iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus owners who have experienced issues related to the audio chip may be eligible for a payout as part of a $35 million settlement. This settlement is the result of a lawsuit filed in 2019 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. According to the Settlement Administration website, eligible users could receive up to $349 in compensation.
To qualify for the payout, users must have owned an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus between September 16, 2016, and January 3, 2023. Additionally, they must have either complained to Apple about issues such as FaceTime, the loudspeaker, Siri, or the voice memo app not working, or they must have paid for a related repair.
It is worth noting that Apple has denied any wrongdoing and has rejected the allegations that these devices had audio chip issues. However, the company has agreed to the settlement. Apple has not provided an immediate response to requests for comment on the matter.
The root cause of the audio chip issues lies in Apple’s decision to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 models in September 2016. This move was made to allow for better sound quality, a thinner design, and improved water resistance. However, it seems that some users encountered problems with sound output through the speakers or headphones due to this change.
Eligible users may receive communication about the settlement through email or a postcard in the mail. The deadline for filing a claim on the settlement website is June 3, and a final approval hearing will take place on July 18.
Interestingly, this is not the first time that iPhone 7 models have been involved in a lawsuit payout. In a separate case, Apple settled a class action lawsuit with customers who purchased iPhone models including the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, or the SE before December 21, 2017. The lawsuit alleged that Apple deliberately slowed down older devices with system upgrades, leading users to feel compelled to upgrade to the latest iPhone model. As part of that settlement, eligible customers were able to claim $25.
In conclusion, iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus owners who have experienced issues with their audio chips may be eligible for compensation as part of a $35 million settlement. The deadline for filing a claim is June 3, and a final approval hearing will be held on July 18. Apple has denied any wrongdoing but has agreed to the settlement. This is not the first time that iPhone 7 models have been subject to a lawsuit payout, as Apple previously settled a class action lawsuit related to system upgrades on older devices.
