Apple kicks off sending ‘batterygate’ payouts to iPhone users

It seems that tech giant Apple’s decision to slow down iPhones with older batteries back in 2017 has finally come to an end as reports suggest that users are receiving settlements in their bank accounts.

According to a report by MacRumors, people affected by this issue have started receiving checks in their bank accounts, with a value of $92.17.

The website confirmed the news and later updated the story with an embedded post from one of its readers.

The website set up for the settlement was updated in December to say the payments were expected to go out this month, bringing the matter to an end.

The batterygate saga began in 2017 when a developer discovered that certain iOS 10 updates throttled the performance of older phones like the iPhone 6S and iPhone 7, The Verge reported.

The company did not disclose the purpose of the slowdown initially but later revealed that it was to prevent the phones from randomly shutting down once the battery degrades beyond a certain point.

As a result, multiple class action lawsuits were filed against Apple, claiming that the company’s actions drove people to upgrade their phones early, rather than simply paying to have their phones’ battery replaced.

In 2020, the company agreed to a settlement, and in August of that year, one of the law firms representing customers in the lawsuit confirmed that a judge had cleared the last legal obstacle and that the payouts would be made soon.

If you filed an approved claim by October 6th, 2020, you might receive a payment of around $65. However, it seems that the actual payments will be higher, at $92.17, according to The Verge.

The phones affected by this issue were the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, 7, 7 Plus, and the original iPhone SE. So, if you’re one of the affected customers, keep an eye on your bank account for the payment.