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18th Jan 2018

Apple announce they will stop slowing down iPhones

Oli Dugmore

The next iOS update will allow users to stop battery slowdowns, CEO Tim Cook has said.

Apple chief Tim Cook has once again apologised to the tech company’s customers and promised to fix intentional battery slowdowns on older iPhones.

The creators of the iPhone have previously admitted to intentionally reducing its performance in order to preserve battery life.

They are now working to remedy the PR disaster, stating that users will soon be able to switch off the function that throttles their phone’s capabilities.

The changes, including a new battery health monitor, will be introduced in the next version of iOS.

A beta version of the operating system with the features will be rolled out next month to developers, with a public release likely to follow in March.

Cook says the slowdown feature was instituted to head off unexpected shutdowns and not to force users to upgrade, as has been suggested, in an interview with ABC News.

The company’s focus was on user experience, the CEO has claimed, adding that Apple wants to “deeply apologise for anyone who thinks we have some other kind of motivation.”

Disabling performance throttling may mean that users will not be able to use their device in emergency situations, as such Apple will not recommend they do so.

The new setting will allow them to make their own choice, however, at the risk of increasing the chances of their device crashing.

Speaking to ABC News, Cook said: ‘If you don’t want it, you can turn it off.

‘We’re going to give people the visibility of the health of their battery so it’s very, very transparent.

‘This hasn’t been done before.’

Angry iPhone fans who want to replace their batteries completely will have to wait until March, however, despite promises from Apple to offer this option.

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