Batterygate and Beyond: The Evidence for Apple's Planned Obsolescence

In 2020, Apple agreed to pay $113 million to settle allegations that it deliberately throttled iPhone performance through software updates — known as Batterygate. The settlement confirmed what millions suspected: Apple was secretly slowing older iPhones, ostensibly to prevent shutdowns from degraded batteries, but conveniently driving upgrade cycles. The scandal was not isolated but rather the most visible example of a systematic pattern.

The Software Slowdown Pattern

Independent benchmarking consistently shows major iOS updates degrade performance on older devices. When iOS 17 launched, iPhone XS users reported app launch times increasing 30-40% and general UI responsiveness declining noticeably. Apple frames these updates as bringing new features to older devices, but the tradeoff is rarely presented honestly. Users aren't warned that accepting an update may significantly slow their device, and once installed, iOS updates cannot be rolled back — a one-way ratchet that progressively degrades the experience until replacement feels necessary.

Hardware Design Choices

Apple's hardware decisions reinforce planned obsolescence. Batteries are glued in place requiring specialized tools. Storage cannot be upgraded after purchase. RAM is soldered to logic boards in MacBooks, eliminating memory upgrades. These choices are presented as enabling thinner, lighter products, but they also ensure every Apple device has a hard ceiling on useful lifespan that users cannot extend.

France fined Apple €25 million for failing to inform consumers about throttling. The growing right-to-repair movement challenges Apple's obsolescence strategy, with legislation in multiple US states and the EU requiring manufacturers to provide repair parts and documentation. Apple has made grudging concessions with its Self Service Repair program, but parts are expensive and the process deliberately complex enough to discourage most users.

Apple markets itself as environmentally responsible while planned obsolescence doubles the environmental impact per year of use. A device designed to last three years instead of six creates twice the e-waste. Repair restrictions ensure single component failures render otherwise functional devices effectively disposable — a direct contradiction of Apple's green marketing.