Apple Watch Swollen Battery Settlement Payments Arriving This Week

[MacRumors]

U.S. Apple Watch owners who signed up to receive a payment from an Apple lawsuit settlement over swollen batteries have started receiving their money this week.

The lawsuit was filed in 2021, but Apple agreed to pay a $20 million settlement in January of this year to avoid further legal fees. Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 owners had until April 10 to submit claims, but anyone who had reported a battery swelling issue to Apple was automatically eligible for a payment.

Payments are being distributed in the form of a prepaid Mastercard, so if you receive an unexpected email about the Smith et.al v. Apple Inc. Settlement with an included prepaid card, that's what it is. Apple Watch owners were supposed to receive $20 minimum with the potential for more based on the number of claims, and one Reddit user said they received a little over $25.

The lawsuit suggested that early Apple Watch models had a design defect with the battery and the display. Battery swelling could put pressure on the Apple Watch face, causing the display to detach. The plaintiffs claimed that this led to operational failures and injuries from the "razor-sharp edges" of broken screens.

Apple was accused of knowing about the defect and selling the Apple Watch models anyway, with the plaintiffs seeking general, special, incidental, statutory, punitive, and consequential damages, as well as the costs for replacing their Apple Watches. While Apple settled, the company denies any wrongdoing and denies that the Apple Watches had issues.

Article Link: Apple Watch Swollen Battery Settlement Payments Arriving This Week

 

[BeatCrazy]

I must have selected ACH option because I received $25.27 a few days ago.

 

[Unity451]

I got an email that went to my junk mail folder that I just happened to stumble upon. Boy was I nervous though. It looked like a scam.

 

[robfoll]

Bloody annoying that this is US only. I lived in the UK and my original Apple Watch was destroyed by a swollen battery.

 

[F23]

My Series 0 died like this after 4 years

 

[russell_314]

What if I “forgot” to let Apple know my battery was swollen. Can I still get some of that cold hard cash? 😂

 

[firstcitazen]

got mine, didn't know what it was for, used it to buy an Amiibo on Amazon.

 

[stiligFox]

Ooof I didn’t know this was a thing. This happened to my Apple Series 0 - battery swelled up, popped the screen off, and caused the OLED screen to spark and start burning itself out until I popped it completely off.

But I guess the Series 0 wasn’t covered anyway…

 

[MrRom92]

I got my check in the mail yesterday. I had this happen to not only one watch, but actually TWO series 0 watches - and I still have one of them with the screen popped off to show for it. It seems whatever batteries they used for these watches were very problematic, it’s amazing that apple denies the issue when it was this widespread. They are lucky the battery issues weren’t more severe than they already were.

 

[cdsapplefan]

$20 million to Apple is like someone buying a soda pop at the gas station/convenience store.

 

[Spinnetti]

I'll be darned.. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why my wife's watch face popped off and I can't get it to stay on even with a new adhesive seal... Oh well, missed out on this remedy, but the filthy lawyers take 99% of these settlements anyway. Will they warranty them? I don't care about money, just want it fixed

 

[That70sGAdawg]

When the heck are they going to settle the dispute over the blood oxygen sensors? That’s ridiculous. Just pay the money Apple.!

 

[@Brett]

When the heck are they going to settle the dispute over the blood oxygen sensors? That’s ridiculous. Just pay the money Apple.!

I would not be paying Masimo a dime. That company is comping across as shifty. Plus I think this was all to bring attention to their own wearable device.

 

[basehead617]

Never heard of such a thing... never had an issue with mine..

 

[ikramerica]

Apple store replaced my Series 0 two years out of warranty due to swollen battery popping the screen off. I didn’t even know that’s why it happened (I thought I bumped it). That was years ago.

I guess they weren’t as forthright with everyone.

 

[SFjohn]

$20 million to Apple is like someone buying a soda pop at the gas station/convenience store.

It was enough to pay for the lawyers who brought the suit against Apple. Back in those days I never kept a watch longer than a year. Every time a get a notification of a new lawsuit against anyone I pass on it. I don’t need the $25 bucks or less. By passing on these lawsuits it’s less hassle for me, and hopefully more for people who need it… 🤮

 

[FatLouie]

Apple store replaced my Series 0 two years out of warranty due to swollen battery popping the screen off. I didn’t even know that’s why it happened (I thought I bumped it). That was years ago.

I guess they weren’t as forthright with everyone.

I would speculate that someone at the Apple Store was aware of the issue and quietly addressed it for you.

 

[TraceyS/FL]

Got mine for my 0 that was replaced under something. I too found it in my junk mail. I didn’t sign up for it because it didn’t say 0, but since it had it and was repaired I had to have been entered.

Has anyone been able to transfer the money from the card to their Apple Cash balance? It keeps declining for me. I could send it to the kid and have her send it back, but she is down with COVID right now - and no one talks to her when she is sick. No one. 🤒🤧😷😂

 

[newyorksole]

I must have selected ACH option because I received $25.27 a few days ago.

I wish I did this.

I got a virtual gift card and can’t use the remaining $5.27 lol I keep trying different ways smh.

 

[newyorksole]

Got mine for my 0 that was replaced under something. I too found it in my junk mail. I didn’t sign up for it because it didn’t say 0, but since it had it and was repaired I had to have been entered.

Has anyone been able to transfer the money from the card to their Apple Cash balance? It keeps declining for me. I could send it to the kid and have her send it back, but she is down with COVID right now - and no one talks to her when she is sick. No one. 🤒🤧😷😂

DoorDash has worked, but even though I was $5.47 left I can’t redeem another $5 smh.

 

[Pecka]

This happened to my Series 6 after 4 years.

 

[danny842003]

The things that annoys me about this is it essentially does nothing for Apple or the consumer but I bet some lawyer has done quite well out of it.

 

[Westside guy]

I would not be paying Masimo a dime. That company is comping across as shifty. Plus I think this was all to bring attention to their own wearable device.

How so? Masimo has had blood oxygen sensors in doctors offices etc. for far longer than Apple has included them on their watches. Plus Apple was unable to come up with a sensor of their own until they first partnered w/ Masimo and then subsequently hired away Masimo engineers, who brought knowledge of the company's technical secrets with them.

The company that seems shifty here really appears to be Apple.

 

[MacsRgr8]

My Series 0 died like this after 4 years

Same.
I also have an old iPod somewhere with a swollen battery. Pretty sure swollen batteries happen a lot to older consumer goods….

 

[yabeweb]

$20 million to Apple is like someone buying a soda pop at the gas station/convenience store.

Still they'd prefere to keep it.