Apple will pay $20 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleges early Apple Watch models had a defect in their battery that caused swelling of the battery, leading to display screens to cracking or detaching completely.
CNET reports:
Owners of certain Apple Watch models may be eligible for compensation following a class-action lawsuit related to battery swelling issues. Apple has agreed to a $20 million settlement to resolve claims that some Apple Watch batteries swelled over time, potentially damaging other key components, such as the display. The lawsuit, which was filed in US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleged that the issue affected Apple Watch first-generation, Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 models.
The lawsuit accused Apple of manufacturing the original, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 Apple Watches without enough sufficient space to allow for normal battery swelling.
While Apple has agreed to pay the $20 million settlement, it denies any wrongdoing on its part, and says it is paying the settlement to avoid prolonged litigation.
Apple will create a $20 million fund to compensate Apple Watch owners affected by the battery swelling issues. Apple will pay $20 to $50 per affected device. The actual payment amount could be higher or lower, depending on how many consumers make a claim. As is traditional in class-action lawsuits, the big winners will be the lawyers, who will be paid out of the settlement fund. The settlement fund will also be used to pay for administrative costs.
If you’ve already contacted Apple about repairing a swollen Apple Watch battery, you will not need to fill out a claim form. You will automatically be paid, unless you opt out of the settlement by February 24, 2025.
Any Apple Watch owners that believe they qualify for a settlement payment, but that are not in Apple’s database, will need to submit their payment method on the official settlement website before the April 10, 2025 deadline.
Affected Apple Watch owners that accept the settlement payment waive their rights to pursue any further legal action against Apple related to the battery issue.
