Does a low battery affect the price of an Uber ride?
- Damian Brzeski
- Jul 30
- 12 min read
This question has captivated ride-hailing app users for years. Does Uber deliberately raise prices when your smartphone battery is low? Or do owners of shiny new iPhones pay more upfront for the same ride?
These rumors, like modern urban legends, circulate online and hit a nerve – our fear of lacking control over the algorithms that govern our lives.
The following column attempts to unravel this mystery. But don't expect a simple "yes" or "no" answer. This is a journey deep into the complex world of dynamic pricing, psychology, and the ethical boundaries of data use.
To separate fact from myth, we'll draw on evidence from around the world: from journalistic investigations, to government inquiries in India, to groundbreaking research from Oxford and Columbia Business School.
My goal is not only to answer these questions, but above all, to understand the mechanisms behind them. The truth, as it turns out, is far more complex and disturbing than a simple conspiracy theory.
How does the pricing algorithm work in shipping apps?
Before delving into the controversy, we need to understand the official story behind Uber's pricing system. It's the foundation that revolutionized the market, but it's also become a source of constant suspicion.
Dynamic rates and their dependence on demand and location
The heart of Uber's model is so-called "surge pricing," or dynamic pricing . Forget the fixed fares of traditional taxis (which are more expensive at night or on holidays). Here, prices are as fluid as stock quotes and depend on real-time market forces.
The rule is simple: when more people in one place want to book a ride ( demand ) than there are drivers available ( supply ), prices automatically increase.
This happens during rush hour, during concerts, football matches, or on a rainy evening. The app shows drivers these "hot zones" on a map that glows red, indicating where the biggest profits await.
In theory, this is intended to encourage drivers to drive to these locations, which increases supply and ultimately lowers prices. As a passenger, you see the increased rate – you can either accept it or wait a few minutes until the situation returns to normal.
What are the variables that influence the price of an Uber ride?
Officially, Uber says the price is made up of several elements: a base fare, operating costs, and the aforementioned demand multiplier. However, the key change that undermined transparency came with the "upfront pricing" model.
In the past, you'd see a multiplier in the app, like 2.1x, and knowingly agree to pay more than double the standard rate. A new model, introduced in the US in 2022, replaced this with a single, specific amount displayed before ordering. Uber touted this as a convenience.
In reality, it was a strategic move that opened the door to advanced and opaque manipulation .
This change separated the price paid by the passenger from the driver's payment. Instead of a transparent model where Uber took a fixed commission (e.g., 25%), the company became an intermediary that could freely adjust both amounts to maximize its own profit.
Groundbreaking research from the University of Oxford and Columbia Business School has shown that after introducing the "upfront price", Uber's average commission (so-called "take rate") jumped from 25-32% to over 42%, and in extreme cases even exceeded 50% of the fare value!
At the same time, drivers' real earnings have fallen . This was only possible because the "upfront price" created a "black box."
Price variability over time and its consequences for passengers
What does this mean for you? Uncertainty and frustration . You know that feeling when the price jumps in an instant, only to return to normal a few minutes later? This has led us to adopt a strategy of "waiting it out" or nervously refreshing the app.
This unpredictability, however, has a deeper, psychological dimension. It turns the ordinary transportation request into a game of chance, which researchers have aptly dubbed "ride-hail roulette."
This gambling atmosphere creates the perfect breeding ground for further manipulation, exploiting your haste or stress. And this is the key to understanding the battery scandal.
The role of battery level in determining the price of a ride
The theory that low phone battery life drives up fares is one of the most serious criticisms leveled against Uber . To assess it, let's answer three questions: can the app detect this, does it have an incentive to do so, and is there evidence to support it?
Do apps detect battery level?
In response to allegations by the Belgian newspaper Dernière Heure , Uber stated categorically that it "does not take into account the battery level" and added that its app "is not able to measure the user's battery level" .
This second statement is crucial and, importantly, verifiable. Technical analysis shows that it is simply untrue . Both Apple's iOS and Google's Android provide developers with tools (APIs) that allow this.
Apple documentation clearly describes the UIDevice.batteryLevel function, which returns the exact battery charge level.
The Android documentation explains in detail how to monitor the battery status using the BatteryManager class.
Uber's claim that its app "is unable" to do this creates a serious credibility gap for the company . This isn't a matter of policy ("we don't use this data"), but of an alleged technical inability that contradicts the facts.
Power saving mode as a signal for the algorithm
What's more, Uber itself admitted in 2016 that it monitors battery health! The company's then-head of economic research, Keith Chen, explained that the app collects this data to know when it should switch to power-saving mode.
While the purpose seems innocent, this admission is fundamental. It confirms that the app is actively monitoring your battery , contradicting subsequent denials.
Battery status data as part of the information collected
Uber's privacy policy is broad enough to allow the collection of such data without explicitly mentioning it. In the "Device Information" section, it refers to "hardware models" and "operating systems."
Although "battery level" isn't explicitly mentioned, the vagueness of the provisions gives the company plenty of room to maneuver. This illustrates how regulations are written to ensure maximum flexibility .
Psychological aspects of user decisions
Technical feasibility and financial motivation are one thing. The second, equally important piece of the puzzle is psychology. The effectiveness of algorithms relies on a thorough understanding of our emotions and vulnerabilities.
What is psychological pressure when the battery is low?
Our dependence on smartphones has given rise to the phenomenon of "nomophobia" (the fear of being without a phone). One of its main triggers is low battery power, also known as "battery anxiety."
This is no small matter. For many of us, the sight of a red battery icon, especially when we're away from home, causes real stress and even panic .
Research shows that this fear influences our decisions. We're willing to buy unnecessary coffee just to charge our phones.
In such a state, we become less rational and more prone to impulsive actions .
Customer desperation and acceptance of higher prices
Uber knows this all too well. This is evidenced by a 2016 interview with Keith Chen, then head of economic research at the company. His statement is arguably the most important piece of the puzzle.
He stated bluntly: “One of the strongest predictors of whether you’re going to be sensitive to a price multiplier… is how much battery life you have left in your phone.”
He admitted that the company has found that users with low battery are much more willing to accept higher prices . This makes sense – the thought of being stranded somewhere without a phone is so terrifying that the extra cost of a ride seems like a small price to pay to avoid that scenario.
Of course, Chen quickly added, " We absolutely do not use this to push you to a higher multiplier."
This objection, however, is difficult to accept in good faith. It raises a fundamental question: why would a global, profit-driven corporation discover such a powerful metric and then consciously forgo its use?
What are the behaviors of transportation app users in crisis situations?
So here we have a "perfect storm" scenario. You're in a strange place, dependent on apps, and your only window to the world—your smartphone—is about to go out. It's a triple whammy: time pressure, dependency, and a sense of insecurity . In this situation, price becomes secondary.
Regardless, the mere knowledge that Uber (a) can detect this, (b) knows you're willing to pay more, and (c) has a history of controversial practices makes allegations of manipulation incredibly credible.
Controversy and suspicions about Uber and its competitors
The battery level and phone model scandals aren't isolated incidents. They're part of a broader problem – the growing role of opaque algorithms in our lives.
Price manipulation by transport apps – facts and speculation
While the impact of batteries on price is still theoretical, overall price manipulation by Uber is already a documented fact .
The aforementioned research from Oxford and Columbia Business School provided evidence that Uber's algorithms were designed to maximize the company's revenue at the expense of both passengers and drivers.
The researchers dubbed this "algorithmic price discrimination" (for passengers) and "algorithmic pay discrimination" (for drivers). It turned out that the system could offer different drivers different rates for the same ride, based on how low an offer they were willing to accept.
This shows that manipulation is in the DNA of this business model .
Suspicions of user data being used to fix prices
In parallel to the battery theory, a second theory has emerged: the accusation that Uber inflates prices for users of more expensive smartphones (e.g., the latest iPhones). The logic is simple: the phone model is an indicator of financial status, and therefore willingness to pay a higher price.
These suspicions were so strong in India that the Central Consumer Protection Authority launched an official investigation. Uber, like its local competitor Ola, naturally denied everything.
Both controversies—the battery and the phone model—are two sides of the same coin . They illustrate a strategy based on profiling .
In both cases, the platform uses technical data (battery level, phone model) as proxies to assess your mental state (desperation) or economic status (wealth).
Lack of transparency in algorithms and its consequences
At the heart of the problem is a fundamental lack of transparency . Because neither we nor drivers have insight into how the algorithm calculates prices, we have no way to verify whether they are fair. This "black box" creates massive information asymmetry and gives the platform almost unlimited power.
From a legal perspective, this raises serious questions under the GDPR. Article 22 grants us the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated profiling. Ethically, such practices constitute "digital market manipulation" that undermines trust and fairness.
The table below summarizes the key evidence and allegations.
Research / Test | Conducted by / Source | Key Finding/Accuse | Uber's official response |
Price and battery level | Dernière Heure (newspaper) | The phone with 12% battery was priced ~6% higher than the phone with 84% battery. | He denies this; he claims the app can't measure it. |
Psychology and battery level | Keith Chen (Former Head of Research at Uber) | He admitted that Uber knows that users with low battery levels accept higher prices. | He claims that this "psychological fact" is not used. |
Profiling based on phone model | Indian CCPA (government agency) | Investigation into allegations that iPhone users are paying more. | He denies it; he attributes the differences to other variables. |
Algorithmic discrimination | University of Oxford and Columbia | The “upfront pricing” model has increased fares for passengers and reduced drivers’ earnings. | He denies this; he claims that the prices are transparent and fair. |
Evidence and Research on the Impact of Batteries on Prices
While the circumstantial evidence is strong, directly proving this thesis is extremely difficult. Nevertheless, there are concrete attempts to verify it.
The Dernière Heure study and its methodology
The most famous proof is a test conducted in 2023 by the Belgian newspaper Dernière Heure . The journalists ordered two identical rides simultaneously in Brussels:
Phone 1 (84% battery) : price €16.60.
Phone 2 (12% battery) : priced at €17.56.
The difference was almost 1 euro, an increase of about 6% . This simple experiment, albeit a small sample size, is the most direct evidence to date that such a practice can occur.
Comparative tests of ride prices at different battery levels
It's fair to say, however, that not all tests confirmed this . Journalists from other newsrooms, including the Polish portal WP.pl , conducted similar experiments and found no price differences.
These conflicting results illustrate why the battery theory is so difficult to prove and often remains an urban legend. Uber's algorithm takes hundreds of variables into account. Even a millisecond delay in sending a request can affect pricing, giving the company the perfect excuse.
Statements from experts, including Keith Chen
Ultimately, the strongest argument is not a single test, but the synergy of three pillars of evidence :
Technical feasibility: Apps can read battery level.
Psychological motive: Uber's own director admitted that low battery facilitates the acceptance of higher prices.
Experimental indication: Dernière Heure Test showed that this phenomenon occurred at least once.
Keith Chen's statement remains a key piece of this puzzle. It reveals the existence of a motive. And in the world of business, where profits matter, such knowledge rarely goes unused .
Uber's position and public reaction
In the face of such serious allegations, the company's official stance takes on particular significance. An analysis of Uber's communications reveals a coherent defense strategy, though one that doesn't always hold up to scrutiny.
What is Uber's official stance on battery levels?
Uber's strategy is simple: categorically deny it . In all statements, the company insists that battery life has never been a factor in pricing.
However, as we already know, these denials contain a false claim of alleged technical impossibility , which undermines the credibility of the entire message.
Media reactions to Uber's practices
The "battery multiplier" story is a popular media phenomenon. It recurs regularly because it resonates perfectly with our distrust of big tech companies . It's emblematic of broader concerns about how we are monitored and manipulated by the technologies we use every day.
The impact of the controversy on Uber's reputation
These controversies fit into the broader context of Uber's image – a company that has repeatedly pushed the boundaries of law and ethics in its pursuit of dominance.
High-profile cases, such as the use of "Greyball" software to deceive law enforcement , have built an image of the company as aggressive and prone to foul play. In such an environment, it's easier to believe subsequent accusations.
Other transportation apps and the low battery problem
The problem of opaque pricing isn't unique to Uber. Similar allegations have also been leveled at its main competitors, suggesting it's a common feature of the digital platforms' business model .
Does Bolt also use similar practices?
Bolt, Uber's main rival in Poland, faced identical accusations. User accounts are also circulating online suggesting the same mechanism exists.
Bolt's official stance on dynamic pricing is very similar to what Uber says.
Significantly, however, the materials analyzed lack a clear statement from Bolt that would directly address the accusation of misusing battery data. This silence is, to say the least, puzzling .
Comparison of approaches of competing applications
Market analysis indicates that opaque, individualized pricing is not a flaw in the system but a fundamental feature. Similar accusations of discrimination have also been leveled at Lyft, Uber's main competitor in the US. This is an industry trend .
Privacy and technical aspects of data collection
At the heart of all these controversies is data—what information apps collect about us and how they use it. The key to understanding profiling mechanisms lies in the privacy policies and capabilities of our devices.
What data do shipping apps collect?
Uber's privacy policy is comprehensive and written to give the company considerable discretion. Officially, Uber collects a wide range of data, including:
Account details: name, surname, e-mail, telephone number, payments.
Location data: precise GPS.
Usage data: access hours, viewed features, crashes.
Communication data: customer service contacts.
Device Information: Detailed information about your smartphone.
Data about your location and device
It's this last category that's key. Uber explicitly discloses the collection of data such as hardware models, operating systems, unique device identifiers, and IP addresses .
This information is the technical basis for profiling.
The algorithm can accurately distinguish between a user with the latest iPhone and an owner of a few-year-old Android phone. As we already know, apps can also read battery levels. Combining this data creates a detailed technical and behavioral profile .
Ethical aspects of using technical data
This brings us to the crux of the ethical issue: Is it fair to use the data you provide to make the app work (e.g., your phone model) to draw conclusions about your psychology, wealth, or desperation, and then raise the price based on that information?
This is a classic example of "digital market manipulation." It violates the fundamental principle of transparency.
Consent to data processing in such a system is illusory because you cannot predict all the ways in which your data will be used against you.
What you can do as a user
Being aware of these mechanisms, even if not all are 100% proven, gives you some defense tools. If algorithms are trying to profile us, we can take steps to make it harder for them to do so.
How to protect yourself from potential price gouging
Here are some practical tips based on the logic of algorithms:
Compare prices. If you're traveling with friends, check the price on several phones. The differences can be surprising.
Refresh the app. Closing and reopening the app or checking the price several times can signal to the algorithm that you're comparing offers.
Change your location. Are you near a train station or concert hall? Walk a block further. Sometimes a slight change in departure location can significantly reduce the price.
Practical tips in case of a dead battery
The easiest way to avoid the "desperation tax" is to eliminate pressure. Carry a charged power bank with you. It's the best insurance policy against battery anxiety. When you're not pressed for time, you're less likely to accept inflated prices.
What are some alternative ways to request a ride without a smartphone?
Remember, apps aren't everything. In emergencies, you can always:
Call a traditional taxi . Many companies still operate based on telephone and regulated fares.
Use a browser. Ordering a ride through the Uber website on a laptop might send a different set of data to the algorithm.
Choose public transport. It's often the cheapest and most predictable alternative.
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