Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

iOS 13.1 will bring processor throttling to the iPhone XS and iPhone XR

Christian de Looper
By

Apple’s iOS 13.1 is set to launch on September 24, just four short days after the launch of iOS 13 on September 19, and according to an Apple support page, Apple will add a processor throttling feature to the iPhone XS and XR with the update.

The feature itself was first discovered in iPhones in 2017 and proved to be controversial. It’s aimed at limiting the performance of iPhone models to prevent them from shutting down due to aging batteries — but the result, as you might expect, is an iPhone that runs slower than it otherwise would. Throttling gets heavier as the battery continues to age, your phone will perform much faster if the battery is replaced.

Related Videos

When the feature was discovered, Apple ended up detailing exactly how it works in an effort to calm backlash. The company also offered discounted battery replacements to users with some iPhone models, ensuring that devices that might otherwise be throttled could return to their full performance. Not only that, but it even added a switch in the Settings app that allowed users to turn off the processor throttling, though of course, users found that their phone might shut down, especially in processor-heavy situations.

Related

That said, Apple seems to have been working on the feature to refine it a little, and it says that newer iPhone models are better at power monitoring and the impact of the processor throttling shouldn’t be quite as obvious. That more advanced hardware was first introduced on the iPhone 8 and iPhone X, but was also present on the iPhone XR and iPhone XS.

Apple has yet to disclose whether or not the iPhone 11 range will eventually get processor throttling. However, a report from 9to5Mac notes that an Apple Support page mentions that the new phones offer an even more advanced power monitoring system. That system can manage performance, so it’s possible there’s some kind of processor management in place from the start. Presumably, that system will work more as the battery ages, though hopefully the effects of that won’t be felt quite as hard as on older phones.

While Apple did face backlash, the simple fact is that as batteries degrade over time, they’re unable to provide as much power over time as they once could. As a result, performance needs to take a hit to ensure that the device stays powered on.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
6 years later, the iPhone X still does one thing better than the iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone X.

I’ve been an iPhone user since the very beginning, starting with the original iPhone. You know, the one with the 3.5-inch display that was perfect at the time, making it super easy to use a phone with one hand? As the years go by, the iPhone — and every other smartphone out there — just get bigger and bigger. We now have phones that with almost 7-inch displays, and honestly, I don’t understand how anyone can comfortably use these giant phones — especially if you have smaller hands!

With the iPhone, we’ve gone from 3.5-inch to 4-inches, then 4.7-inches to 5.8-inches, and now the standard 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch of the iPhone 14/iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Plus/iPhone 14 Pro Max, respectively. I personally use an iPhone 14 Pro as my primary device, and while I have gotten used to the 6.1-inch size over the past few years, I still think it’s too big. In fact, the last perfect size iPhone was the iPhone XS with the 5.8-inch display ... and I really wish Apple would bring it back.
5.8 inches was a perfect middle ground

Read more
I love the Galaxy S23 — here are 5 things the iPhone still does better
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and Apple iPhone 14 Pro

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 has arrived to the masses, and it’s one of the best Android phones you can get right now, especially the S23 Ultra. However, for those who don’t need all of the fancy bells and whistles, like the S Pen and 200MP main camera, the regular S23 is also plenty powerful for the average person, especially if you prefer smaller devices.

I’ve been using the Galaxy S23 for the past few weeks, and so far, my experience has been delightful. I know that it’s still early on in the year, but for me, the S23’s small size is perfect and comfortable. Android also does a lot of things better than iOS, like individual volume controls and notifications, for example. But I am still primarily using my iPhone 14 Pro — despite Apple having some big flaws, such as overprocessing images after you capture them.

Read more
5 things we’d love to see at Google I/O 2023 (but probably won’t)
Google Pixel Watch on a wrist.

Google's annual developer conference, Google I/O, kicks off on May 10. Don't let the words "developer conference" put you off, though, as Google I/O is one of the biggest and most exciting shows of the year.

We've already covered what we expect to see at Google I/O 2023, and that list includes the Pixel 7a, Android 14, and even a Google Pixel Fold. But although those are all things we're really looking forward to and expecting to see, there are a number of reveals we'd also love to happen ... but are extremely unlikely to appear on the grand stage.

Read more