Apple agrees to $20M settlement over Watch battery swelling issue
What's the story
Apple has agreed to a $20 million settlement, in response to a 2019 class-action lawsuit.
The legal action was initiated over alleged battery swelling issues in the first four generations of the Apple Watch.
The case was presented before the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
Battery swelling usually involves heat and gas building up inside lithium-ion batteries, causing their walls to bulge.
Denial
Company denies allegations, aims to avoid future legal expenses
Despite the settlement, Apple continues to deny any wrongdoing in the alleged battery swelling issue.
The tech giant has said that its decision to settle was mainly motivated by a desire to avoid future legal costs from a lawsuit that has been running for over five years.
"Apple denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit," court documents note.
The settlement follows a week after Google-owned Fitbit was fined $12.25 million for battery overheating in its Ionic smartwatch.
Stance
Settlement not an admission of guilt: Apple
The court documents further clarify Apple's position on the lawsuit, noting that the proposed settlement isn't an admission of guilt or wrongdoing by the company.
In a statement to TechCrunch, Apple emphasized that its smartwatch is designed to be safe and reliable.
The settlement applies only to buyers of original Apple Watch, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 models no longer available for purchase.
Payout
Eligibility and compensation details for affected users
To qualify for compensation, users should have reported the issue to Apple customer service between April 24, 2015, and February 6, 2024.
Only US residents can benefit from this settlement and will be notified through postcard or email.
The amount of compensation will vary based on how many complaints each affected user filed during this period, with payouts between $20-$50.
Watch owners must submit payment details on the lawsuit's official site by April 10, 2025, to receive payment.