Futuremark analysis debunks rumor that Apple slows older iPhones down on purpose with iOS ...
Benchmarking firm Futuremark has weighed in on claims that Apple is intentionally slowing down older iPhones to encourage upgrades, with analysis of benchmark results indicating iPhones maintain their performance over time instead of deteriorating.
Image Credit: Wylsacom on YouTube
To answer allegations of Apple purposefully holding back previous iPhone models via changes in iOS, Futuremark compiled data from its free 3DMark benchmarking tool, gathering results submitted by users. The company found that iOS updates largely kept iPhones running at a similar level of performance.
Data came from 3DMark's Sling Shot Extreme Graphics and Extreme Physics tests, used to measure the GPU and CPU performance respectively. Specifically, Futuremark turned to the average score for each device over the course of a month.
Looking at the iPhone 5s, the oldest device examined, a graph showing GPU performance reveals the average score has remained relatively stable between April 2016 and September 2017, with expected minor variations from month to month. A similar story was found with the phone's CPU performance, its score barely changing between months, the most recent average falling just slightly when compared with the earliest record.
"The graphs for CPU performance show a very slight drop in performance over time -- possibly due to minor iOS updates or other factors -- but a user would be unlikely to notice this small difference in everyday use," a Futuremark statement reads.
For the iPhone 6, GPU performance scores increased over time, with a small but noticeable jump at the time of iOS 10's release, and another larger increase for iOS 11. CPU performance did gradually decay in the results, though only slightly, with the graph leveling off from May 2017 onward.
In iPhone 6s graphs, GPU performance peaked for the introduction of iOS 10, before slightly dropping off and leveling again from May 2017. There is a very modest decline in CPU performance, though with no significant score shifts.
Lastly, iPhone 7 GPU performance did waver over time, with a fair boost visible for the last bar of the chart, representing the launch of iOS 11, but no major deterioration. CPU performance decreases towards the end of the chart, but again this shows only a marginal change over time.
"Our benchmarking data shows that, rather than intentionally degrading the performance of older models, Apple actually does a good job of supporting its older devices with regular updates that maintain a consistent level of performance across iOS versions," writes Futuremark.
The firm does note that there are some factors that may make users perceive a loss of performance after updating the operating system. These include updates introducing new resource-intensive features, new apps developed for newer hardware not running as smoothly, and older apps failing to take advantage of optimizations in later iOS releases.
There is also the human factor, Futuremark suggests. "There is always the psychological effect of knowing that there is a new and improved model available, which can make your own device seem outdated."
Another investigation into iOS upgrades for older devices, published in September, found that Apple's own apps became only marginally slower.
Benchmark scores are usually seen as a way to compare mobile devices against each other, though sometimes this can be an unreliable indicator. In 2013, Samsung was caught cheating in benchmarks, by including code within the operating systems of the Galaxy S4 and the Note 3 to make the processors run at maximum capacity if a benchmarking app was detected.
Image Credit: Wylsacom on YouTube
To answer allegations of Apple purposefully holding back previous iPhone models via changes in iOS, Futuremark compiled data from its free 3DMark benchmarking tool, gathering results submitted by users. The company found that iOS updates largely kept iPhones running at a similar level of performance.
Data came from 3DMark's Sling Shot Extreme Graphics and Extreme Physics tests, used to measure the GPU and CPU performance respectively. Specifically, Futuremark turned to the average score for each device over the course of a month.
Looking at the iPhone 5s, the oldest device examined, a graph showing GPU performance reveals the average score has remained relatively stable between April 2016 and September 2017, with expected minor variations from month to month. A similar story was found with the phone's CPU performance, its score barely changing between months, the most recent average falling just slightly when compared with the earliest record.
"The graphs for CPU performance show a very slight drop in performance over time -- possibly due to minor iOS updates or other factors -- but a user would be unlikely to notice this small difference in everyday use," a Futuremark statement reads.
For the iPhone 6, GPU performance scores increased over time, with a small but noticeable jump at the time of iOS 10's release, and another larger increase for iOS 11. CPU performance did gradually decay in the results, though only slightly, with the graph leveling off from May 2017 onward.
In iPhone 6s graphs, GPU performance peaked for the introduction of iOS 10, before slightly dropping off and leveling again from May 2017. There is a very modest decline in CPU performance, though with no significant score shifts.
Lastly, iPhone 7 GPU performance did waver over time, with a fair boost visible for the last bar of the chart, representing the launch of iOS 11, but no major deterioration. CPU performance decreases towards the end of the chart, but again this shows only a marginal change over time.
"Our benchmarking data shows that, rather than intentionally degrading the performance of older models, Apple actually does a good job of supporting its older devices with regular updates that maintain a consistent level of performance across iOS versions," writes Futuremark.
The firm does note that there are some factors that may make users perceive a loss of performance after updating the operating system. These include updates introducing new resource-intensive features, new apps developed for newer hardware not running as smoothly, and older apps failing to take advantage of optimizations in later iOS releases.
There is also the human factor, Futuremark suggests. "There is always the psychological effect of knowing that there is a new and improved model available, which can make your own device seem outdated."
Another investigation into iOS upgrades for older devices, published in September, found that Apple's own apps became only marginally slower.
Benchmark scores are usually seen as a way to compare mobile devices against each other, though sometimes this can be an unreliable indicator. In 2013, Samsung was caught cheating in benchmarks, by including code within the operating systems of the Galaxy S4 and the Note 3 to make the processors run at maximum capacity if a benchmarking app was detected.
Comments
Benchmarks are well known not to translate to real-world usage. The biggest complaints are with GUI, restart, and app load slowdowns, not CPU or GPU functionality. No testing done on those facets, right?
The most vocal complaints overall are with the "just upgraded" times after a new iOS comes out. Every apologist tells us why we should mock complainers as ignorant fools, and Apple rest on their laurels with that as the community solution, rather than actually addressing that issue themselves once and for all.
It isn't even a question: Apple want you to keep buying the same hardware products every year. Now that they have phones and iPads, they can push an even faster upgrade cycle than with Macs. They are a hardware company using minimal software development to lure new buyers, who eventually may discover that the development of that software only supports selling the bullet point new features of each iOS, which sells iPhones (not continued maturation of the software product). In fact, their iOS developments have actually harmed their prior quality software development, like iWork (being back-ported from iOS to Mac OS, trashing hundreds of features and installing a clumsy GUI).
Yes, there is a push to upgrade to a new phone. Yes, the OS is the push. No, Apple don't optimize iOS for any device but the newest. Yes, planned obsolescence is a real thing. The computer industry has made it so much more blatant than any other industry and has accelerated the same in every industry that sells computerized product: Push product out prematurely, ignore the software bugs, push out the successor ASAP, and abandon the predecessor.
Guess what. Newer software means heavier software demands. The phones are literally the same speed as the day they were bought and these metrics are the proof. The difference is the load placed on them by the software.
There is no plot or conspiracy. There is no shadowy cabal demanding that code get bloated to force users to buy a new phone. There is no Cook and Ive plot to turn down the processor and GPU speed. That's insane to even speculate, but yet, here we are. Planned obsolescence as a conspiracy to force hardware sales isn't a thing.
Do you want your phone to be the same as the day you took it out of the box? Never update your software. Problem solved.
No, that is not the public perception. It is the perception of the wannabe tech crowd that loiters in comment sections making wild, unfounded, unconfirmed, irrational claims.
6 Plus, on 11.0.2 performance is fine. No issues here.
But, as with all computing platforms, as the software increases in capability so must the hardware requirements. It is unrealistic and quite foolish to expect old computing devices to run new platforms with identical performance as new hardware with increased capability. How anyone can believe that it's instead an evil corporation twirling their waxed mustaches trying to screw you is a mystery. I'm guessing you don't work with computing technology very much.
Anyway the real proof is the resale market -- unlike your conspiracy theory, people actually understand this and are willing to pay premium prices for used devices, unlike the knockoffs.
And, to answer your question, in all likelihood, no.
No, we must eternally whine because we are entitled to do so! We are not customers voting with our dollars, but rather prisoners, held hostage by the nefarious Apple corporate devil! Can't you see!?
Edit: snap, editor.