Apple offers up to $500 million to resolve a U.S. lawsuit

Photo by Michael Weidemann on Unsplash

Slowing down iPhones is an accusation made on Apple two years ago, which Apple acknowledged and apologized later, Apple slowed down iPhone 6, 6 Plus, iPhone 7, 7 plus, and iPhone SE. Apple said that they slowed down phones to improve the battery life of old iPhones and prevent hanging and sudden shutdowns.

But users and some companies said that Apple was pushing its customers to buy their new iPhones or at least new batteries, this slowing down of old iPhones process was started after Apple released iOS 10.2.1 and 11.2 updates to these old phones. Slowly users noticed that they're iPhones were not performing as fast as they did before the update if they're phone batteries are old.

Many companies have filed lawsuits on Apple following the incident, earlier this year a french company requested an investigation, the investigation ended with Apple being fined 25 million euros by Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Enforcement (DGCCRF).

Recently a U.S. lawsuit was filed against Apple over the same issue, reported by Reuters, Apple agreed to pay up to $500 million to settle the lawsuit without going to the court, the lawsuit demands Apple to pay consumers $25 per iPhone which adds up to a minimum payment of $310 million.

Apple has denied any wrongdoing from their side but settled the lawsuit to avoid the costs of litigation.

"Lawyers said that this settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. said payments of $25 per iPhone “considerable by any degree,” saying their damages expert considered $46 per iPhone the maximum possible."

The lawyers were expecting to take up to 30% of the minimum payment of $310 million as legal fees, which equals $93 million and an additional amount of up to $1.5 million as expenses.