The prolonged six-year-long saga of “iPhone 7 speaker issues” has concluded with Apple agreeing to pay $35 million to settle a US Action Lawsuit last year. The lawsuit accused Apple of utilizing defective chips, leading to audio problems in iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Eligible customers are now being notified of compensation by Apple through email.
In 2019, Apple faced legal action in multiple US states over iPhone 7 audio issues, with complaints alleging violations of consumer protection laws and warranty breaches. The lawsuit claimed that the “materials used in the external casing of the iPhone were insufficient to protect internal components adequately“.
This alleged defect, referred to as “Loop Disease,” resulted in users of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus encountering issues such as a ‘grayed out‘ speaker button during calls, the inability of the other person to hear the user in cellular/FaceTime calls, an inoperable Voice Memo app, and various other audio-related problems. In 2018, Apple acknowledged a microphone issue on some units of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, but the total number of affected units remains undisclosed.
Who Qualifies for Compensation Among iPhone 7 Users?
Residents in the United States who purchased an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus between September 16, 2016, and January 3, 2023, and have documented complaints with Apple about audio issues covered by the settlement are eligible for payments from Apple. Additionally, those who paid Apple for repairs or replacements due to the covered audio issues also qualify for compensation.
Eligible customers are being notified by Apple, and if someone qualifies but did not receive a notice, they can contact info@smartphoneaudiosettlement.com to submit a claim.
As per the proposed settlement, affected iPhone 7 and 7 Plus users may receive up to $125, while those who paid out-of-pocket for Apple’s repair or replacement services can claim up to $349. The deadline for objecting to the settlement, selecting a payment method, or opting out is June 3, 2024. For comprehensive details, please refer to the Smartphone Audio Settlement website. The final approval hearing is set to take place in a California court on July 18, 2024.
While accepting the settlement, Apple maintains its innocence and denies any wrongdoing. The company appears to be facing a challenging start in 2024, including the App Store split to comply with the EU’s DMA deadline, and the revisions to the App Store guidelines following the 2021 Apple vs. Epic Games legal saga, and now the resolution of another lawsuit.
0 Comments