A growing number of class action lawsuits have been filed against Apple over its slowed down iPhones. The company has admitted that it uses software to intentionally slows down the performance of its iPhones when batteries are cold, low, or old. The slowdown affects the iPhone 6, 6s, 7 and SE, reducing the cellphone’s user performance when operating the phone and to allegedly prevent a sudden shutdown of the iPhone, according to the company.
UPDATE: Receiving a lot of questions about how to file a lawsuit against Apple in regards to the slow phone… here is how to receive a no obligation case review:
www.atlasconsumerlaw.com/apple-lawsuit
A Growing Number of Lawsuits Pending
As of last count, the company was facing a total of 32 lawsuits in the U.S. alone for its decision to slow down older model iPhones. As many as 12 lawsuits have been filed by residents of California alone including a class action suit. Another class action suit was filed in Illinois with separate suits filed by individuals in Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina to name a few.
Other law firms filing a lawsuit against Apple over slowed phones:
- www.hbsslaw.com/cases/apple-battery-slowdown
- Canada residents: www.rochongenova.com/Current-Cases/Apple
In a majority of the suits, the plaintiffs have alleged that Apple fraudulently forces the purchase of new model iPhones with the slowed-down performance of older models. The plaintiffs also allege that Apple is deliberately interfering with their property without the users’ consent.
In the California, where a majority of the lawsuits are originating from, class action members are claiming that they suffer from economic losses dues to the slowdown and are deserving of compensation for their losses.
In this class action case, the plaintiffs are seeking compensation on behalf of all owners of iPhones older than the 8 model. The compensation they are seeking includes new batteries, phone upgrade, loss of use and value, and deprivation of their current iPhone model. The same suit argues that the class members are also entitled to compensation based Apple’s interference in their purchase and not receiving what they paid for.
Additional lawsuits have been filed against Apple globally with the most notable to date in South Korea. This class action suit is filed on behalf 370,000 individuals and is expected to be one of the largest suits the company will fight. The class members are seeking $2.2. million won in compensation. Australia, Canada, and France have also filed similar lawsuits against the iPhone creator.
Apple’s Admission and Action
Apple’s iPhone performance issues made news when Reddit members replaced their slowed down models with new batteries and saw an instant uptick in performance of the device. Primate Labs conducted its own analysis of older model iPhones and confirmed the Reddit users’ suspicions.
Apple has defended its actions to slow down older model iPhones to prevent an abrupt shutdown of the device due to a higher power draw than the batteries could handle. The company said the batteries have a limited lifespan and are only expected to last three years. Apple said the issue could be resolved by replacing the battery in the device at the cost of $29 – down from its previous $79 value.
In a statement to its customers Apple said, “First and foremost, we have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive
customer upgrades. Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that.”
The company is also being investigated by the U.S. and France for the same issue.