Thousands Of iPhone Users Can Claim $349 Payout In Apple's $35 Million Audio Settlement

If you happen to be an owner of an older iPhone model, there’s good news—you might be eligible for compensation from Apple as part of a settlement they reached recently.

The tech giant, Apple, has agreed to a $35 million settlement following a class action lawsuit.

This lawsuit was submitted by users who alleged that certain models of iPhone had material defects.

Part of this settlement involves compensation for customers who owned an Apple iPhone 7 or 7 Plus.

The iPhone 7 is a model affected in the suit. Zhang Peng / LightRocket via Getty Images

However, there are specific criteria you must meet. You needed to have owned one of these models between September 16 and January 3, 2023.

Additionally, to be eligible, you must have experienced audio issues and had to pay for the repairs out of your own pocket.

If you meet these criteria, you can submit a claim and potentially receive up to $349.

It’s important to note that Apple has not admitted to any wrongdoing by settling this lawsuit out of court.

The lawsuit was centered around what was described as a "failure of the audio integrated circuit," which was reportedly caused by defective audio chips.

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The suit accused Apple of "concealing a material defect that ultimately causes iPhone audio features to become unresponsive and fail of their essential purpose as smartphones."

So, what should you do if you believe you qualify for this compensation? How do you go about lodging a claim?

First and foremost, make sure you fit the criteria. To reiterate, the requirements are that you owned an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus between September 16 and January 3, 2023.

You must have complained about audio problems and paid for repairs yourself.

If you did pay for the repairs yourself, which left you out of pocket, you might be eligible for at least $50 and possibly up to $349.

On the other hand, if you reported the defect but did not end up paying for repairs, you could be eligible for a payment of $125.

One convenient aspect is that you do not need to provide a receipt for the repair. This will be confirmed using Apple's repair records. 

Users must either file a claim or exclude themselves. Chesnot / Getty Images

However, it’s worth noting that if you went to a third-party repair service, this could complicate your claim.

There are also important deadlines to keep in mind. The deadline to submit a claim, to object to the settlement, or to exclude yourself from it is June 3, 2024. 

The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for July 18.

If you meet the eligibility criteria but do not file a claim or choose not to exclude yourself from the settlement, you will not receive any payment.

Additionally, you won’t be able to bring another complaint against Apple regarding this issue in the future.

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The lawsuit stated: "As a result of Apple's unfair, deceptive, and/or fraudulent business practices, owners of the iPhones, including Plaintiffs, have suffered ascertainable losses.

"The unfair and deceptive trade practices committed by Apple were conducted in a manner giving rise to substantial aggravating circumstances."

So, if you believe you qualify, it’s worth taking the time to file a claim and ensure you receive any compensation you’re entitled to.

Don't miss out on this opportunity if you experienced these issues with your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus.