iPhone users may be able to cash in on a lawsuit against Apple, claiming the company purposely slows down older devices.
For years, iPhone users have complained that when new models of the phone are released, the older ones tend to become less enjoyable. The process, known as “throttling,” is a way for Apple to avoid expensive recalls or repairs, claims one U.K. lawsuit.
That claim, made by consumer champion Justin Gutmann, targets an update to iPhones in January 2017. A power management tool was introduced to supposedly combat performance issues found widely in the older iPhone 6 model. However, the company failed to mention in the update description that this tool would slow down the devices.
His suit is similar to one filed in the United States that was settled in 2020. Apple admitted to slowing down older phones and agreed to pay $500 million internationally to users affected by this. The U.K. lawsuit is seeking another $750 million for British iPhone users.
In a statement to the Guardian, Apple says its intention was never to hinder phone performance.
“We have never, and would never, do anything to … degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades,” they stated before adding, “Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that.”
Apple is no stranger to these types of lawsuits. The tech giant has faced similar legal action in Belgium, Chile, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. The company has also faced controversial lawsuits pertaining to their AirPods causing permanent hearing loss and alleged patent infringement for their Auto Unlock feature on Apple Watches.
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