Apple Apologizes For Slowing iPhones, Israel’s iStore To Offer Discounted Batteries

December 31, 2017 | The US mobile and tech giant Apple has issued an apology amid accusations that software updates were slowing down older iPhone devices. “We’ve been hearing feedback from our customers about the way we handle performance for iPhones with older batteries and how we have communicated that process. We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologize,” the company wrote in a press release. “First and foremost, we have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades. Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that,” it went on. The company said it was offering a reduced price for an out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacement from $79 to $29 through December 2018. In Israel, iStore, which sells Appel products but is not owned by Apple, announced that it will lower the battery replacement price to NIS 149 ($42) including VAT starting the end of January 2018. Apple also promises a software update in early 2018 that will target the battery and its condition. Last week, NoCamels reported that a $125 million class action suit was filed against Apple in a Tel Aviv court. The lawsuit claims that Apple “had a clear interest in hiding the information form users because it would prefer they replace old iPhones with new ones as soon as possible,” according to JTA. At least four similar lawsuits were filed in the US against the company as well. The lawsuits in the US accused the company of “deceptive, immoral, and unethical” practices, the Huffington Post reported.