May 20, 2026
iDrama: Slow phones, fast outrage
Ex-Apple engineer says Apple deliberately slows older phones via updates
Internet erupts as Apple slowdown claim revives old grudges and splits users hard
TLDR: A viral ex-Apple engineer claim says updates may slow older iPhones on purpose, reviving memories of Apple’s 2017 battery slowdown scandal. Commenters are split between “we all knew it” and “show the receipts,” while others say a tired battery—not a secret plot—is the real culprit.
A viral video from a woman claiming to be a former Apple engineer has thrown the internet straight back into Batterygate déjà vu. Her allegation is explosive: Apple supposedly sends updates to older iPhones that quietly make them slower right when shiny new models arrive, nudging people toward an upgrade. There’s no proof yet, and Apple hasn’t responded, but the comments are already acting like the courtroom, jury room, and comedy club all at once.
The biggest split? One camp is basically yelling, “Obviously!” People like LunicLynx say this has felt true since the iPhone 4 and 5 days, with some insisting the iPhone 11 and 12 got hit too. The other camp is rolling its eyes hard. Manuel_D wants actual evidence, not vibes, pointing out the video gives zero details on how the slowdown would even work. joshka says their iPhone 14 still feels fine and blames bloated apps, not Apple sabotage.
Then there are the practical commenters, led by sgt, basically saying, “Didn’t we already do this in 2017?” Back then Apple admitted slowing some phones, but said it was to stop surprise shutdowns from worn-out batteries. Translation: some users hear “evil upgrade plot,” while others hear “just replace your battery, drama solved.” Meanwhile, in a perfectly internet side quest, one commenter ignored the conspiracy entirely and just wanted to know if the notch is finally dead on the upcoming iPhone 18. Priorities!
Key Points
- •A viral video by a woman claiming to be a former Apple software engineer alleges Apple deliberately slows older iPhones via software updates when new models launch.
- •The article says the allegation is unproven and that Apple had not responded to the viral video at the time of publication.
- •The story links the new claims to Apple’s 2017 battery-throttling controversy, during which Apple said performance management was intended to prevent unexpected shutdowns on phones with aging batteries.
- •The article frames the renewed debate as part of broader discussion around planned obsolescence.
- •It also reports industry leaks suggesting the iPhone 18 Pro could move facial recognition sensors under the display and remove the pill-shaped cutout seen on iPhone 17 Pro models.