WASHINGTON — More than six years after Apple's "batterygate" scandal came to light, the tech giant is sending payments to millions of iPhone users as part of the class action lawsuit settlement.
Attorneys representing Apple customers said the payments, which have started to appear in some bank accounts this week, are larger than the original estimates. As part of the case, Apple agreed to pay between $310 million and up to $500 million.
How much will I get from the Apple iPhone settlement?
Those who submitted eligible claims will receive $92.17 per device, attorneys explained in a statement.
In order to receive a payment, claims had to have been submitted by Oct. 6, 2020, according to the settlement's website. Payment distribution started on Jan. 5 and payments "are being sent on a rolling basis" and are expected to conclude at the end of January, the site explained.
According to posts on social media, the payments have appeared in bank accounts as coming from "RE APPLE INC" for the amount of $92.17.
What was Apple iPhone "batterygate" about?
In late 2017, Apple apologized for secretly slowing down older iPhones to avoid unexpected shutdowns related to battery fatigue.
According to the Associated Press, plaintiffs in the case claimed they spent hundreds of dollars buying new phones, rather than just replacing the batteries, because Apple didn't reveal the cause of the problem.
Attorneys claim it is the largest all-cash recovery in a computer intrusion case in history.
The settlement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Apple, the lawsuit settlement website notes.
Who was eligible for the Apple iPhone settlement?
Those who were eligible to submit claims included users with iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, and SE devices that ran a specific iOS in 2017 and experienced diminished performance on the devices.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.