Apple suspected of planning to scrap the phone: Upgrading 4s to iOS 9 may be a trap

According to foreign media AppleInsider, more than 100 people recently filed a class action lawsuit in the New York District Court, alleging that Apple was suspected of "planned obsolescence" because Apple encouraged iPhone 4s users to upgrade to iOS 9 even though it knew there might be compatibility issues.

Plaintiff Chaim Lerman claimed that Apple's claim that iOS 9 is compatible with iPhone 4s and later models is suspected of fraudulent transactions and false advertising. The reason is that iOS 9 seriously affects the performance of iPhone 4s. Since Apple's security protocol does not allow users to downgrade the operating system, iPhone 4s users are either forced to endure a non-functional phone or spend hundreds of dollars to buy a new iPhone.

The indictment pointed out that the iPhone 4s upgraded to iOS 9 was so slow that it could not be used normally. That is, both Apple's own applications and third-party applications had problems such as long startup time and slow response to touch screen input, and the overall performance of the phone was reduced to a snail's pace.

The lawsuit directly targets Apple's iOS ecosystem itself, saying that iPhone 4 users who have problems with iOS 9 are more likely to buy a new iPhone rather than switch to another platform because the apps they purchased cannot be transferred to other platforms. The lawsuit also claims that Apple has benefited from new carrier agreements, but does not elaborate on this claim.

The plaintiffs are asking Apple to pay more than $5 million in economic damages, and the amount could be tripled. iOS is upgraded every year. iOS 9 allows Apple's new phone hardware to fully utilize its performance, such as the 3D Touch and A9 chip of the iPhone 6s. However, although the older models are technically compatible with iOS 9, their performance cannot be compared with the iPhone 6s. Obviously, the new generation of software will have limited support for the previous generation of hardware. The plaintiffs believe that Apple has a responsibility to protect the interests of consumers who lack understanding of the rapid development of computer technology.

Apple was similarly accused in a 2011 class-action lawsuit in which plaintiffs alleged that iOS 4 bricked their iPhone 3Gs. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed, but planned obsolescence becomes a controversial topic every time Apple releases new hardware or software.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.