Apple has settled a class-action lawsuit out of court, agreeing to a payout of $35 million for iPhone users who experienced audio issues with specific models. The lawsuit alleged material defects in certain iPhone 7 and 7 Plus devices between September 16 and January 3, 2023.
Users who owned these affected models during the stated period and paid for repairs related to audio problems themselves are eligible to claim compensation of up to $349. Those who complained about the audio issues but did not incur repair costs may still receive a payment of $125.
Apple has not admitted any wrongdoing in the settlement, which revolved around a ‘failure of the audio integrated circuit’ caused by defective audio chips. The lawsuit accused Apple of concealing this defect, leading to unresponsive audio features in the iPhones.
To be eligible for compensation, users must have owned an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus within the specified timeframe, reported audio problems, and paid for repairs independently. Claims must be submitted by June 3, 2024, with a final approval hearing scheduled for July 18.
Failure to file a claim or exclude oneself from the settlement by the deadline will result in no payment and forfeit the ability to bring further complaints against Apple regarding this issue. The lawsuit highlighted Apple’s alleged unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices that caused losses to iPhone owners.
