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Can software updates released by smartphone companies to keep our devices up to date slow down our devices? Or do they help improve the efficiency?
There have been a few cases where major companies have released new software updates for flagship devices, reportedly leading to a lag in performance.
Why Do Companies Release Software Updates?
Generally speaking, there are two types of software updates. Manufacturers release both major version updates, which may update the device to a new iteration of the OS (Android/ Custom OS based on Android/ iOS) or introduce some new features, and security updates. Version updates are usually notably larger than security updates.
Companies release version updates to introduce new features, major OS upgrades, and to fix bugs. When implemented correctly, these updates can help optimize the phone’s performance, enhance the battery life, fix bugs, introduce new features, and more. On the other hand, security updates are released at regular intervals to keep the device updated regarding their security prowess. These updates aim to secure the device from any potential fraudulent activity from fraudsters and fix any bugs that can be misused for malicious attacks.
Manish Rawat from TechInsights highlights the impact of software updates and says that manufacturers must strike a balance by weighing the pros and cons of a new software update. While a software update may fix bugs and other device problems, companies must ensure transparency to avoid the pitfalls of perceived or actual device underperformance. Additionally, the question arises whether software updates can underpower smartphones.
Can Software Updates Underpower Smartphones?
Manufacturers usually release software updates to update the security protocols, release new features, update the OS version, and solve underlying issues such as overheating, battery life problems, and more. Software updates generally associated with improving a smartphone’s performance may sometimes have adverse effects, such as the devices getting slow or/and becoming buggy. This can be attributed to companies releasing half-baked software updates, which do more harm than good. But do companies slow down our smartphones on purpose?
Rawat said:
“ While updates are crucial for security and new features, managing performance trade-offs is essential. Manufacturers should be transparent and offer ways to mitigate the impact on device performance, balancing innovation with usability. Transparency and consumer choice are key to maintaining trust and ensuring that updates improve rather than impair the user experience.”
Do Companies Intentionally Underpower Devices?
Whether software updates intentionally slow down devices is debated. Rawat believes device performance and lifecycle management are” influenced by market strategies, technological advancements, and consumer expectations.” However, if smartphones do get adversely affected by an update, the practice raises essential questions about ethics, transparency, and consumer rights in the tech industry.
In 2017, Apple acknowledged intentionally throttling the performance of older iPhone models to prevent unexpected shutdowns caused by battery degradation. The company said this was not done to encourage people to upgrade. The company stated that the iPhone’s lithium-ion batteries became less capable of supplying peak current demands as they aged. For the iPhone 6 and 6s, the iOS 10.1.2 update introduced this performance change, and for the iPhone 7, it was the iOS 11.2 update. Apple justified this by stating it was a measure to manage overall battery life and performance on older devices. The company was heavily fined for the same. This instance became a significant example of perceived tactics to encourage users to upgrade to newer models, leading to widespread criticism, legal challenges, and demands for greater transparency. In response, Apple offered battery replacements at a reduced cost and introduced features giving users more control over their devices’ performance.
In 2022, Samsung faced similar accusations with the Game Optimisation Service (GOS) app, which reportedly throttled CPU and GPU performance on the Galaxy S22 series smartphones to prevent overheating during gaming. Following community backlash, Samsung released an update allowing users to disable GOS. Reports from the Korean community indicated that Samsung had confirmed performance limits on over 10,000 apps.
Samsung created an app called GOS and used the app to limit game performance, making the gaming experience worse. However, according to what the Korean community found out today, Samsung confirmed that it has put performance limits on more than 10,000 apps… pic.twitter.com/U58AreZZoo
— 한가련 (@GaryeonHan) March 2, 2022
How Can Users Stay Safe?
While some software updates may enhance the user experience, others may handicap the device. Users need to be more aware before making a decision. It is advised that users not instantly update their devices to the latest version but wait a bit to see how others react to the new OS. Most major smartphone brands have community forums, which users can visit in addition to joining discussions on platforms such as X and Reddit.
While discussing how users can keep their devices free of software update issues, Rawat emphasizes the importance of monitoring performance and battery life for noticeable declines. Additionally, he advises users to read update notes to understand potential impacts. “Seek alternatives, like battery replacements or reverting to previous software versions, if performance is significantly affected. Stay informed about planned obsolescence to time upgrades effectively. Use support channels or community forums for additional insights and solutions.”
