• Apple has agreed to a $20 million settlement for a class-action lawsuit regarding battery swelling in the Original Apple Watch, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3.
  • Users who reported the issue between April 24, 2015, and February 6, 2024, and reside in the U.S. may be eligible for compensation ranging from $20 to $50.

Apple has agreed to pay $20 million to settle a class-action lawsuit related to battery swelling in the Apple Watch. The lawsuit, filed in 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleged that the issue affected the first four smartwatch models: Original Apple Watch, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3.

Battery swelling occurs when heat and gas build up inside a lithium-ion battery, causing it to expand. In tightly packed devices like the Apple Watch, this expansion can damage internal components.

Despite agreeing to the settlement, Apple has denied any wrongdoing, stating that it is paying to avoid prolonged legal costs. The court filing emphasizes that Apple

“denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit, denies that the covered watches experienced any issues related to battery swell, and denies that Apple did anything improper or unlawful.”

The company also reiterated its stance in a statement sent to TechCrunch:

Apple Watch is designed to be safe and reliable. This settlement applies to purchasers of Original Apple Watch, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3, which are no longer available for purchase. While we strongly disagree with the claims made against these early generation Apple Watch models, we agreed to settle to avoid further litigation.

Users eligible for compensation must have reported battery swelling issues to Apple between April 24, 2015, and February 6, 2024. Notifications will be sent via email or postcard, with payments ranging from $20 to $50 based on the number of complaints filed. Claimants must submit payment details on the lawsuit’s official website by April 10, 2025.

This settlement follows a similar case against Fitbit, which was recently fined $12.25 million due to overheating issues in its Ionic smartwatch.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah