Apple Finally Pays Up in Class-Action Lawsuit: What iPhone Owners Need to Know 📱💸
The company has consented to a $500 million settlement for deliberately slowing down older iPhones. Here's how to claim your payout.
Apple is now sending out payments for the iPhone battery scandal, also known as ‘Batterygate’. Here’s what you need to know.
If you’re an iPhone owner and part of the 2020 class-action lawsuit against Apple, it’s time to rejoice! After admitting to slowing down older phones, the tech giant has finally started to compensate affected users. But before you start celebrating with a victory dance, here’s what you need to know about this long-awaited payout. 💰🎉
Why Did Apple Slow Down Older iPhones? 🐌📵
Picture this: you’re happily scrolling through your old iPhone, checking out the latest dog memes or trending fashion trends when suddenly… bam! Your phone slows down to a snail’s pace, leaving you frustrated and wondering if it’s time to upgrade to a brand new iPhone. 🐢😡
Back in 2017, users of older iPhones began to notice a significant drop in performance and rapid battery drainage. Apple eventually admitted that its iOS software intentionally slowed down these devices. Why, you ask? Well, it turns out that as the lithium-ion batteries in older iPhones aged, they didn’t hold a charge as well and could unexpectedly shut down. To prevent these annoying shutdowns, Apple decided to sacrifice performance. 😤🔋
Now, conspiracy theorists might argue that Apple intentionally hindered older devices to encourage customers to buy the latest models. Apple, of course, denies this accusation. But the lack of transparency on Apple’s part only fueled the fire of debate surrounding the phone slowdowns. 🧐🤔
Apple’s Apology and Battery Replacements 💔🔋
Once the class-action lawsuit gained momentum, Apple knew it had to do some damage control. The company issued a heartfelt apology and took measures to rectify the situation. In 2017, Apple stated, “We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down.” They promised that they had never intentionally shortened the lifespan of any Apple product or degraded the user experience to drive customer upgrades. 👏😢
- The Future of Phones: How Generative AI is Revolutionizing Mobile D...
- What are the best wireless earbuds overall? 🎧
- 🌐 X-Mode Social Banned from Sharing Users’ Location Data by FTC 🚫
As part of their response, Apple updated its software and offered battery replacements to affected users. They even have a lengthy page on their site discussing iPhone performance in relation to battery issues. According to Apple, iOS “dynamically manages performance peaks to prevent unexpected shutdowns so that the iPhone can still be used.” 📲🔋
The Settlement and Payment Details 💸💼
After a long legal battle, Apple has agreed to pay a minimum of $310 million and a maximum of $500 million to settle the class-action lawsuit. The settlement amount varies based on the number of claims and requires Apple to pay owners of certain iPhone models $25 per device. 🤑💼
According to SiliconValley.com, there have been approximately 3 million claims, which means that class members will receive around $65 per eligible phone. However, it seems that some lucky individuals have already received payments of $92.17 per claim, much to their surprise and delight. 💵🎊
One such lucky recipient, Michael Burkhardt, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share his excitement. He received six payments of $92.17 each and exclaimed, “Nice thing to wake up to on a Saturday morning—especially after 3.5 years of waiting!” 🙌🎉
Why Did the Payments Take So Long? 🕒⌛
Ironically, the payouts in this lawsuit about slowed-down phones also faced some delays of their own. Two iPhone owners who objected to certain terms of the settlement lost their appeal in the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals back in August. Consequently, the effective date of the settlement was pushed back to November 6, 2023. ⏰📅
Who Is Eligible for a Payment? 📝✅
The iPhones eligible for this settlement include the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, and SE running iOS 12.2.1 or later. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are also eligible if they were running iOS 11.2 or later prior to December 21, 2017. Unfortunately, if you haven’t joined the class already, it’s too late to hop on the compensation train. The window for joining the class closed, and the deadline for submitting a claim was October 6, 2020. 😢🚫
FAQ: What About the iPhone 15 Pro and Other Concerns? ❓📱🔥
Q: What happened to the iPhone 15 Pro and its killer camera feature? 📸🔥 A: The article we’ve been discussing didn’t cover the iPhone 15 Pro. However, if you’re curious about the latest trends in phone cameras or want to know which folding phones to consider, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Check out our articles on the future of smartphone cameras and the best folding phones to buy. 📱📸💪
Q: How will this class-action lawsuit impact future smartphone developments? 📵💡 A: This lawsuit sheds light on the practices of tech giants and forces them to be more transparent. It emphasizes the importance of trust and honesty between companies and their customers. In the future, we can expect more scrutiny and accountability, ultimately leading to better devices and improved user experiences. 🌟🚀
The Bottom Line: Apple Coughs Up Cash (Finally)! 💰💪
After a long wait, iPhone owners who were part of the class-action lawsuit against Apple are finally receiving their well-deserved payouts. While some may argue that Apple intentionally hindered older devices, the company insists it was all for the sake of battery life. Time will tell how this lawsuit affects future developments in the smartphone industry. Until then, let’s bask in the victory of those $92.17 payments and remember the importance of keeping our devices charged and our memes within reach. 💪🔋🎉
References:
- iPhone 15 Pro: A Killer Camera Feature You’ll Never Use?
- Lawsuit against Apple over iPhone slowdown proceeds, judge rules
- The 6 Best Folding Phones to Buy in 2023
- Is Satellite Messaging the Trend for Phones in 2023?
- How to Quickly and Easily Cancel App Subscriptions You No Longer Use
