Apple has agreed to settle the lawsuit in the United States over allegations that it intentionally slows down older iPhones. The proposed settlement, which still needs to be approved by a judge, could cost Apple as much as $500 million.
For each affected user, this may be as little as US$25, depending on how many claims are made. Apple has denied any wrongdoing in the case, but in part because of rising litigation costs. The case dates back to December 2017, when Apple acknowledged that it had deliberately slowed down some iPhones, confirming long-standing suspicions among phone owners. It says that as batteries age, their performance slows down and “slows down” the life of the phone. But critics see it as evidence of “outdated plans” – manufacturers deliberately harming older products to prompt users to buy new models.
Apple fined for slowing down old iPhone, Apple apologizes for slowing iPhone growth The uproar prompted Apple to fix the problem by offering a cheap battery replacement service. But that led to the U.S. lawsuit and investigations in several European countries. After nearly two years of litigation, documents filed in recent days ask edited the settlement in the U.S. District Court for Northern California. Under the deal, Apple will eventually pay between $310 million and $500 million. All iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus and SE devices in the U.S. are entitled to $25 per person.
However, the $25 could go up or down, depending on whether the minimum spend is left in cash – whether the maximum spend is not enough. Those who give evidence will receive $3,500. In addition, the lawyers will ask the court to award them $93 million in “reasonable attorney’s fees” and an additional $1.5 million.
