Are you afraid of running a software update on your phone, fearing performance issues and slowdown?
It has been a question that haunts many a phone user around the world. While you use the latest smartphone today, the same model becomes old a year later as a newer iteration hits the market. Meanwhile, you are offered software updates to keep your phone on par with all others from the manufacturer’s range.
The question is: Should you update your phone’s software? Will it risk performance?
The controversy over slower phones post-updates
In 2018, antitrust regulators in Italy slapped penalties on two phone giants for offering software updates that were deliberately found to slow down the phones. Not only did phones’ performance suffer, their battery life was also impacted.
The reasoning behind this was found to be manufacturers’ desire to push customers towards buying newer iterations of their phones. It then became easier for companies to phase out older models. In their defence, the phone manufacturers put out statements explaining the reasons behind throttling the phones’ performance: to not extend a certain phone model beyond its life cycle, and to prevent sudden shutdowns.
Of course, not every phone company follows this practice. Indeed, leading companies like Motorola offer software updates that enhance the phone’s working rather than affect it.
The real deal with software updates
- One possible reason for certain phones to become slower after Installing software updates, is that subsequent updates pack in more features for the phone, thus being heavier. This might impact performance to a minimal degree. Post-update, there may be many functions running in the background, and these eat up battery life, most of these have customer options
- However, periodic software updates are necessary so that the phone may function on par with the company’s& android’s latest security protocols offered to its customers. This helps maintain performance parity across all models from the same phone company. Updates also boost speed as far as – downloads, toggling between windows, uploading media, etc. are concerned.
- Meanwhile, certain older hardware may not be able to calibrate new software updates. If you are not sure whether an available update will suit your phone you can refer – https://support.motorola.com/in/en/softwareupgrade. If available updates are not updating on the device, you should get it looked at by the service centre. For instance, if you are a Motorola user, you should go to the Motorola service centre to check for update calibration.
Should you try to fix your phone by yourself?
There is not much you can do except clear up space by uninstalling certain apps, clearing cache files, disabling live wallpapers and disabling native apps that you are not likely to use. Back up date and use self-help options to flash your device.
But it is recommended that you show your phone to the service centre if you have any queries about whether you should get the update or not. The trained personnel at the service centre can look at your phone and counsel you about probable performance issues. If there are existing issues, these can also be sorted out.
