Apple is poised to provide compensation to a specific group of iPhone users who encountered performance degradation in their devices, sparking allegations of intentional throttling. This saga traces back five years, when users of iPhone 6, iPhone 7, and iPhone SE accused Apple of deliberately slowing down their phones.
The tech giant, Apple, acknowledged the intentional reduction in device performance but maintained that their intentions were not malicious. In an unexpected turn of events in 2020, Apple opted for a resolution by agreeing to pay a substantial sum of up to $500 million to avoid a potentially costly legal battle, as reported by Reuters.
Following recent developments, Apple has gained the green light to begin compensating the affected iPhone users due to the deliberate slowing down of their devices. Tyson Redenbarger, a legal representative for the concerned users, estimates that each individual could receive approximately $65, which translates to around Rs 5000 in Indian currency. This marks a significant step towards resolving the matter, as detailed by SiliconValley.com.
The Reason Behind Apple’s Device Slowdown
In 2016, Apple admitted to intentionally throttling the speed of older iPhones, explaining that this measure was taken to prevent abrupt shutdowns rather than being motivated by malicious intent. Apple presented this explanation persuasively, portraying the move as a practical response to an engineering challenge.
However, skepticism persisted among some iPhone owners, who united to form a class-action lawsuit against the tech giant in 2018. The list of affected iPhone models includes:
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
The legal confrontation unfolded between Apple and the aggrieved users. While Apple initially defended its actions, the company shifted its stance in 2020, opting to address the issue. Compensation ranging from $310 million to $500 million was agreed upon. Initially, those who filed complaints were offered $25 each. However, two iPhone owners sought higher compensation and rejected the initial proposal. This recent development sees their request for increased compensation denied, paving the way for Apple to fulfill its commitment to pay the affected iPhone users.
