Apple Settles "Batterygate" Lawsuit with $500 mil Payout to iPhone Users

Apple has finally settled the 2018 'batterygate' lawsuit where owners of some older iPhones will receive a compensation of around $65 each. Following a judge's approval of payments in a class-action lawsuit that accused Apple of deliberately slowing down phone performance, the Cupertino giant has agreed to settle by paying over $500 million to resolve allegations that it had engaged in what was termed as "one of the largest consumer frauds in history."

The lawsuit targeted specific iPhone models, including:

• iPhone 6

• iPhone 6 Plus

• iPhone 6s

• iPhone 6s Plus

• iPhone SE

• iPhone 7

• iPhone 7 Plus

As per the settlement terms, Apple was required to share the names and contact information of individuals who owned or leased eligible iPhones with the claims administrator. The deadline for filing claims was October 6, 2020.

So, if you are only now learning about the lawsuit and the resolution offered by the US court, you won't be eligible to receive the settlement payment as it is past the deadline. However, over 3 million iPhone users did file the claim and will receive around $65 per claim.

In 2015, reports of unexplained iPhone shutdowns surfaced and escalated by the end of 2016. Popularly dubbed as "Batterygate", iPhone users reported instances of their phones shutting down despite over 30% battery charge. In a 2019 court filing, the company defended its actions by explaining that lithium-ion batteries naturally degrade over time due to various factors such as repeated charging, temperature variations, and regular use.

Apple's attempt to address the issue through a software update inadvertently slowed down devices once the iOS detected battery degradation.

The final amount disbursed by Apple and the exact compensation each claimant receives will depend on the number of approved claims. Tyson Redenbarger, a lawyer representing iPhone customers in the case, says some claims are still being assessed.

For those in India, since the Batterygate lawsuit was filed in a US District Court for the Northern District of California, the settlement is only applicable to those residing in the US owning the iPhone models mentioned above.