Apple Pays lawsuits alleging it illegal slow down iPhones
In response to allegations that it purposefully slowed down certain iPhone models in the US. Apple has started paying settlements in a protracted class action case.
The $500 million (£394 million) settlement will be divided among the complainants, amounting to around $92 (£72) per claim.
Apple said at the time that it denied any wrongdoing but was worried about the expense of pursuing legal action, and as a result, it decided to settle the complaint in 2020.
A comparable lawsuit in the United Kingdom is seeking £1.6 billion in damages.
The US lawsuit began in December 2017, when Apple acknowledged that it had purposefully slowed down certain iPhones as they aged, confirming a long-held fear among phone users.
It claimed that when batteries became older, their efficiency dropped, resulting in a “slowdown” that extended the life of the phones.
However, after accusations that it had secretly throttled the performance of certain iPhone models. Apple responded to the outcry by providing a low-cost battery replacement.
The United States legal action resulted from it. It was projected at the time of the settlement that each individual may get as little as $25, but it seems like the real payout is almost four times that amount.
Apple failed in its attempt to stop a similar class action case in the United Kingdom in November.
Justin Gutmann first filed the lawsuit in June 2022, on behalf of an estimated 24 million iPhone users.
“We have never – and would never – do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades,” Apple stated in response to the case, labeling it “baseless.”
While Mr. Gutmann expressed his satisfaction to the BBC about payments being paid in the US. He cautioned that this development had no influence on the UK issue.
“It doesn’t advance our position here, they haven’t admitted anything – they’ve settled,” he said.
“It’s hardly much use to me, but it’s a moral win. I must persevere and take the matter to the UK’s jurisdiction.”
According to him, Apple is “fighting tooth and nail” to prevent the United Kingdom class action. The matter will next be heard by the Court of Appeal. Which will take the company’s request to put a stop to it into consideration.
Although he expressed uncertainty about the future steps. He thinks that a study would take place in late 2024 or early 2025.
