With Apple throttling iPhones, some iPad owners might be wondering if they're getting the same treatment.
Those who read the fine print probably already know the answer to this, but to those who haven't, the answer is no, Apple doesn't slow down iPads the same way it does to iPhones.
Of course, the story doesn't just end right there.
iPad Aren't Being Throttled
To clear things up, the "confirmation" that Apple isn't throttling iPads comes straight from the horse's mouth in the form of an official support document titled "iPhone Battery and Performance."
It's a pretty long read, but the important takeaway from it is this:
"This power management feature is specific to iPhone and does not apply to any other Apple products."
In other words, the Cupertino brand is slowing down only iPhones, particularly the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone SE running iOS 10.2.1 and the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus running iOS 11.2.
Could Apple Slow iPads Down In The Future?
In theory, Apple could implement the same measures for the iPads too, but there isn't any reason for it to do so.
For starters, the tablets typically pack larger batteries than iPhones, meaning that they're more than capable of handling power spikes, which are the root cause of random shutdown issues that Apple is trying to prevent on iPhones. Thus, iPads don't require the same power-management features used on the aforementioned iPhones.
To add to that, iPad users don't need to charge their devices that often, not to mention that they probably won't use it that much out in cold weather. On top of that, tablets are inherently better at dissipating heat than phones. That just means iPads' batteries won't get worn out as fast as the ones on iPhones.
In short, the company can also throttle iPads, but it isn't — unless it already did with everyone none the wiser.
iPad Is Slow, What Gives?
There are a lot of reasons for the iPad to get bogged down, and taking Apple's word on it, throttling isn't one of them.
Despite being better at handling heat, iPads can still generate too much of it inside. In turn, processors have to slow down to compensate for it. That's normal, and it isn't exclusive to Apple products.
Another potential reason is degradation of the device itself. This one's a no-brainer, as everything eventually gets worn out through years of use and such.
It's also possible that the issue lies in software, but a reboot or a factory reset can do the trick for this one.
The Bottom Line
To sum things up, Apple has admitted to throttling iPhones, but it made it clear that iPads aren't being slowed down in the same way. That's likely because there's no need to ramp down or implement power-management features on the tablets.
However, iPads can still get bogged down, but it isn't because of Apple.
On an interesting note, Android device makers chimed in on the whole issue and proudly said they don't slow down their smartphones.
With all said and done, have you noticed a drop in performance on your iPad? If so, feel free to hit us up in the comments section below and let us know.
