Delhi-based entrepreneur Rishabh Singh, the engineerHUB founder, experimented with Uber’s pricing algorithm, which has led to a debate about transparency and ethics of online rides. Singh shared his findings in a series of posts on X and claimed that fares may differ depending on the user’s smartphone type and battery level.
Rishabh Singh used iOS and Android devices to conduct the experiment and check the app’s pricing mechanism. The engineerHUB founder requested rides simultaneously from the Android and iPhone with the same conditions, such as route, timing, and pickup point.
His findings reveal that iPhone users were quoted higher fares than Android users for the same route and timing. He also noticed that fares were increased when the phone’s battery level was low. These insights highlight algorithmic biases, raising questions about whether Uber’s pricing is affected by user data like device and battery status.
After the news broke, Uber, which is now also offering Shikacra rides, received criticism from users expressing their frustration over its discriminatory practices. Some people also defended Uber, saying that dynamic pricing is common in tech platforms and is used to balance demand and supply. Other users requested greater transparency and questioned the use of personal device information to calculate fares.
This isn’t the first time Uber has been questioned. The company previously faced criticism for raising pricing during peak hours or in high-demand areas. However, device-specific or battery-specific pricing can completely destroy users’ trust.
