Apple Agrees to Payouts for Older iPhone Owners

Current and former iPhone users in the United States may be eligible for a payment from Apple as part of a recent class-action settlement. Damages relate to allegations of device slowdowns in specific older models, which consumers argue led to unexpected performance issues. The tech giant has agreed to distribute funds, with individual payments potentially reaching nearly $100.

Apple has finalized a settlement in a class-action lawsuit, potentially providing financial relief to numerous iPhone owners. The legal action centered on claims that the company intentionally reduced the performance of certain older iPhone models without adequately informing users. Affected individuals could receive a payment, following the tech behemoth's agreement to resolve the long-standing dispute. The settlement, which gained preliminary approval in 2020, addresses accusations that Apple throttled the processing speeds of specific iPhone varieties. Plaintiffs contended that these unannounced performance reductions negatively impacted user experience and potentially encouraged device upgrades. According to Yahoo Finance, consumers who owned particular iPhone 6, 7, and SE models running certain iOS versions might be entitled to a distribution from the settlement fund. To be eligible, individuals generally need to have owned an iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, or SE, and had it running iOS 10.2.1 or later (for iPhone 6/6 Plus/6s/6s Plus/SE) or iOS 11.2 or later (for iPhone 7/7 Plus) before December 21, 2017. Furthermore, the device must have experienced performance issues that led to a battery replacement or software update to mitigate the slowdowns. Payments are estimated to be approximately $95 per eligible device. The total settlement fund amounts to a substantial sum, earmarked to compensate the affected user base. Individuals who believe they qualify for a payment are encouraged to review the official settlement website for detailed information regarding eligibility criteria and the claims process. The deadline to submit a claim has passed, however, with the final deadline having been October 6, 2020. While the payout per individual device may not be substantial, the settlement represents a significant legal outcome for consumer rights in the technology sector. It underscores the importance of transparency from manufacturers regarding device performance and software updates. Apple has consistently maintained that its actions were intended to preserve battery health and prevent unexpected shutdowns, not to force upgrades.