Apple pays Apple Watch users 20 million US dollars after class action lawsuit
In older Apple Watch models, the battery could swell and cause the display to become damaged.
Apple Watch: Battery defect brings customers money.
(Image: Sebastian Trepesch)
Apple and a group of customers from the USA have now reached an out-of-court settlement in a class action lawsuit over hardware defects in the Apple Watch. The dispute has been ongoing since 2021 and concerns the Series 1, Series 2, Series 3 models and the very first Apple Watch from 2015. Apple will now pay out a total of 20 million US dollars to those affected, apparently minus legal fees, reports CNET. As usual in such proceedings, there is no admission of guilt on the part of the manufacturer. In order to receive money, you must also be a resident of the USA.
Battery inflates and pushes out display
The class action lawsuit was initiated after an increasing number of reports of batteries inflating in individual devices. The screen of the computer watch was levered out of the housing, making it impossible to use. Apple itself had launched a free repair program for the Series 2 in 42 mm. The case was brought before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 4:21-cv-09527 / N.D. Cal.).
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It is not really about a lot of money per affected person. The plan is to pay out 20 dollars per device, although it is also possible to achieve a higher claim of up to 50 dollars. This depends on how many participants the "class" ultimately has. The registration phase is currently underway; those affected should register by April 10. They must have purchased their device by February 24, 2025 at the latest – This should not be difficult to achieve given the age of the devices.
Apple wants to avoid further legal disputes
Apple told CNET in a statement that the settlement applies to devices that are no longer available for purchase. "Although we strongly disagree with the allegations made against these early generation Apple Watch models, we have agreed to a settlement to avoid further litigation."
The class action lawsuit that has now been settled is not the first in a similar context. Apple was already taken to court in 2018 because displays of the computer watch – could become detached, probably also due to the battery problem –. There are only a few reports of similar problems with newer model series from the Series 4 onwards. Apple may have made internal changes.
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