Apple has been facing a $2 billion class-action lawsuit in London that accuses the company of using substandard batteries, intentionally slowing down older iPhones, and draining batteries faster through an update to the iOS software platform. The legal action was brought by Justin Gutmann, the head of consumer advocacy, on behalf of iPhone users in the UK.
Apple has refuted the claims and referred to the complaint as “baseless.” Except for a few iPhone 6s devices, which received free battery replacements, the business asserts that its iPhone batteries were not damaged. Apple also argues that the power management update introduced in 2017 only slowed the performance of the iPhone 6 by an average of 10%.
Gutmann’s lawyers allege that Apple hid battery problems in some phone models and secretly installed a power management tool that limited smartphone performance. They cited Apple’s 2020 US class action settlement agreements and US state regulatory lawsuits over iPhone battery issues as evidence that Apple did not claim there were no such problems. In 2019, Apple pledged to be “more open” with iPhone users about battery health before the UK regulator.
The case is ongoing, and Gutmann has asked the London Competition Court of Appeal to certify it and take it to court. Apple is asking the court to block the lawsuit, arguing that not all batteries can provide the peak power required under all circumstances and at all times, which is the case for all battery-powered devices.
Apple agreed to pay $500 million in a class-action lawsuit settlement in the United States in 2020 after the corporation was accused of slowing down older iPhone models. The settlement required Apple to pay between $25 to $500 to affected iPhone owners. Apple also promised to be more transparent about iPhone battery health and performance.
The outcome of the London lawsuit is unknown, but it shows the continuous conflict between customers and technology companies over product performance and transparency. Companies must be upfront about their products’ performance and any possible risks as consumers become more reliant on technology.
