Apple vs. Samsung! | Apple Suddenly Makes New iOS 11 Update Essential.

 iOS 11.2.2 is here and it provides Apple AAPL -0.37% with a much needed chance to change the script as it rolls out ‘mitigations’ to block the Meltdown and Spectre CPU flawswhich affect the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. But it also only delays a bigger reckoning which pushes even greater pressure onto the mysterious iOS 11.2.5…   

 Now into its second beta and still without either a single feature listed or an explanation for its bizarre version number, iOS 11.2.5 is Apple’s big chance to make amends for the ongoing iPhone battery debacle. 

 So far what Apple has proposed carries little weight. Its discounted battery replacements only last 11 months so are unlikely to help iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone X owners. And its confirmation to keep throttling new iPhone models with future iOS updates is simply a pledge to treat symptoms, not the cause. Given Apple now admits it isn’t just iPhone performance it has to restrict to protect batteries but even basic features like speaker volume and removing the camera flash, this problem is too big to paper over the cracks. 

 In fact Apple has come clean stating that iPhone batteries are specifically “designed” only to retain 80% of their capacity after 500 charging cycles - something you’ll get through in significantly less than a year if you regularly top up your iPhone. iPods are even worse losing 20% of their capacity after just 400 cycles, while iPads take longer dropping to 80% only after 1000 cycles. 

 But none of this is good enough. 

 The obvious point of comparison is Samsung which responded to its own battery debacle with the Galaxy Note 7, by completely overhauling its entire battery production process. Key to this were the introduction of a class leading 8 point safety check and new algorithms to protect against the natural degradation of lithium-ion batteries. 

 Samsung now promises 95% battery capacity retention for a minimum of two years - far ahead of anything Apple currently achieves or has implied it will offer in future. As far as apologies and positive actions go, Samsung set the benchmark. 

 Which brings us back to iOS 11.2.5. Clearly named in order to give Apple breathing space between smaller releases like today’s iOS 11.2.2, it needs to deliver on Apple’s vague claims to improve transparency and give users more control over the batteries in their devices. It also needs to do a better job regulating battery life, as this has plagued iOS 11 releases and “buy a new battery” cannot be the answer every 6-12 months. 

 These are $1,000 smartphones, not razors requiring new blades. 

 Apple has long been heralded as a software genius. Once sideshows like iOS 11.2.2 are out the way, it’s essential Apple gets the big battery calls right and it’s essential users can feel safe upgrading again without running into yet another myriad of bugs and performance shortcomings. After a string of botched updates, the iOS 11.2.5 release needs to be essential.