Apple Starts Compensation Payouts For Claims It Slowed iPhones
Some Apple iPhone users affected by ‘batterygate’ have reportedly already begun to receive their $92 checks. Here’s what you need to know.
Some U.S. Apple iPhone owners have begun to receive checks for about $92 from the tech giant as part of its settlement of up to $500 million over allegations of battery throttling, according to media reports.
The settlement follows a class action lawsuit that accused Apple of intentionally slowing down certain models of the iPhone to force users to replace their batteries or buy new phones — a scheme nicknamed “batterygate.”
Apple, which agreed to the settlement in November 2023, began to distribute checks on a rolling basis starting January 6, according to the settlement website.
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Who is eligible for a payment?
The settlement includes a cash payment for owners of iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, and/or SE device that ran iOS 10.2.1 or later before December 21, 2017, and/or for U.S. owners of an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus device that ran iOS 11.2 or later before December 21, 2017, according to the website.
The deadline for submitting a claim was October 6, 2020.
How much is the payment?
Under the proposed settlement agreement, Apple will make a minimum payment of $310 million and a maximum of up to $500 million, depending on the number of claims submitted.
Given the volume of claims, the payout per affected device comes out to $92.17, according to a MacRumors report.
Verizon's separate settlement
The news comes on the heels of Verizon's class-action suit settlement in which the telecom company agreed to pay $100 million to post-paid customers who were charged a monthly administrative fee.
Eligible Verizon customers will initially receive a minimum of $15, with an additional $1 for each month of being a subscriber and charged an administration fee, according to the settlement website.
The deadline for submitting a claim for the Verizon settlement is April 15.
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