Google Agrees to Pixel Class Action Settlement

Has the Pixel Really Moved the Needle on Google Hardware? (Premium)

Google has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit that accused it of knowingly selling defective Pixel handsets to customers. If approved, the settlement will pay Pixel buyers up to $500 for a total cost to the company of $7.25 million.

To be clear, this settlement applies only to the original-generation (2017) Pixel and Pixel XL. Apparently Google sold some of these handsets with a manufacturing error that resulted in a “hairline crack in the solder connection on the audio codec,” resulting in spotty audio performance, including during phone calls.

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Google replaced numerous first-generation Pixels under warranty for this issue, but in some cases, it replaced a buggy handset with another that had the same issue. It has also admitted to secretly fixing the issue mid-way through the initial Pixel’s lifecycle.

Those users who replaced their Pixel and received another bad unit will be the big winners here, and will receive $500 as part of this settlement. Those who returned a bad Pixel and received a working unit will receive $350. But anyone who purchased the first-generation Pixel is entitled to $20. (Those who paid an insurance deductible as part  of a Pixel replacement will receive the full value of that cost.)

Those wondering about Google’s hardware reliability issues over the years are right to question whether further class action lawsuits are coming. As it turns out, Google recently settled a case with owners of the Nexus 6P, the handset the preceded the original Pixel. And given the reliability issues with the Pixel 2 XL and 3 XL, I suspect there will be further settlements down the road as well.

Those waiting on refunds will need to sign-up, but that can’t happen until the settlement is approved in June. I’ll report back when I know more.

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Conversation 9 comments

  • Omega Ra

    Premium Member
    14 May, 2019 - 4:32 pm

    <p>Well, good news for me. I had a Pixel XL…got a bad replacement, sent it back got ANOTHER bad replacement, then a third and just got a refund…wonder if I can still get that $500?</p>

  • glenn8878

    14 May, 2019 - 6:05 pm

    <p>I wish I got a refund for iPhone 6 for battery bug. </p>

    • dontbe evil

      15 May, 2019 - 1:58 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#428158">In reply to glenn8878:</a></em></blockquote><p>have an upvote, some applefan downvoted you</p>

  • skane2600

    14 May, 2019 - 8:00 pm

    <p>Whenever a class action settlement goes beyond discount coupons, it's a win for customers.</p>

    • Greg Green

      15 May, 2019 - 8:59 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#428183">In reply to skane2600:</a></em></blockquote><p>I got a $25 check in some settlement with MS. I took it because I didn’t want the lawyers to keep the money. They’re the biggest benefactors in these settlements.</p>

  • dontbe evil

    15 May, 2019 - 1:59 am

    <p>they're scared :)</p>

  • compunut

    Premium Member
    15 May, 2019 - 8:46 am

    <p>I had multiple Nexus 5x phones boot loop, but no payday for me. Darn.</p><p><br></p><p>Seriously, though. Google needs to do something about their reliability. Like Microsoft, really (think early Surface, XBox 360, etc).</p><p><br></p><p>And while I am on my soap box… my wife just had to replace her Pixel 2 due to battery life issues. Why can't they send just a battery? Oh, because they glue the darn things together. Grrr.</p><p><br></p><p>OK… done ranting.</p>

  • innovativethrills

    15 May, 2019 - 1:23 pm

    <p> I can't understand what is the problem in this comment section. I can't write a big comment here. </p>

  • kdjones74

    Premium Member
    16 May, 2019 - 7:33 am

    <p>We had three Nexus 5X phones and all three boot looped. It was after the warranty expired, so we bought new phones. Later, I discovered that Google and LG (makers of the 5X) had extended the warranty so I got all three replaced.</p>

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