Remember Batterygate? That 2017 saga where Apple was caught subtly slowing down iPhones with aging batteries to (they claimed) prevent unexpected shutdowns? Well, justice has finally rolled in over half a decade later – in the form of cold hard cash directly to affected users’ pockets.
A $500 Million Settlement Score for Consumers
A whopping $500 million settlement was recently approved in the class action lawsuit originally brought against Apple over Batterygate in 2017.
The decision means potentially millions of iPhone owners affected by the stealthy throttling could be eligible for direct payouts of $65 to $90 per person.
Affected iPhone Models Covered
Specifically, the settlement covers iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus and (somewhat surprisingly) iPhone SE models running iOS 10.2.1 or later.
So if you owned any of those models purchased between September 2016 and December 2017 when the throttling was implemented, check those inboxes!
Deadline to File Claims Passed
The deadline to file a Batterygate-related settlement claim unfortunately already passed way back in October 2020. So if you missed submitting documentation, sadly no retroactive payout is possible at this point.
But those who did file should be on the lookout for emails with guidance on finalizing validation and collecting your $65 to $90 reward.
What Exactly Was Batterygate?
Now for those who may not recall the original Batterygate controversy, here’s a quick recap…
In late 2017, some tech savvy iPhone users noticed their older devices were feeling strangely sluggish after updating to the latest iOS release at the time – iOS 10.2.1.
Further investigation revealed the update subtly throttled performance on iPhones with worn out batteries to prevent them from unexpected shutdowns. But Apple failed to disclose this sneaky down-tuning to consumers.
Lasting Impact and Lessons
While the monetary compensation certainly feels rewarding for affected users, the Batterygate response and settlement carries broader significance.
It serves as an important reminder that tech titans aren’t immune to manipulating user experiences for their own opaque benefit. And that consumers can band together to hold even trillion dollar companies accountable for their actions.
The legal victory further empowers users to demand transparency in how device manufacturers manage and extend the lifespan of the expensive products we own.
As for lessons learned – consumers must stay vigilant about performance impacts from software updates. And tech companies should proactively communicate about technical trade-off decisions that influence usability.
Because another Batterygate-style stealth debacle doesn’t benefit users or manufacturers long term.
Add Comment