Your posts contain no relevent information.

They are purely based on your own opinions, assertions, rumour and conjecture.

I am supplying relevant and actual factual information that YOU choose to ignore.

it's all very well to pass the whole thing back to the customers by saying that they had the choice NOT to download the iOS. I would have rather a more honest approach from Apple stating this beforehand by advising of the potential slowdown that will occur.

Can we uninstall these downloads and thus return to a time when we were happy with them? I think not.

I will be moving all my devices away from Apple and will not be returning as soon as I'm able.

Not every iOS 11 compatible device suffers from slowdowns from iOS 11.

All my iOS 11 upgraded devices are running just fine and dandy.

And the iDevices I updated are over two years old!

You come into an Apple Supoort site just complain that your iDevice (assuming iPad?) is slow, but you don't even supply info about your iDevice and what exactly is slow about andnif you tried anything to solve its slowness.

Generally, iOS slowdowns are caused NOT by the iOS upgrade/updates, directly, but from other iOS issues.

A bunch of us could have helped to solve or mitigate some of your iOS 11 issues,but instead of coming here asking for help, you chose to sign up here and complain, instead.

Good Luck on your next non-Apple device. You’re going to need it!

I have nearly all their product range and am constantly annoyed at how the ipads and ipods got alot slower. It's not hard for the worlds largest company to actually write software that knows which device it is on... saying something that is only a few years old should be replaced is completely irresponsible to the consumer, the environment and to their own reputation.

gail from maine wrote:

I've got an idea for you. Stop using iOS devices.

Here you go

Phlac wrote:

... This is why I like Apple.

Case closed.

Give Apple your thoughts.

Hard to tell.

check out speedof.me on your web browser.

Slow iPad on iOS 9, 10 or 11!

R