Why is Apple paying US iPhone users? All about it

Apple has started to pay the owners of some iPhone models in the US because of allegations that the handsets have become slower.

Those who made the complaints are to be paid around $92, as a constituent of the total payout of $500m, for each model that has slowed down.

The payment applies only to those owners who are residing in the US, covering the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, SE, and 6s Plus, in the case of them running iOS 10.2.1 or afterward before 21st December 2017, besides iPhone 7 Plus or 7 on iOS 11.2.


This takes place as the owners of the iPhone in the UK are waiting for developments in the same case against Apple which was approved in November in the past year.

In the year 2020, it was agreed by Apple to settle a lawsuit that was filed in 2017 accusing the firm of slowing down devices on purpose over time, though no malpractice was admitted by it.

As per the website of the settlement, payouts to the complainants who were eligible in the US are likely to take place in January 2024, while some have reported receiving the payouts.

What does it mean for the UK?

The case in the UK which was brought in by Justin Gutmann, the consumer champion was permitted to proceed in court at the beginning of November in the past year.

It was claimed by Gutmann that up to around 25 million customers were deceived by Apple by the suppression of their phones without any knowledge of them.

It was done through software updates diminishing over time the performance of the handsets which were old, as claimed by the lawsuit.

The models that were affected are the iPhone 6 Plus, 6, 6S Plus, 6S, 7, SE, and 7 Plus. Apple has been accused by Gutmann of taking advantage of its supremacy in the UK market, by way of effective coercion of people for paying for substitute batteries or newer phones.

Earlier it was admitted by Apple about the slow down of older iPhones' performance with weak batteries, however, it stated that it was essential to protect its constituents.

Damages of up to £1.6bn are sought by Gutman, with the center being at £853m.

Earlier Apple paid £93m ($113m) for settling the same kind of case in Arizona and around £413m ($500m) for settling another such case in California.

FAQs:

Why are iPhone owners being paid by Apple?
Apple has started to pay the owners of some iPhone models in the US because of allegations that the handsets have become slower.

How much is Apple paying iPhone owners?
Those who made the complaints are to be paid around $92, as a constituent of the total payout of $500m, for each model which has slowed down