If you buy an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus with a microphone problem, you may be eligible for compensation ranging from $50 to $349 as part of Apple's $35 million class action lawsuit settlement. If you believe you are entitled to compensation, be sure to submit your claim before the deadline of June 3, 2024.
To get the money, you must be a U.S. resident and prove you owned an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus between September 16, 2016, and January 3, 2023. You'll also need to have reported the audio problem to Apple within that time period, or paid to fix it out of your own pocket. If you meet all of the above criteria, visit the official class action website and file your claim within the stipulated time.
To file a claim, print and complete the Payment Statement form and mail it to the Philadelphia address provided on the website. You must also tell the Settlement Administrator how you wish to be paid. Methods available include electronic checks, physical checks, and ACH transfers. In addition, claimants will need to provide their email address and banking information or mailing address in order for compensation to be distributed.
Please note that if you choose to remain in the settlement class, you are giving up your right to sue Apple in a separate lawsuit over the same issue. You may opt out of the settlement and retain the right to sue later, but in such event you will not be entitled to any compensation from the settlement.
You can also object to a settlement by writing to the court stating what you are unhappy with and what you think needs to happen in order for the settlement to be accepted. The court overseeing the case has not yet decided whether to approve the settlement, so your letter may still influence the court's decision.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in 2019, claimed that defects in the audio chips of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus caused various problems, including the inability to hear the voice of the person on the other end of the phone during voice calls.
The problem was initially blamed on a bug when iOS 11.3 was launched, but was later determined to be caused by a faulty audio IC. Apple eventually offered free repairs to all affected devices, but that didn't stop disgruntled users from taking to court.