A Briton has filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging battery throttling of older iPhones. The legal claim by consumer rights advocate Justin Gutmann is worth £750 million ($927 million). Gutmann is seeking reimbursement for the over 25 million affected iPhone users in the United Kingdom. He claims Apple took a secret decision to slow down older iPhones in 2017.

Justin Gutmann stated that Apple made older iPhones to be slower in coping with software updates. An undocumented battery management update released in January 2017 led to the slow performance of older iPhones. This was to prevent the devices from shutting down without warning. Apple did not provide users with an option of disabling the battery management setting. In addition, the company did not warn users that their phones were being deliberately throttled. Gutmann alleged that the throttling was meant to mask the fact that the older iPhone batteries couldn’t cope with the new update demands.

Gutmann launched the claim against Apple at the Competition Appeals Tribunal. The claim, if successful, will cover the 25 million older iPhones in the UK that were affected. The affected phones included the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, and SE. Others were the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, and the iPhone X. Gutmann said Apple ought to have initiated a battery replacement program or admit that the update was unsuitable for older devices. Rather, the company allowed users to install the update knowing that it will worsen their device’s performance.

Gutmann says Apple was unethical in its approach to the issue as it ought to have come out clean to its customers. The concealment meant that some users experienced significant slowdowns in their devices. He says he was pursuing the case on behalf of millions of iPhone users across the UK. He also hopes that the case will spur dominant companies to review their business models and desist from such unwholesome conduct.

It was after a year that Apple had acknowledged the throttling issues. It claimed that the update was meant to address the problem of older phones shutting down. It claims it never set out to intentionally shorten the life of the affected phones. Apple continues to grapple with a litany of lawsuits challenging various aspects of its operations. This new lawsuit adds to the list. If successful, older iPhone users in the UK could get up to $30 from Apple.

RELATED:

• Apple to reportedly launch 15 inch MacBook powered by M2 and M2 Pro chip next year
• Apple’s New entry level iPad will Pack A14 chip, 5G connectivity, and USB C port: Report
• Apple’s upcoming 14.1 inch iPad may not feature Mini LED ProMotion display

(source)

The post Briton files a £750m lawsuit against Apple over battery throttling issue appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple has introduced the iPhone XS as the upgraded version of the iPhone X that was launched last year. The iPhone XS Max featuring a huge 6.5-inch OLED screen was unveiled alongside it. The iPhone XR featuring a notched LCD screen was also announced alongside the iPhone XS and XS Max. Fresh information reveals with the arrival of the 2018 iPhones, Apple has discontinued older iPhones like iPhone 6S and iPhone SE. The Cupertino company has also halted the sales of the iPhone X permanently.

It is unusual for Apple to discontinue iPhone X because the company is known for slashing the price of previous year’s model with the arrival of a new smartphone. Instead of selling the iPhone X with a reduced pricing, Apple has decided to kill it.

It is now being speculated that if Apple would have sold the iPhone X with discounted pricing, it may not have earned good profits for the company since the cost of materials required would not have decreased significantly. It appears that the iPhone XR that has a starting price of $749 is a good replacement for the iPhone X.

• Read More: Apple Watch Series 4 features a larger display and thinner body, price starts at $399

Now that the iPhone 6S, 6S Plus and iPhone SE have been discontinued, the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are the new entry-level phones from the company. Both phones are respectively priced at $449 and $569. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are respectively priced at $599 and $699.

Since the 4-inch iPhone SE is no longer available for buying, the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 are the smallest iPhones available for buying in the U.S. At present, the iPhone X, iPhone 6S, 6S Plus and iPhone SE could be available for buying in some countries, but they will be soon discontinued with the release of new iPhones.

The iPhone XR comes in 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB storage options. These models are respectively priced at $749, $799 and $899. The storage variants of the iPhone X are 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB. These variants are respectively cost $999, $1,149 and $1,349. The 64 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB iPhone XS Max models are respectively price at $1,099, $1,249 and $1,449.

The post iPhone SE, iPhone 6S, iPhone X discontinued with the arrival iPhone XS, XS Max and XR appeared first on Gizmochina.

Just before the end of 2017, Apple revealed that it purposely slowed down older iPhones to prevent the batteries from shutting down abruptly. Expect owners to get mad at the revelation. In order to placate users, Apple announced it had reduced battery replacement costs from $79 to $29. However, iPhone 6 Plus users may be getting a better deal.

An internal Apple memo sent to authorized service providers last week revealed that iPhone 6 Plus owners may get upgraded to the iPhone 6s Plus. The reason for that, according to Macrumors who first reported the news, is likely due to a shortage of iPhone 6 Plus replacement batteries.

An earlier report already revealed that Apple has stopped manufacturing the iPhone 6 Plus. Since it would take some time to restart production of the phone and battery, Apple will substitute the phone for the iPhone 6s Plus instead.

However, this will only go on until the end of March 2018 as battery replacements are expected to be back in stock by April. There is still no info as to how Apple will determine if you get the upgrade or which models of the phone are eligible.

READ MORE: Apple iPhone SE 2 May Debut in June at WWDC 2018, Likely to Support Wireless Charging

If you own an iPhone 6 Plus which needs a battery replacement, it is suggested you check out a Genius Bar to know if that will warrant an upgrade or you may be required to wait till April.

(Source, Via)

The post Apple May Upgrade Some iPhone 6 Plus Owners To iPhone 6s Plus appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple has increased prices of most of its smartphones in India after the government of India raised taxes on imported phones last week. The move of hike in customs duties seems to be aimed at boosting local production under its ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The Cupertino-based company has raised prices of most iPhones in India by 3 percent to 5 percent. The pricing for the iPhone 6 has been increased by Rs. 1,280 and now it costs Rs. 30,780 (approx. $481).

The smartphone model which witnessed the highest hike in price is the iPhone X, with an increase of Rs. 3,072 in its price in India. It now retails at Rs. 92,430 (approximately $1,443) for the 64GB variant and Rs. 1,05,720 (approximately $1,650) for the 256GB variant.

The iPhone 6s is available at Rs. 41,550 for the 32GB variant, while the 128GB variant will be available for Rs. 50,660. The 32GB and 128GB variants of iPhone 6s Plus are now priced at Rs. 50,740 and Rs. 59,860, respectively.

The iPhone 7 now costs Rs. 50,810 for the 32GB variant, while the 128GB variant is available for Rs. 59,910. The iPhone 7 Plus will now be available at Rs. 61,060 for the 32GB variant and Rs. 70,180 for the 128GB variant.

Apple’s recently launched iPhone 8 is available for purchase at Rs. 66,120 for the 64GB variant while the 256GB variant now costs Rs. 79,420. The iPhone 8 Plus is priced at Rs. 75, 450 for the 64GB variant and the 256GB will be available for Rs. 88,750.

The only iPhone model which has been exempted from this price increase if the iPhone SE, which is being manufactured locally in India. Apple’s Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron is assembling iPhone SE in the technology hub of Bengaluru.

Read More: Apple iPhone SE Successor Could Launch In Q1 Next Year

The customs duty hike comes at a time when Apple is seeking various incentives from the Indian government to further expand manufacturing in India — one of its fastest-growing smartphone markets globally.

The post Apple Raises iPhone Prices In India After Hike In Customs Duty appeared first on Gizmochina.

A new tax rate implemented by the Indian Government will let its citizens buy iPhones at cheaper prices. The Indian government announced a new Goods and Services Tax as part of a tax reform process. The new tax rate has prompted Apple to lower the price of its products.

The base model of the iPhone 7 which used to be sold for ₹60,000 (∼$928) is now ₹56,200 (∼$869). The 128GB version has seen a price cut too and now sells for ₹65,200 (∼$1009) and the 256GB version is priced at ₹74,400 (∼$1150).

The iPhone 7 Plus on the other hand was reduced from ₹72,000 (∼$1114) to ₹67,300. The 128GB model is priced at ₹72,000 (∼$1114) and the 256GB model is ₹85,400 (∼$1321). The older iPhone 6s Plus also got a price cut to ₹56,100 (∼$868) while the iPhone SE dropped to ₹26,000 (∼$402).

READ MORE: Apple iPhone 8 Dummy Unit Shows What to Expect from the Most Anticipated iPhone

Other Apple products such as MacBooks, iPads and the Apple Watch have also seen reduction in their respective prices.

Apple is focused on establishing a strong foothold in the Asian country and this will come as good news to its fans. The American company already has an assembly plant in India and the first batch is already on sale.

We expect other manufacturers to replicate Apple’s move as soon as possible.

(Source, via)

The post Tax Rate Reduction Leads Apple To Cut iPhone Prices in India appeared first on Gizmochina.

Elephone wants you to see how small their upcoming 6-inch phone is, so they placed it under the 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus. Turns out the phone is really small as it is completely hidden. The trick lies in the phone having a small form-factor due to its lack of bezels.

So what’s the device hidden under the iPhone 6s Plus? It’s the Elephone S8. The tri-bezel-less Elephone S8 is a 6.0-inch device with a 1080p resolution. It is Elephone’s take on the Xiaomi Mi MIX and will launch later this year.

READ MORE: Elephone Teases Smartphone with Pop-up Front Camera

The S8 will have a Helio X20 deca-core processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage. For optics, the rear camera will be a 21MP sensor while the front camera will be a 13MP shooter. Elephone says the S8 will launch with Android 7.0 Nougat but there is still no expected time of release.

The post There’s A 6.0-inch Elephone Underneath This 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus appeared first on Gizmochina.

Do you remember those rendered videos of bezel-less and transparent iPhones that flooded the internet when a new iPhone was close to launching? We still don’t have them yet. Or do we?

While the leaks of the next iPhone have been pouring in, there has been no mention of it being bezel-less and it seems some Apple fans are not happy about it seeing as you already have bezel-less android phones like the Xiaomi Mi MIX. So what do you do when what you want is not available? You make it yourself, as seen from a video uploaded on YouTube of someone who repurposed his iPhone 6S Plus into a Xiaomi Mi MIX.

The video which shows the procedure was uploaded by Weibo user @Ye Ji-MIX. Although the final product looks a little unrefined we can’t help but praise his skills and ingenuity.

READ MORE: Unopened First Gen Apple iPod Carries Hefty $200,000 Price on eBay

The iPhone 6s MIX, let’s agree to call it that, while sporting most of its major parts comes off as bezel-less on three sides. The side with the bezel is the top since the the rear camera of the iPhone 6s Plus is at the top right corner. Settling to keep the camera cost him the Touch ID/home button which is housed on the lower bezel. Apart from that, everything else seems to work well.

You can watch the video here.

Will you be willing to try this out with your iPhone or you’ll rather wait till Apple decides to make a bezel-less iPhone?

The post Apple iPhone 6s Plus Modified into Xiaomi Mi Mix appeared first on Gizmochina.

If you have an iPhone one of the most important things you want to do is to invest in its protection. It is obvious that iPhones have very durable glass on their displays but there is nothing better than adding an extra layer of protection to avoid breaking the screen.

Usually, the problem with regular screen protectors is that they are not durable enough to protect your phone if you drop it. A tempered glass comes handy in these situations as they are made using special technologies to survive even the most severe drops.

Even if the 1byone tempered glass breaks, it will protect the original display of the iPhone.

In addition to that, in has a few extra layers that prevent the glass from being a fingerprint magnet and a special oleophobic coating helps dealing with water drops.

1byone iPhone 6/6s Plus tempered glass screen protector has a transparency rating of 96% and a great level of sensitivity to make sure you have a great user experience.

Finally, the tempered glass is very thin as it measures at only 0.3mm. Also, it has curved edges to match the ones on the iPhone.

Usually, tempered glass screen protectors do not come very cheap but 1byone has a pretty good deal on Amazon.

The company offers a generous $7 off the tempered glass protectors for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus for a limited time. If you have a friend who is constantly breaking the iPhone, this may be a holiday gift idea.

Deal summary:

Start Date: 12/08/2015 00:01 AM
End Date: 12/11/2015 23:59 PM
Free shipping with Prime or $35 order 

Coupon code: OSQRZDZH

Get $7 off 1byone tempered screen protector for iPhone 6/6s with a coupon: OSQRZDZH

Get $7 off 1byone tempered screen protector for iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus with a coupon: OSQRZDZH

The post Get $7 Off 1byone iPhone 6/6s Plus Tempered Glass Protector appeared first on Gizmochina.