Apple Settlement Payouts Begin For iPhone Users On Battery Slowdown Lawsuit

News: iPhone users in the United States who owned an iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, or SE device operating on iOS 10.2.1, 11.2, or later before December 21, 2017, may be eligible for a settlement of $92.17. This settlement arises from a 2017 lawsuit against Apple, prompted by user complaints of performance problems and unexpected shutdowns with their iPhones.

Eligibility for Compensation

To qualify for compensation, you must have possessed an iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, and SE operating on iOS 10.2.1 or later, along with an iPhone 7 and 7 Plus operating on iOS 11.2 or later before December 21, 2017. It’s crucial to emphasize that payments will only be issued to users who submitted their claims by the October 6, 2020, deadline.

Details of the Settlement

As per the proposed settlement, Apple has committed to pay a total sum of up to $500,000,000, with a minimum payment of $310,000,000. The actual individual payout will be contingent on the total number of claims submitted. Eligible iPhone owners who experienced diminished performance may qualify for a settlement benefit of $92.17 per person.

The disbursement process has commenced, and eligible claimants started receiving payments from January 6, 2024. Payments will be automatically sent to those with valid claims, either through check or electronic transfer. Recipients can anticipate receiving their payouts by the conclusion of January 2024.

For users with multiple eligible iPhones or those who experienced prolonged throttling, the settlement payout might be higher. Some users have reported receiving payouts exceeding $500, and in rare cases, nearly $1,000.

Background of the Lawsuit

The 2017 lawsuit against Apple stemmed from user complaints about unannounced shutdowns on their iPhones. Apple faced accusations of intentionally slowing down the speed of specific iPhone models, even when the devices had a considerable amount of battery life remaining. Apple attributed the problem to the compatibility issues between the hardware and the demands of the iOS operating system. To resolve the issue, Apple released a software update that intentionally reduced the speed of these iPhones under certain conditions to prevent unexpected shutdowns. Apple acknowledged deliberately reducing performance to address the shutdown problems.

Following thorough communication with potential claimants, approval was granted for the settlement. The legal representatives in the case disseminated over 90 million emails and postcards, yet only 2.3 million individuals submitted valid claims. The $310 million settlement was officially concluded after those opposing it withdrew their appeal. This payout encompasses more than $80 million in legal fees, around $1 million in outstanding legal expenses, and a maximum of $12.75 million allocated for settlement notice and administration costs. The leftover funds will be distributed among the named plaintiffs and divided among the other participants in the class action.

To sum up, qualifying iPhone owners in the United States may be eligible for a settlement payout starting at $92.17, with the possibility of higher compensation for those who owned multiple eligible iPhones or experienced prolonged performance throttling. This settlement stems from a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of deliberately slowing down certain iPhone models to address shutdown issues. Payout distribution has commenced, and eligible claimants can anticipate receiving their payments by the conclusion of January 2024.

FAQs

1. Which iPhones qualify for the settlement?

Response: The eligible iPhones comprise the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, and SE running on specific iOS versions before December 21, 2017.

2. How will the payments be disbursed?

Response: Payments will be automatically sent to individuals who submitted valid claims, either through a check or electronic transfer.

3. Is it still possible to file a claim?

Response: No, the deadline for submitting claims was October 6, 2020.