Some early Apple Watch models had a defect which could lead to the display to crack or detach, it seems. Apple has just agreed to a financial settlement—are you eligible?
Apple Watch Series 3. Did yours have a problem with the display?
Some first-generation Apple Watches (Series 0) had issues with batteries that were swelling up, causing the display being pushed up in the casing.
“Apple responded by offering a free three-year extended warranty for the issue,” 9to5Macreported. After the same problem appeared in some Series 2 models, Apple said it would service this issue for free for three years.
Then, some Series 3 models with GPS were found to have visible stripes on the display, thought to be from swollen batteries, too.
All of which leads to what happened in 2018. Some Watch users found cracked or detached displays, perhaps from swollen batteries, though Apple didn’t acknowledge this and said it was accidental damage. A class action lawsuit was filed that year, alleging Apple had been aware of defects but refusing warranty claims.
Though Apple has not accepted the claims in the lawsuit, “Apple has agreed to a $20 million settlement to resolve claims that some Apple Watch batteries swelled over time, potentially damaging other key components, such as the display,” CNet explains.
According to the report, Apple said, “While we strongly disagree with the claims made against these early generation Apple Watch models, we agreed to settle to avoid further litigation.”
Who Qualifies
Users must have owned an affected Apple Watch model, in the U.S. and “reported issues related to battery swelling , such as filing a complaint with customer service, between April 24, 2015, and Feb. 6, 2024,” Cnet says.
According to watchsettlement.com, “If you own or owned a First Generation or Series 1, 2 or 3 Watch, you may be eligible for payment from a class action settlement.”
The Settlement provides for a $20 million fund for payments and the payout will be between $20 and $50, depending on how many people claim. Apple will automatically notify those with a valid claim, so there’s no need to apply, but it’s recommended that once Apple has contacted you that you click on this link to ensure payment details are up to date. This must be done by Apr.10, 2025.
