Apple to Compensate Early Apple Watch Owners in Lawsuit Settlement

[MacRumors]

Apple has reached a $20 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging that certain early Apple Watch models suffered from a battery defect that caused screens to detach or crack (via CNET).

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the lawsuit accused Apple of manufacturing the original, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 Apple Watches without sufficient internal space to accommodate normal battery swelling. The plaintiffs argued that the lithium-ion batteries put pressure on the display and other components when they expanded, leading to structural damage. In some cases, users reported that the screens separated entirely from the watch casing. Apple has strongly denied any wrongdoing, but the company has agreed to settle the case to avoid prolonged litigation.

Under the terms of the settlement, Apple will create a $20 million non-reversionary fund to compensate consumers who experienced battery swelling issues with the affected models. Consumers who qualify will receive a payment of $20 per affected device, with the potential for a higher amount depending on the total number of claims filed. As with most class-action settlements, the total amount received by individual claimants will depend on the number of participants and a significant portion of the $20 million fund will also go toward legal fees and administrative costs.

No claim form is required for class members who are already registered in Apple's records as having reported battery swelling issues. These individuals will automatically receive compensation unless they choose to opt out of the settlement by February 24, 2025. Apple Watch owners who believe they qualify but have not yet confirmed their eligibility need to do so by submitting their payment method on the official settlement website before April 10, 2025.

Article Link: Apple to Compensate Early Apple Watch Owners in Lawsuit Settlement

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Apple has strongly denied any wrongdoing, but the company has agreed to settle the case

Of course they did!

 

[vertsix]

Of course they did!

"Guys, we did NOT screw up here! We swear! Here's some money so you shut up though. And don't let anyone else know. We didn't do it though!"

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Ha I remember the day this happened to me. I heard a rattling sound on my wrist and thought the steel clasp had come undone, and looked down to see it was the screen completely detached and hanging by its ribbon cable.

$20 here I come!

 

[DeftwillP]

They did end up taking care of people on that deal, but long afterward. I had a AW3 (i think it was a 3) that this happened to while I was swimming. I could feel a huge drag on my left wrist out of nowhere when treading water and looked down to see it hanging by the ribbon cable. They obviously wouldn't do anything for me at the time and I didn't have AC on it as I had bought it second hand on Craigslist. I tossed it in a drawer after I bought a newer AW4 and didn't think about it. A few years later, they announced they'd still warranty them. Mailed mine in or took it to the genius bar I couldn't say, but got a refurbed unit for it.

I'd still welcome a $20 spot but being that I was a second hand consumer AND they already replaced it, I don't think I'll see any.

 

[dynamojoe]

I was given an old AW3 that I still have. It got me hooked and now I have a 9. I haven't experienced any problems with the 3 though and I'm not the original owner. I'll fill out the form anyway and see if I qualify.

edit: looks like they're sending postcards.

 

[macfacts]

"Guys, we did NOT screw up here! We swear! Here's some money so you shut up though. And don't let anyone else know. We didn't do it though!"

Class action lawsuit: Step one of apple customer support.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

They did end up taking care of people on that deal, but long afterward. I had a AW3 (i think it was a 3) that this happened to while I was swimming. I could feel a huge drag on my left wrist out of nowhere when treading water and looked down to see it hanging by the ribbon cable. They obviously wouldn't do anything for me at the time and I didn't have AC on it as I had bought it second hand on Craigslist. I tossed it in a drawer after I bought a newer AW4 and didn't think about it. A few years later, they announced they'd still warranty them. Mailed mine in or took it to the genius bar I couldn't say, but got a refurbed unit for it.

I'd still welcome a $20 spot but being that I was a second hand consumer AND they already replaced it, I don't think I'll see any.

They wouldn't do anything for me either, and wanted $250. Since I bought it with my AMEX, it had an extra year warranty so AMEX paid for it.

 

[spazzcat]

They replaced it with S0, no questions asked after the warranty was over.

 

[naughtmike]

When this happened to me, I was able to convince the Apple Genius at our local mall to give me a replacement. Because Apple made this right, I had considered opting out of the settlement payment. However, because Apple chose to deny any wrongdoing, I am going to happily claim my settlement check.

 

[Droobiemus]

When this happened to me, I was able to convince the Apple Genius at our local mall to give me a replacement. Because Apple made this right, I had considered opting out of the settlement payment. However, because Apple chose to deny any wrongdoing, I am going to happily claim my settlement check.

Yup, same. I got mine fixed at the time too, but I got an email about this about a month ago and decided to claim a payment.

 

[stiligFox]

This happened to my original Apple Watch as well. I didn't get an email though :c

 

[Yvan256]

So if you live in another country, battery defects don't exist and Apple are free to continue selling flawed products without any consequences?

edit: I'm in Canada.

 

[adville]

The article is incorrect, insofar as the settlement website requires submitting a Notice ID and Confirmation Code (which you would have only received by being in Apple's database). It does not allow signing up if you have not already been identified.

I had an Apple Watch Series 3, and just a few months into owning it, the screen inexplicably popped partially out, cracking around the edges in the process. (I was opening a car door from the inside with the back of my hand, but there was no impact, etc.) I went to the Apple Store about the defective screen, but they refused to do anything. Since it seems to be some sort of requirement that you previously complained about the battery swelling issue, and a) I had no idea that the screen popping out was due to the battery, and b) I long ago removed the broken and discarded Watch from my Devices in my account, I didn't receive a notice.

It would seem like I'm the class of person most entitled to compensation in this case - someone who never previously received any kind of assistance or remedy for the issue - so it's annoying to have no way of making a claim (pitiful as it is).

 

[UltimateSyn]

I was washing a bus when the screen popped off of my Series 0 due to battery expansion. Fun times!

 

[Edgecrusherr]

Apple has reached a $20 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging that certain early Apple Watch models suffered from a battery defect that caused screens to detach or crack (via CNET).

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the lawsuit accused Apple of manufacturing the original, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 Apple Watches without sufficient internal space to accommodate normal battery swelling. The plaintiffs argued that the lithium-ion batteries put pressure on the display and other components when they expanded, leading to structural damage. In some cases, users reported that the screens separated entirely from the watch casing. Apple has strongly denied any wrongdoing, but the company has agreed to settle the case to avoid prolonged litigation.

Under the terms of the settlement, Apple will create a $20 million non-reversionary fund to compensate consumers who experienced battery swelling issues with the affected models. Consumers who qualify will receive a payment of $20 per affected device, with the potential for a higher amount depending on the total number of claims filed. As with most class-action settlements, the total amount received by individual claimants will depend on the number of participants and a significant portion of the $20 million fund will also go toward legal fees and administrative costs.

No claim form is required for class members who are already registered in Apple's records as having reported battery swelling issues. These individuals will automatically receive compensation unless they choose to opt out of the settlement by February 24, 2025. Apple Watch owners who believe they qualify but have not yet confirmed their eligibility need to do so by submitting their payment method on the official settlement website before April 10, 2025.

Article Link: Apple to Compensate Early Apple Watch Owners in Lawsuit Settlement

Well, I had a Series 1. The battery swelled and popped the screen off (I have photos), but I couldn’t have known there would ever be a class action, and didn’t want to pay Apple’s replacement prices, so I never reported it to Apple, and just replaced the battery myself (the screen was always off after all). Guess I don’t get anything.

I also like how they’re just giving you $20. Like that was enough to cover the repayment costs.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Yeah, I had mine pop off as well. I super glued it back down and used it for another couple years. That meant Force Touch didn’t work anymore, which did dampen the experience. I guess I’ll sign up for $20. I still have that watch somewhere. The face popped off again.

 

[DrJR]

I had one of these they replaced….. looking forward to an early retirement.

 

[justperry]

So if you live in another country, battery defects don't exist and Apple are free to continue selling flawed products without any consequences?

Depends where you live, warranty is better in many European countries so likely got replaced without any problem.

 

[HJM.NL]

Well, I had a Series 1. The battery swelled and popped the screen off (I have photos), but I couldn’t have known there would ever be a class action, and didn’t want to pay Apple’s replacement prices, so I never reported it to Apple, and just replaced the battery myself (the screen was always off after all). Guess I don’t get anything.

I also like how they’re just giving you $20. Like that was enough to cover the repayment costs.

Apple wants your money and goes to great strength to make it not the other way around 🤑

 

[I7guy]

Apple has reached a $20 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit alleging that certain early Apple Watch models suffered from a battery defect that caused screens to detach or crack (via CNET).

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the lawsuit accused Apple of manufacturing the original, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 Apple Watches without sufficient internal space to accommodate normal battery swelling. The plaintiffs argued that the lithium-ion batteries put pressure on the display and other components when they expanded, leading to structural damage. In some cases, users reported that the screens separated entirely from the watch casing. Apple has strongly denied any wrongdoing, but the company has agreed to settle the case to avoid prolonged litigation.

Under the terms of the settlement, Apple will create a $20 million non-reversionary fund to compensate consumers who experienced battery swelling issues with the affected models. Consumers who qualify will receive a payment of $20 per affected device, with the potential for a higher amount depending on the total number of claims filed. As with most class-action settlements, the total amount received by individual claimants will depend on the number of participants and a significant portion of the $20 million fund will also go toward legal fees and administrative costs.

No claim form is required for class members who are already registered in Apple's records as having reported battery swelling issues. These individuals will automatically receive compensation unless they choose to opt out of the settlement by February 24, 2025. Apple Watch owners who believe they qualify but have not yet confirmed their eligibility need to do so by submitting their payment method on the official settlement website before April 10, 2025.

Article Link: Apple to Compensate Early Apple Watch Owners in Lawsuit Settlement

Nothing to see that apple settled. The customers get a pittance while the attorneys rake it in.

 

[HJM.NL]

Depends where you live, warranty is better in many European countries so likely got replaced without any problem.

I never bothered to pay extra for Apple care as the product by itself is expensive enough. Luckily the EU summons companies who sell expensive electronics to give it a two year warranty. They always try to sell it with Apple care though. When living in Europe don’t fall into that trap.

 

[I7guy]

When this happened to me, I was able to convince the Apple Genius at our local mall to give me a replacement. Because Apple made this right, I had considered opting out of the settlement payment. However, because Apple chose to deny any wrongdoing, I am going to happily claim my settlement check.

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I love it. Stick it to apple. You are actually lowering the total amount per claimant by “sticking it to apple”.

 

[bbotte]

This happened to my original Apple Watch as well. I didn't get an email though :c

Yeah I had a Series 0, no e-mail..... Why only Series 1,2,3?

 

[DeftwillP]

When this happened to me, I was able to convince the Apple Genius at our local mall to give me a replacement. Because Apple made this right, I had considered opting out of the settlement payment. However, because Apple chose to deny any wrongdoing, I am going to happily claim my settlement check.

That's my take too. I won't seek it out but If given a chance to get $20 and to punitively affect apple for their actions even if only by the smallest amount, I'm taking it.