Apple compensates iPhone owners impacted by "batterygate"

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Apple is paying out reimbursements as part of a $500 million settlement to iPhone consumers who were impacted by "batterygate." "Batterygate" is the term used to describe Apple's 2017 lawsuit-provoking admission that it throttled older iPhone models to prevent unplanned shutdowns. With iOS 10.2.1, Apple introduced a power management mechanism as an apology for the lack of transparency.

Apple had been ‘throttling’ the maximum performance of some older iPhone models with ‘chemically-aged’ batteries. This was done to prevent the devices from ‘unexpectedly shutting down.’ The firm introduced this power management system in iOS 10.2.1, but failed to mention the change in the update's release notes. The company apologized for this ‘lack of transparency,’ and lowered the price of iPhone battery replacements to $29 for all of 2018. 

Throughout this case, however, Apple never admitted to any legal wrongdoing. Additionally, it said that it agreed to the March 2020 settlement only to ‘avoid burdensome and costly litigation.’

The settlement benefits are only for US-based owners of the following iPhone models: 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus that ran iOS 10.2.1 or later; or, those running iOS 11.2 (7, 7 Plus)

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