Apple has agreed to a $20 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit concerning battery swelling issues in early Apple Watch models, specifically Series 0, 1, 2, and 3. If you had any of these Apple Watch between 2015 and February of last year, there’s a chance the company might owe you a small payout.
Although, the gadget maker denies all allegations. Apple, in a statement, says “we strongly disagree with the claims made against these early generation Apple Watch models.”
However, rather than continue with legal fees, the company opted to settle to avoid further litigation costs instead. Given that the lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Smith et al. v. Apple Inc, lasted for over five years, that’s understandable.
Getting your piece of the $20 million settlement might not be so simple. To qualify for the settlement, you need to have already reported the battery swelling issues to Apple between April 24, 2015 and February 6, 2024. Qualified smartwatches are Apple’s first-generation: Series 1, Series 2, or Series 3 model. In other words, you must have owned an Apple Watch Series 0, 1, 2, or 3 to be qualified for the claim.
You do not need to submit a claim if you’re qualified. If your issue is already documented with Apple, you will receive a notice via email or postcard to confirm eligibility. Upon confirmation, payments will be made automatically. However, there are a few steps you can take to ensure payment.
The first step you need to take is that you will need to confirm your eligibility on the payment portal to update your payout information. To confirm your eligibility, open the message sent to your email or postcard and copy the notice ID or confirmation code, and use it on the payment portal.
Affected users will be paid between $20 to $50 per affected device. So, depending on the number of claims of devices you submitted, the higher your payout. However, it’s important to note that you have until April 10, 2025 to update your payment info. Otherwise, you won’t get the chance to do it again. If you prefer not to participate in the settlement, you must exclude yourself by February 24, 2025.
Furthermore, if you feel like you should qualify for the settlement but don’t get a notice via email or postcard, you can also reach out to a toll free number or the settlement administrator’s address to get you on track, per section 7 of the settlement site’s FAQ.
Notice: By accepting the settlement payment, you waive the right to pursue any future legal action against Apple regarding battery issues in these specific watch models. But opting out of the settlement will preserve your right to pursue your own legal action against Apple. To opt out of the settlement, follow the same process as explained in this article.
