World1 min(s) read
Published 17:19 03 Mar 2020 GMT
Apple has agreed to pay a settlement that could amount to $500m for slowing down older iPhone models. This comes after the company was fined more than $27 million for the admission.
According to documents released on Friday in the US District Court in San Jose, California, per CNN, owners of certain iPhone models will be compensated $25, equating to a minimum of $310 million and a maximum of $500 million depending on how many people file for compensation.
In the video below, Apple admits to slowing down older iPhones:
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The document added that the amount of compensation given will vary depending on the claimant numbers and any legal expenses and court fees approved by the court.
The settlement marks the end of a two-year legal battle against the tech manufacturer, which has tried to end public dissatisfaction with the performance of its iPhone. However, it is still subject to approval on April 3.
In December 2017, Apple sparked worldwide outrage when they admitted that they update phones with software that slows down their performance. The admission came after tech experts and customers flagged the problem to the company.
At the time, customers suggested that Apple was deliberately slowing down older models of the iPhone to force its users to upgrade. But the company has since rebuked this claim, saying that it was, in fact, because of lithium-ion batteries that can force the phones to suddenly shut down to protect their components.
This iPhone exploded in an Apple store after a customer bit into it:
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After the admission was made, Apple apologized to its customers and offered them a battery replacement for $79. This was later reduced to $29 in January 2018. Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, later said that the company's revenue for 2019 was hit by the "significantly reduced pricing for iPhone battery replacements."
If you are an iPhone user in the US, you can file a settlement claim if you own an iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, 7, 7 Plus or SE device that was purchased before December 21, 2017.
