night.hoodie
Enlightened
I do think those lipo packs used in cell phones probably do age a lot in 2 years. I don't think they're as robust as cylindrical cells, and they're likely abused a lot more since people use their phones all day long. So, 50% after 2 years doesn't sound unreasonable. (Especially if it's an Apple product trying to make you buy a new phone.)
At the risk of skirting topic, smart cell phones do seem to spontaneously combust more often than other Li-ion powered devices. Apple most certainly does seem to force a hardware update, but I believe they only do this with software updates, feature creep, very often successfully tempting users of older devices to update the software, which invariably slows the device to the point of frustration and uselessness.
That said, regarding cell performance specifically, I do not believe Apple is intentionally crippling their devices with the intent to force a hardware refresh for its user. Rather, I know Apple realizes just how many of these older devices are out in the wild. I think it is more reasonable to assume that Apple takes a very conservative approach to the batteries in older devices, and the "crippling," the change in cell performance, reduced runtime, is intentional only to make use of an older cell safer. It would be devastating even for Apple if suddenly all the cells in their 4+ year old devices in the wild started to fail, en mass. Apple is being smart here, not to force new hardware purchases, but to prevent fires, injuries, deaths and expensive lawsuits. They are taking the correct approach to the real danger inherent in Li-ion cell use, and because of their philosophy, removing any responsibility from the user as far as how to properly care for the cell. IOW, this is not sabotage, but instead conservatism to prevent as long as possible cell failure, even if a particular cell in a particular device is in good shape, there are millions of these things out there, and profiles must be applied as simply as possible, thus across all older devices, just to make as certain as possible no one gets -- and it does happen anyway! I cannot say the same for other smart phone manufacturers that definitely seem to push the envelop, regarding cell performance, and therefor safety.
So I think our paranoia is only half justified, there is definitely a rational benevolent method behind Apple's treatment of older Li-ion cells: preventing never ending legal bills, which does benefit our health.
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