Apple to Pay $35 Million Settlement for iPhone 7 and 7 Plus Audio Defects

TLDR: Apple agrees to $35 million settlement for iPhone 7 and 7 Plus audio defects. Eligible owners must file claims by June 3, 2024. Payments range from $50 to $349 based on repair costs or complaints made to Apple.

Apple has agreed to a $35 million settlement to resolve claims filed against it regarding audio defects on two of its iPhone models. The complaint surrounds the “failure of the audio integrated circuit” of these devices caused by defective audio chips.

Allegations

Apple is accused of “concealing a material defect that ultimately causes iPhone audio features to become unresponsive and fail of their essential purpose as smartphones.” The lawsuit added that the tech giant had “long been aware” of the issue but “routinely refused to repair the iPhones without charge.”

Unfair practices.

Eligibility

Those eligible for a payout from the settlement must own or have owned an Apple iPhone 7 or 7 Plus between September 16, 2016, and January 3, 2023. As well as having owned either of these devices during the class period specified, Apple users must have reported audio issues to the company or paid for repairs themselves.

The action taken will impact the payment given from the settlement fund.

Payment Details

• Class members who paid for repairs that left them out of pocket will get at least $50 but could get up to $349. Claimants do not need a receipt of the repair to make a claim, but this will be checked via Apple’s repair records.
• Those who did not pay Apple for repairs but complained about the defect will get a payment of $125.

Payments will either come via digital checks, direct payments, or physical checks as per the class member’s choice.

Deadline

Time is running out for those who are eligible to submit a claim. There are a couple of key dates that class members must know:

• The deadline to file a claim, object to the settlement, or exclude themselves from the settlement is June 3, 2024.
• The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for July 18.

Act now.

Eligible claimants who fail to exclude themselves or file a claim will not receive any payment and will give up their legal rights to bring another complaint against Apple over the same issue.