A settlement of $500 million has been agreed upon by Apple in a class action lawsuit in the U.S., following the ‘Batterygate’ scandal. In 2020, it was revealed that Apple had been slowing down the performance of iPhone devices without notifying users. Finally, after a few years, iPhone users who submitted claims are starting to receive their payments.
According to MacRumors, a website tracking the batterygate settlement, payments are set to be distributed this month. Some users have already reported receiving payments of $92.17 per claim. However, the exact payment amount may vary for each individual.
To qualify for the settlement, users had to file a claim in 2020 and meet specific criteria. The settlement is only applicable to customers residing in the U.S. Additionally, eligibility is dependent on the affected iPhone models (iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE, 7, and 7 Plus) and the iOS versions they were running.
Following the batterygate controversy, Apple introduced a new feature called ‘Battery Health’ that allowed users to see the health of their iPhone batteries. This feature also gave users the option to prioritize battery life over performance or vice versa. Furthermore, users could choose to replace their batteries if they felt their devices were not lasting as long as expected.
With the release of the iPhone 15 series, Apple has implemented three new settings—Optimized Battery Charging, 80% limit, and None—to enhance battery longevity. These settings aim to minimize the need for frequent battery replacements for users who intend to keep their devices for a longer duration.
The settlement and subsequent payments serve as a resolution for the batterygate scandal. Apple has taken steps to address the issue and provide users with more control over their iPhone batteries. As users continue to receive their payments, it brings the episode to a close, but serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and user trust in the technology industry.
