It is very unfortunate that the author did not get benchmark data, because the benchmark you have linked to supports this alternative explanation, which is in the later part of the article:
>This data has an even more benign explanation. Every major iPhone release coincides with a major new operating system release. Though Apple would not comment on the matter, one could speculate — and many have — that a new operating system, optimized for new phones, would slow down older phones.
The benchmark data shows an older phone performing much slower with an updated OS.
Whether this supports the conspiracy theory implied in the first part of the article depends on Apple's intent, as the article says.
>This data has an even more benign explanation. Every major iPhone release coincides with a major new operating system release. Though Apple would not comment on the matter, one could speculate — and many have — that a new operating system, optimized for new phones, would slow down older phones.
The benchmark data shows an older phone performing much slower with an updated OS.
Whether this supports the conspiracy theory implied in the first part of the article depends on Apple's intent, as the article says.