Owners of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models may qualify for a payout as part of a $35 million settlement. The settlement addresses issues related to the audio chip in these devices, with compensation reaching up to $349 for affected users. This follows a 2019 lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
Eligibility and claims
To be eligible, users must have owned an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus between September 16, 2016, and January 3, 2023. They must have either reported issues to Apple regarding features like FaceTime, the loudspeaker, Siri, or the voice memo app, or paid for repairs related to these issues.
Apple has denied any wrongdoing or the existence of these audio issues. The company has not yet commented on the settlement, according to the Settlement Administration website.
Background on the issue
The problem originated from the audio chip, which controls sound output through speakers or headphones. In September 2016, Apple removed the headphone jack from iPhone 7 models, aiming to enhance sound quality, achieve a slimmer design, and improve water resistance.
Deadlines
Eligible users may receive notifications via email or postcard about the settlement. The deadline to file a claim is June 3, with the final approval hearing scheduled for July 18.
This is not the first settlement involving iPhone 7 models. Previously, Apple agreed to a $500 million class action settlement, offering $25 to users of iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, or SE models purchased before December 21, 2017. This lawsuit accused Apple of intentionally slowing down older devices through system upgrades, allegedly forcing users to buy newer models.