A Delhi entrepreneur, Rishabh Singh, has sparked an online debate about Uber's pricing system. Singh, who runs engineerHUB, a tech placement platform, shared his findings on X (formerly Twitter). He revealed that factors like your phone's battery level and whether you use iOS or Android might affect the ride fares.
In his post titled “The Curious Case of Uber Fare Discrepancies: Platform and Battery Impact,” Rishabh Singh shared screenshots of his experiment comparing ride fares on two Android and two iOS devices using the same Uber account. His findings highlighted unexpected inconsistencies.
Platform-Based Fare Differences
Singh noticed clear pricing differences between Android and iOS devices. Discounts like “13% off” or “50% off” appeared inconsistently across platforms, even under identical conditions-same account, location, and time. He speculated that Uber’s pricing algorithms might vary depending on the platform, possibly due to platform-specific testing or adjustments based on user data.
The Curious Case of Uber Fare Discrepancies:
— Rishabh Singh (@merishabh_singh) January 18, 2025
Platform and Battery Impact
Ride-hailing platforms like Uber have revolutionized transportation, but recent observations raise questions about the transparency of their pricing algorithms.
In this post, I’ll dive into two surprising… pic.twitter.com/nlQCM0Z49B
Effect of battery level on pricing
Singh's experiment revealed another surprising aspect-battery levels appeared to influence Uber fares. Devices with lower battery percentages consistently showed higher ride fares. Singh showed that Uber’s algorithm might recognize users with low battery levels as being in a hurry or more likely to accept higher prices.
“This could be a strategic use of behavioural economics,” Singh explained, adding that by analyzing battery data, pricing algorithms might exploit users’ urgency or vulnerability in such situations.
Call for transparency in pricing
Singh expressed concerns over the implications of his findings, stressing the need for transparency in Uber’s pricing algorithms. “Users have a right to know if their device data, such as battery levels or platform type, is influencing ride fares,” he said. He urged ride-hailing companies to adopt fair and accountable practices in their algorithms to build and maintain user trust.
Netizens reaction
Singh's findings ignited a wave of reactions online, with users voicing a mix of outrage, scepticism, and support. One user said, “If true, this is deeply unethical.” Another echoed a common suspicion, saying, “I always thought the battery thing was real. Thanks for confirming!”
Some, however, questioned the validity of the experiment, with one commenter suggesting, “Could this just be a glitch or coincidence?”
Amid the debate, many praised Singh for shedding light on the issue. “We need more transparency in these algorithms,” a user noted, highlighting the growing demand for accountability from ride-hailing platforms.