A select few Apple users were in for a delightful surprise over the weekend, as Apple has started distributing payments to iPhone users as part of a $500 million settlement related to the "Batterygate" saga — a class action lawsuit that accused the tech giant of deliberately slowing down older iPhone models.
In 2020, Apple agreed to the substantial settlement following allegations of "secretly throttling" iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE, 7 and 7 Plus models.
These actions were initially undisclosed by Apple, leading to consumer outcry and legal action.
The lawsuit included any U.S. resident who owned the affected models running specific iOS versions before December 21, 2017.
According to reports, some claimants have already received payments of $92.17 per claim, a figure higher than the initially estimated $25 per claim.
These payments align with the schedule mentioned on the settlement's website, which indicated January 2024 as the start date for distribution.
Despite the settlement, Apple has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating the decision to settle was made to "avoid burdensome and costly litigation."
The company initially introduced performance throttling in iOS 10.2.1 to prevent unexpected shutdowns in devices with chemically aged batteries.
This payout marks the end of a legal chapter for Apple, which has since updated its iOS to allow users to monitor battery health and disable performance throttling if desired.