Apple in 2020 agreed to pay up to $500 million to settle a class action lawsuit in the U.S. that accused the company of “secretly throttling” some iPhone models, and payouts finally started going out this week to individuals who submitted a claim.
The website for the so-called “batterygate” settlement said payments would likely start to be distributed this January, and payouts have began on schedule. MacRumors readers Ken Strand and Michael Burkhardt are among the individuals who have received payments of $92.17 per claim from Apple as part of the settlement.
The lawsuit was filed in December 2017, shortly after Apple revealed that it throttled the maximum performance of some iPhone models with “chemically aged” batteries when necessary to prevent the devices from unexpectedly shutting down. Apple introduced this power management system in iOS 10.2.1, but it initially failed to mention the change in that update’s release notes. Apple apologized about its lack of transparency, and temporarily lowered the price of iPhone battery replacements to $29 in 2018.
Despite apologizing over the way it communicated the change, Apple repeatedly denied all allegations and never admitted to any legal wrongdoing. Apple said it agreed to the settlement only to “avoid burdensome and costly litigation.”
The class included any U.S. resident who owned an affected iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and/or iPhone SE that ran iOS 10.2.1 or later, and/or an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus that ran iOS 11.2 or later, before December 21, 2017. The deadline to submit a claim for a payment was in October 2020.
Apple continues to have a performance management system on the iPhone 6 and newer.
Popular Stories
Apple Just Broke a Tradition It Held for 12 Years
Apple has broken a tradition it maintained for 12 years, releasing no new iPads in 2023 – the first time that the company has chosen to not launch a new tablet in an entire calendar year since the introduction of the product line. From its debut in 2010, the iPad has been an important product for Apple and the clear tablet market leader, releasing at least one new model every year. In…
iOS 18 Will Add These Two New Features to Your iPhone
iOS 18 is not expected to be unveiled until June, but there are already some rumors and expectations for the software update. Below, we recap two new iPhone features that are expected to be included in iOS 18, including RCS support in the Messages app and Siri enhancements. RCS Support In November, Apple announced that it will support the cross-platform messaging standard RCS in the…
Apple Card Savings Account Receives Another Rate Increase
Apple today increased the Apple Card savings account’s APY to 4.35%, according to a notification sent to cardholders, including MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. This is the second increase to the savings account’s APY in as many months, after Apple raised it from 4.15% to 4.25% in December. Apple’s rate now matches that offered by popular high-yield savings accounts from American Express…
Apple Planning to Release These 8 New iOS Features in 2024
The calendar has turned to 2024, and there are many new iOS 17 and iOS 18 features that are expected to launch throughout the year. Below, we have recapped new iOS features expected in 2024, including Stolen Device Protection, collaborative Apple Music playlists, AirPlay on hotel room TVs, app sideloading in the EU, next-generation CarPlay, roadside assistance via satellite outside of the…
Here’s What the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max Will Look Like
MacRumors recently received new information on Apple’s 2024 iPhone lineup, including a look at prototypes of the Pro devices. We’ve created a series of mockups based on Apple’s internal designs, and while the prototypes are not quite finalized, our images represent the clearest look yet of what we can expect from the next-generation iPhones at this point in time. Building on the curved…
Here’s What’s New in iOS 17.3 for Your iPhone So Far
iOS 17.3 has been in beta testing since last month, and the upcoming software update includes two new features for the iPhone so far. iOS 17.3 will likely be released in January like iOS 16.3 and iOS 15.3 were, but February is also a possibility if testing is prolonged. Below, we provide additional details about the new features in iOS 17.3 so far. Stolen Device Protection Earlier…
Kuo: iPhone 17 to Feature 24MP Front-Facing Camera
The iPhone 17 lineup will feature a 24-megapixel front-facing camera, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The information was shared in a new 與超廣角-vision-pro-與華為p70超廣角-genius-is-a-key-7f125f60d783″>post on Medi. The iPhone 14 and 15 feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with five plastic lens elements. The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to feature the same hardware. With the iPhone…
Warning: iOS 17.3 Beta 2 Bricking Some iPhones
The second beta of iOS 17.3 that Apple released today is causing major issues for some iPhone owners, so users that have not yet installed the new software may want to hold off. Image from MacStories’ Federico Vittici As noted by reports on the MacRumors forums, Twitter, and Mastodon, some iPhone owners who have attempted to update to iOS 17.3 beta 2 have found their devices stuck in a boot…
