Apple has agree to settle the multi-state “Baterygate” lawsuit filed against it for $113 million, according to the Washington Post. A total of 34 states, as well as the District of Columbia, participated in the suit, which alleged that the company had throttled down the performance of legacy iPhone models as their batteries health declined.
“Big Tech must stop manipulating consumers and tell them the whole truth about their practices and products,” Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich said in a statement. “I’m committed to holding these Goliath technology companies to account if they conceal the truth from their users.”
In addition to the fine, Apple will be required to clarify how it handles battery health and power management to consumers, both online and on the device itself.
The scandal first emerged in 2017 when users noticed that their older phone’s performance suffered when they tried to install and run newer versions of iOS. By December of that year, Apple had admitted to the practice, explaining that the company had done so to prevent older devices from shutting down unexpectedly due to excessive draw on their aged batteries. The public was having none of that which subsequently prompted a formal apology and refund offers from the company.
The settlement (PDF) hasn’t been fully approved by a judge yet, but there’s a chance states might see their money sooner than actual iPhone owners. If you applied for your $25 worth of the $500 million class-action settlement, you probably did so in July, but the process is still underway. There’s a fairness hearing on December 4th that’ll decide whether the settlement was handled properly. Currently, Apple will pay a minimum of $310 million to settle that earlier lawsuit and up to $500 million depending on the number of claims. It’s too late to submit new claims now, as the deadline ended in October.
