In a significant development for iPhone users, those who experienced device slowdowns due to software updates are about to be compensated. The tech industry behemoth, Apple, has been mandated to payout a substantial settlement between $310 million to $500 million, to nearly three million individuals who owned iPhones that were manufactured before 2018.
Apple will soon start paying out between $310 million and $500 million it agreed to pay to settle claims the company intentionally slowed down old iPhones' performance with a new iOS update https://t.co/0Z6PgrgqMx
— KTLA (@KTLA) August 15, 2023
This development follows the aftermath of a class action lawsuit that began in 2018 over raised allegations against Apple. The suit claimed that the company deliberately rolled out new software updates with the intention of forcing users into upgrading to newer cell phones — in a scandal now commonly referred to as “batterygate.”
In an attempt to settle the issue, Apple consented to a substantial settlement amounting to $500 million in March 2020. During the course of the lawsuit, Apple made the admission that it indeed slowed down the software on older iPhone models back in 2017.
Apple’s original stance was that the software updates were primarily intended to mitigate the risk of older batteries causing unexpected device shutdowns. The company strongly refuted any insinuations of attempts to force consumers towards upgrading to newer iPhone models.
Furthermore, Apple contended that replacing older batteries with newer ones would effectively restore iPhones to their normal operational speeds, easing concerns related to performance.
For those users who took the step of filing claims, an anticipated reimbursement of $65 is on the horizon, although the precise amount will be dependent on the total number of validated claims. It is worth nothing that only users who submitted a claim prior to October 6th, 2020 are eligible to receive settlement disbursements.
Despite the ruling, payment to eligible users remains undisclosed, however Apple’s willingness to address and rectify the concerns raised by its users demonstrates somewhat of a dedication to ensuring user satisfaction.
It’s almost heartening to witness a multibillion-dollar corporation in this day and age taking public accountability in an attempt to rectify its mistakes, even if the company’s reasons for doing so may be self-promoting or selfish in nature.
