Apple Accepts $20 Million Settlement Over Apple Watch Battery Swelling Issues

Apple has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in 2018 alleging that the company was aware of battery swelling issues on its early Apple Watch models. Even though Apple denied any wrongdoing, the company will pay $20 million to settle the lawsuit, with affected users possibly getting up to $50 payments.

“This settlement applies to purchasers of Original Apple Watch, Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3, which are no longer available for purchase,” the company said in a statement shared with CNET. “While we strongly disagree with the claims made against these early generation Apple Watch models, we agreed to settle to avoid further litigation.”

The lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California alleged that Apple knew that the displays on these early Apple Watch models could crack or be pushed out from the casing due to swollen batteries. Again, Apple denied these Apple Watch models had any issues, but US citizens who own or owned an Original Apple Watch, Series 1, Series 2, or Series 3 may now be eligible for a payment.

To be eligible for a class payment, owners of the affected Apple Watch models will need to have reported issues potentially related to battery swell between April 24, 2015, and Feb. 6, 2024. Payments are capped at $50 per covered watch, and eligible users will need to confirm or update their payment information by April 10, 2025 on the class action website to get paid.