Think a $700 payout from Apple for a slow iPhone seems too good to be true? You’re right, it is

It’s a real pain when your phone slows down for seemingly no reason. 

That’s why a lot of people probably got excited when they saw a video online that claimed Apple is paying customers $700 for their slowed-down devices.

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that’s not happening.

The claim appeared in a Feb. 19 Instagram video. In it, a man plays the roles of both Apple and a customer and says that, because slowing down old products is illegal, Apple has to “pay anyone with a slowed down phone $700, if they claim it” as long as they’ve had the phone for less than two years.

This isn’t accurate — there’s no evidence that Apple has agreed to pay people $700 for slowed-down iPhones.

The post was flagged as part of Instagram’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

PolitiFact reached out to Apple for comment but did not hear back. 

In March 2020, the tech company settled a class action lawsuit that had accused it of purposely slowing down older operating systems. Part of the settlement allowed customers who purchased certain iPhone models to submit claims for about $25 per phone.  

The payout applied to customers who purchased the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus and the SE before Dec. 21, 2017, and experienced issues, according to a website created for customers to submit claims. The full notice about the settlement is included on the site and provides details, rights, options and deadlines for customers. 

But in September 2022, a federal appeals court withdrew the decision approving the agreement, saying that a lower court judge had applied the wrong legal standard. 

On Feb. 17, 2023, a judge for the U.S. District Court for Northern California approved a renewed motion by Apple and the plaintiffs to finalize the settlement. 

So far, Apple hasn’t distributed any payouts and the settlement’s website says that benefits “cannot be distributed until after the time for appeal has expired and any possible appeals are resolved.” 

Our ruling

An Instagram post claims that Apple is paying customers $700 if they claim to have a slowed-down iPhone.

Apple isn’t doing that. 

A continuing class action lawsuit accuses the tech company of slowing down older devices, but the possible suggested payout amounts are only around $25 per phone.

We rate this claim False.

By

Samantha Putterman

Staff Writer

February 24, 2023

Truth-o-meter Ruling

False

IF YOUR TIME IS SHORT

• We found no evidence that Apple has to pay $700 to anyone with a slowed-down iPhone.

• In 2020, the tech company settled a class action lawsuit that accused it of slowing older devices. Part of the settlement allowed customers who purchased certain iPhone models to submit claims for about $25 per phone. 

• So far, no payouts have been issued.

Statement

Apple will pay customers $700 for a slowed-down iPhone.

Context

an Instagram post

Speaker/Target

Speaker: Instagram posts

Statement Date

February 19, 2023