What you should know
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- Apple settled for $35 million over iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus audio issues, without admitting guilt.
- Eligible users who experienced audio problems and reported them to Apple can claim payments ranging from $50 to $349, depending on their expenses related to the issue.
- Owners of the affected iPhone models who did not report the issue or pay for repairs are not eligible for the settlement.
- The deadline for eligible users to claim their payment is June 3, with the final approval hearing scheduled for July 18 in California.
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Full Story
Oh boy, Apple’s been in the hot seat again. This time, it’s over a $35 million settlement. Why? Well, it turns out the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus had some pesky audio issues. And guess what? The clock’s ticking if you wanna claim your piece of the pie.
So, here’s the scoop as per Bloomberg Law. Folks with these phones were none too pleased. Poor sound quality and glitchy calls were the norm. And Siri? Forget about asking her for anything. The root of all evil, apparently, was this audio IC chip inside the gadgets. Customers cried foul, accusing Apple of skirting consumer protection laws and bungling their warranty promise.
But Apple? They were like, “Nope, not us.” Yet, they decided to settle. Why? To dodge the drama and expense of a trial, and maybe, just maybe, to make things right with their customers. But let’s be clear: shelling out $35 million doesn’t mean they’re admitting any wrongdoing.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Owned an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus between September 16, 2016, and January 3, 2023? Complained to Apple about the audio mess? You could be in for a payday. If you reached into your own pocket for repairs, you’re looking at getting back anywhere from $50 to $349. Just lodged a complaint but didn’t spend a dime on fixes? You could still see up to $125.
But hey, if your phone was all good and you never noticed a thing, then, well, no cash for you.
Got a heads-up from Apple about being eligible? You’ve got until June 3 to stake your claim. Need more deets? Hit up the lawsuit’s official website.
Now, get this. The lawyers fighting the good fight for the consumers? They’ve logged a whopping 8,000 hours over five years on this case. Their ask? A cool $8.75 million in fees and costs from the settlement fund.
And the grand finale? A final approval hearing is set for July 18 in sunny California.
So, there you have it. Another day, another tech giant settlement. But hey, at least there’s a chance for some users to get a little something back for their troubles.
