Apple Class Action Lawsuit Filed After Company Admits it Slowed iPhones

A new Apple class action lawsuit lawsuit has been filed against the tech giant, for reportedly slowing down older iPhones.

The Apple class action lawsuit was spurred after numerous consumers alleged the company had deliberately slowed down the processing performance of the devices after an iOS update.

This claim is being led by several consumers, some of whom say they were misled into purchasing a newer iPhone model due to the slow processing power of their previous ones:

• Illinois plaintiff Ala W. Abdulla bought an iPhone X, but had previously owned and used an iPhone 6.
• Illinois plaintiff Lance Raphael bought an iPhone 7 Plus, but had previously owned and used an iPhone 6.
• Ohio plaintiff Sam Mangano bought an iPhone 7 for himself and his two children, when he had previously owned and used an iPhone 6. His children had previously owned iPhone 5c models, with both him and his children experiencing slower operating systems. Magano was eventually forced to purchase iPhone 7 models for him and his children.
• Indiana plaintiff Ryan Glaze bought an iPhone 7 Plus, when he had previously owned and used an iPhone 6 Plus.
• North Carolina plaintiff Kirk Pedelty bought an iPhone 8, when he had previously owned and used an iPhone 7.

Each of the plaintiffs named in the Apple class action lawsuit alleges the operating system updates to their iPhones were the direct cause of their deteriorating performances.

Overview of Apple Class Action Lawsuit

Apple’s throttling down of older iPhones is reportedly not an uncommon occurrence for iPhone customers. Owners have reported noticing their iPhones had grown slower with age but became suspicious after a few owners found the phone’s speed improved after getting their batteries replaced.

Soon these iPhone owners and several tech writers suspected Apple were deliberately slowing down phones with older batteries, to spur customers into buying newer models. A report from Geekbench published on Dec. 18, 2017 showed there was a troubling correlation between iOS updates and slower performance in iPhones.

After this report was published, Apple Inc. admitted that its most recent system updates were designed to make older iPhone models run slower. The iOS system update prevents the phone from consuming peak power by rearranging some of the processing, which results in slower performance.

This admission spurred the Apple class action lawsuit, with the plaintiffs and class members alleging the system updates forced them to buy new phones. Apple stated the change in power management was necessary to prevent the phones from shutting down unexpectedly, with the phone’s battery deteriorating over time.

As the battery ages it becomes less able to respond to peak demands for power. The lack of necessary power can cause the phone to shut down.

Consumers were angry over this explanation, stating Apple failed to provide sufficient warning to customers about the fact that their iPhones would be slower or that their devices could be fixed by replacing the battery.

This eventually spurred the Apple class action lawsuit, which is seeking damages for over $5,000,000 due to size of the class and the costs of replacing iPhones.

This Apple Class Action Lawsuit is Ala Abdulla, Lance A. Raphael, Sam Mangano, Kirk Pedelty, and Ryan Glaze v. Apple Inc., Case No. 1:17-cv-09178, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

Join a Free Apple iPhone Throttling Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you owned an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus that performed slower after an iOS update or would unexpectedly shut down for seemingly no reason, you may qualify to file or join an iPhone class action lawsuit.

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