Apple has added persistent 'ads' to iOS, and it's driving users crazy

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Apple’s recent push to promote its own services inside iOS — from persistent iCloud and AppleCare prompts in Settings to ads in Maps and App Store search results — is angering users who paid premium prices expecting an ad‑free, “it just works” experience. Small developers say App Store search ads let big spenders buy top placement even when users search for an exact app name, while others see the moves as part of a broader “enshittification” of mainstream platforms. A minority argue these are relatively mild, first‑party upsells, but many fear Apple’s growing dependence on services revenue erodes its privacy stance and opens the door to ever more intrusive monetization.

iOS and First-Party “Ads”

  • Many users report persistent upsell banners and badges in Settings (iCloud+, AppleCare, Apple Music/Fitness, etc.) that can be hard or impossible to dismiss, sometimes reappearing even for already‑paying customers.
  • Some see these as clearly “ads”; others argue they’re just inline upsells for Apple’s own add‑ons, less objectionable than third‑party ads.
  • The inability to disable the Settings badge or notification nags (e.g., for OS updates, Siri setup) is a major irritant.
  • Apple Maps and News now show sponsored listings / Taboola-style ads, which users say degrades trust and experience.

App Store Search and Developer Impact

  • Small developers describe App Store Search Ads as pay‑to‑play: even searches for a unique app name show multiple fullscreen ads above the real result.
  • Exact matches often aren’t first; unrelated or old apps may rank higher. Some devs say users now find their apps via web search + App Store link instead.
  • Users resent seeing irrelevant apps (e.g., Temu) repeatedly with no “don’t show again” option.

User Experience, Lock-In, and Enshitification

  • Longtime Apple users say UX has become cluttered, less intuitive, and more monetization‑driven (ads, iCloud upsells, services bundles).
  • Comparisons:
    • iOS praised for ecosystem integration and polish; criticized for rigid defaults, poor Settings organization, weak browser/ad‑blocking flexibility.
    • Android praised for customization, better keyboard/rotation/default‑app behavior; criticized for OEM bloat and ads on some vendor builds.
    • macOS vs GNOME/Windows sparks debate about “intuitive” design; many agree all major OSes have confusing, legacy quirks.

Updates, Control, and Longevity

  • Several complain that Apple aggressively nags or even pre‑downloads OS updates despite “auto‑update off,” and that old devices become effectively forced to upgrade or be left behind (apps and WebKit tied to OS).
  • Some see this as deliberate pressure; others note relatively long security support but limited OS/app longevity.

Alternatives and Workarounds

  • Mentioned escape hatches: GrapheneOS, LineageOS, flip phones, KaiOS, Asahi Linux on Apple Silicon, feature‑phone‑like modes on iOS.
  • Some block update servers via hosts files or use DNS/ad‑blocking; others advocate regulation and antitrust rather than just switching platforms.