Anyone who owned one of the first few generations of Apple Watch has probably long forgotten about them by now, but here’s a reason to think of them again—Apple might owe you some money.
Apple has agreed to a $20 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit that alleges first-generation Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 Apple Watches “experienced certain issues allegedly related to battery swell.” The plaintiffs claimed the battery could affect other parts of the watch, including the display.
As is usually the case with settlements, Apple denies any wrongdoing, disputes the claim that Apple Watch batteries were faulty, and “asserts numerous defenses to the claims in this case.” In a statement to CNET, Apple assured its watches are “safe and reliable,” including the models in the suit. “While we strongly disagree with the claims made against these early generation Apple Watch models, we agreed to settle to avoid further litigation.”
Members of the settlement class will receive $20 per watch up to a maximum of $50. However, the suit notes that “if necessary, a pro-rata portion of the Net Settlement Fund less than $20.” That means if lots of people opt in, the payments will be divided accordingly and could decrease.
Members of the class should receive a notice with a Notice ID and Confirmation Code to confirm or update payment information anytime before April 10 online through the Payment Selection tab at the Watch Settlement site. If you don’t receive a notice and are unsure whether you are included in the settlement, you can call 844-933-4042 for more information.
Author: Michael Simon, Executive Editor, Macworld
Michael Simon has been covering Apple for more than 20 years. He started covering rumors with Spymac when the iPod was the iWalk, and has owned nearly every iPhone Apple has ever made. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, son, and far too many gadgets.