Apple has agreed to settle a $20 million USD (about $29 million CAD) class-action lawsuit over alleged battery swelling issues in Apple Watch models — reports CNET.
The lawsuit claimed that the batteries in some earlier Apple Watch models — namely Apple Watch first-generation (Series 0), Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 — were prone to swelling over time. It was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Per the class-action, the batteries in affected Apple Watch models could expand inside their enclosures and potentially damage other components, like the display. Apple has denied any wrongdoing in the case but decided to settle the claims.
In a statement to CNET, Apple maintained that the Apple Watch is “designed to be safe and reliable.”
“This settlement applies to purchasers of Original Apple Watch, Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3, which are no longer available for purchase,” said the tech giant. “While we strongly disagree with the claims made against these early generation Apple Watch models, we agreed to settle to avoid further litigation.”
Only users who owned an affected Apple Watch model in the U.S. and reported battery swelling issues to Apple — by filing a complaint with customer service, for example — between April 24, 2015, and February 6, 2024, will be eligible for the settlement. Canadians get left out yet again, but you might qualify for a Canadian iPhone Power Management Class Action Settlement payment instead.
Eligible customers will receive $20-50 in compensation, depending on the total number of claims. Some Apple customers will also be notified of their eligibility for a class payment via email or postcard, per WatchSettlement.com. Qualifying class members must submit payout requests through the settlement website by April 10, 2025.
Apple is currently facing another class-action lawsuit claiming some Apple Watch bands contain toxic materials. The company recently also settled a $95 million USD (about $137 million CAD) class-action lawsuit in the U.S. over claims that Siri spied on users’ private conversations.
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Oof, imagine having that thing on your wrist and then eventually it starts swelling like the giant mushroom in TinTin – The Shooting Star
That's a huge mushroom.
The fitbits did this… all of these lithium batteries swell as they age. The watch ones swell sooner due to how fast they charge them and low charge cycle life.