An iOS update made a bunch of iPhones slower. Apple is now facing a lawsuit in the UK.
The case in question – especially in the technology world – has been around for a few years. In 2017, after an iPhone update, complaints increased that iPhones that were actually updated were suddenly significantly slower. Overall, the performance was significantly limited by the update, according to the affected users. The criminally relevant thing about it: Apple is said to have pushed users to update.
Joint lawsuit in the UK against Apple
Older smartphones from the iPhone 6 up to the iPhone X are particularly affected. In 2017, the installation of the update to iOS 10.2.1 led to significant performance losses. Several iPhone users have now filed a lawsuit against the tech giant in London. The plaintiffs’ lawyers speak of a performance reduction of almost 60 percent. And they cite several reasons for the lawsuit.
For one thing, Apple would not have pointed out the negative effects that the update would bring. In addition, iPhone users were urged to update by repeated references to security gaps that urgently needed to be closed by the update. In the case of iOS 10.2.1, those affected were repeatedly asked to carry out an update. Once installed, the update could not be uninstalled later.
The fact that several iPhone models became slower after the update was a debacle for Apple at the time. The group finally had to admit that the batteries were to blame. But that only happened due to massive public pressure after users realized that replacing the battery could fix the problems. Apple eventually added the appropriate notice and offered a battery replacement program. However, the voluntary action could not protect Apple from the lawsuit.
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Process also conceivable in Germany?
The lawsuit alleges that Apple used its market dominance to engage in “exploitative and unfair business practices.” The plaintiffs also accuse Apple of a lack of transparency. In fact, the tech giant is regularly sued. In April 2022, Apple had to pay a fine because the company no longer supplied power adapters with its iPhones.
In the UK alone, 25 million people have been affected by iPhone throttling as a result of the update in recent years. You could all sue now. In Germany, too, many were affected by significantly slower iPhones after the update, but there is not yet a comparable project in this country. However, there was already a class action lawsuit in the USA in 2020. This was discontinued, but only because Apple agreed to a voluntary fine of over 300 million US dollars.