Apple paying $20 million over Apple Watch lawsuit — see if you’re eligible

News
By published

Lots of Apple Watch owners could get some money

Apple Watch 10 vs. Apple Watch 9
(Image credit: Future)

Apple has to pay some money to users who experienced battery swelling with their older Apple Watch. Specifically, anyone who owned an Apple Watch Series 1, 2 or 3 is eligible for a payout of $20 million, which the Cupertino company has agreed to pay.

The lawsuit, Smith et al. v. Apple Inc., was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Apple "denies all allegations of wrongdoing" despite agreeing to the settlement.

How to get the money you're owed

It is important to note that you must have owned an Apple Watch Series 1, 2 or 3 and have reported any potential battery swelling issues to Apple between April 24th, 2015 and February 6, 2024.

If you qualify and have already reported the issue (it's long past the time to be able to report), you have until April 10 to file a claim. You must visit the claim website to get what's coming to you. If you own one of the best Apple Watch models released recently, you won't be eligible.

The amount for each swelling watch is not significant. The FAQ says you'll receive between $20 and $50 if you have an affected watch and meet the requirements mentioned above. If you don't want to be included, you have until February 24, 2025, to opt-out or object to the settlement.

More from Tom's Guide

Dave LeClair
Dave LeClair
Senior News Editor

Dave LeClair is the Senior News Editor for Tom's Guide, keeping his finger on the pulse of all things technology. He loves taking the complicated happenings in the tech world and explaining why they matter. Whether Apple is announcing the next big thing in the mobile space or a small startup advancing generative AI, Dave will apply his experience to help you figure out what's happening and why it's relevant to your life.