Apple is facing another class-action lawsuit accusing it of deliberately reducing the performance of its iPhones, forcing owners to buy upgrades.
The lawsuit alleges that Apple released multiple updates to its iOS operating system (OS) that made iPhones progressively slower.
Deco Proteste, a consumer protection agency in Portugal, filed the suit against the iPhone manufacturer in Cupertino, claiming it deliberately manipulated the performance of iPhones without informing its users.
The consumer protection agency added that these acts forced thousands of users to buy new batteries for their iPhones or buy a newer model to achieve a previous level of performance.
The specific models referenced in the suit include the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, and iPhone 6S Plus.
However, Deco Proteste also says that any Portuguese iPhone owner can join the class-action suit to protect the environment and their own economic interests.
The agency has also identified iOS 11 as the first version of the iPhone OS to engage in the behavior addressed in the suit.
Deco Proteste alleges that Apple was aware that iOS 11 would adversely impact iPhone performance when it encouraged iPhone users to upgrade their OS.
As a result, the agency claims iPhone users experienced slower performance and outright “blackouts.”
Deco Proteste adds in its statement that Apple relied on the high loyalty of its customers when making the changes, expecting them to respond by buying the latest iPhones instead of other brands of mobile phones.
This isn’t the first time Apple has faced such accusations. A year-long investigation by an Italian consumer protection agency resulted in Apple paying a fine of 10 million Euros in 2018.
The Italian antitrust authority also fined Samsung 5.7 million Euros for similar reasons.
Euroconsumer, a consumer protection agency for the European Union (EU), has been attempting to resolve its own suit against Apple over its “programmed obsolescence” for the past three years.
That matter is still pending, but it seems likely that Apple will eventually pay a substantial fine.
Deco Proteste adds that Portuguese iPhone owners should receive the same consideration as the consumers in these other cases when providing their reasons for proceeding with the suit.
The agency has also produced a video titled “Some apples are spoiled ahead of time” as part of its campaign to encourage consumers to join the suit.
Furthermore, Deco Proteste is promoting the use of the Twitter hashtag #stopobsolescenciaiiPhone6 to discuss this issue.
I have 2 IPADS that are all of a sudden need to be charged everyday! Previously I could just charge them every few days! This is ridiculous! What can I do?
My iPad Pro is the 12” larger one 2016 model. It requires connectivity to an outlet or I’d have to charge it more than twice a day. I love it though and wish I could replace the battery but can’t find one for a model that old.
Are American consumers able to join the lawsuit?
We have iPhones 6 and 6S and have experienced the slowness. We’ve asked the local AT&T techs and basically received shrugs. We are retired and can’t really see having to upgrade our phones every other year. What action can we take?
I hope so
I love my iPhone 6. The size is perfect for me. It is slowing down and blacking out. Don’t want s larger version !
I too have experienced a very noticeable slowdown with my iPhone 6S Plus and my IPad .
Not everyone can afford a new phone nor should I be forced to upgrade my phone when it’s a perfectly good phone, except for the very noticeable slow down .
I have an IPhone 6S so will I receive notification to join in the lawsuit against Apple?
Has Apple corrected the problem? I have an IPhone6. So disappointed in Apple, but not surprised. Greed! I already had my battery replaced a couple of years ago when they offered them for my model for $29.99. It hardly worked.
I have an iPhone 6S. I have replaced the battery 3 times. I cannot afford a new phone so now my iPhone stays on charge most of the time so I can use it. I am 79 years old and buying a new phone is out of the question.
Yes. My phone is 6s. It is very slow and loses power very quickly, even when turned off.
I can’t afford a new one at this time.
What has happened to the previous Smartphone performance settlement. I thought a decision was being made last December yet I have heard nothing.
My iPhone 11plus is slow!!!!
I’m not impressed with my iPhone 11 either. I couldn’t see a noticeable increase in battery life from my former phone, the iPhone 8+
How about us in the United States!! Is there a current lawsuit? I had an IPhone 6 which I loved and replaced the battery twice. Bought the new IPHONE 10S replaced the battery after one year. This phone was not cheap!! Thank goodness for a wonderful charger.
Yes I fon 6s. Very slow. Battery looses power quickly. Already replaced battery once. Sure want to join lawsuit. Constant cycling
Tired of it slowing down
I have a iPhone 6 Plus and it’s slow.
My daughter and I both have IPhones and noticed are slow and crappy they have become lately. Count us both in for the lawsuit. Her name is: Kayla A. Collins
Now I know why my iPhone 6 Plus was soooo slow. I purchased an iPhone 12 Pro Max on December 22, 2020. Thank you for informing us iPhone users.
In fall 2018, I replaced the battery of my iPhone 6 Plus and I thought maybe that was the issue. Instead of replacing a new battery again I replaced the phone.
Nope, prefer my new iphone. I love the camera and why I waited for it to come out.
In fact, to my surprise my spouse purchased same phone as me. He jokes the weight of the iPhone 12 Pro Max pulls his pants down due to iPhone pro Max being large and heavier than his iPhone 7. He is not as techy as me and appreciates the constant assistance from me during his retirement.
I want in on this! Let me know! Still haven’t paid off on. The last one have they? I didn’t get any yet!
So that would explain the slowdown of my 6SPlus iphone!!!
How do I join the class action in this one? I have a 6S!
I have a problem with my 7 and the battery. Help
I have a 6s. I bought it for $365 to replace a plain ol’ 6 because it would double the capacity of the 6 (which had become sluggish and not very responsive to the LTE offered by T-Mobil).
One year later the 6s is sluggish, fails to connect to LTE, really only operates on WiFi and needs constant charging.
I’ve been a happy Apple user ( phones, MacBook Air, iPad). Can I join a class action suit?
I just bought a new phone because mine blacked out. I had a 6S. And my husband has a 6. Can we join the suit?
Please do not force me to purchase a newer phone. I am still paying for my 6S.
I have a 6S and true it uses battery far too quickly & find it needs to be turned off & rebooted for just seeming to die. I really like the size of my phone & don’t want to upgrade. When I do will be checking out other phones for cost & size.
I’ve also experienced the slow down! It’s very frustrating!
How do I join the suit
Yes I too had problems with my apple 6.
That stinks that they did that!
Shameful
I agree with comnie. I can’t afford a phon over100 or 200 max. Don’t make them useless before they stop working.
Completely slowed my iPhone 6 down.. Which in turn had me buying the iphone11..
It has also considerably slowed down my iPads. Apple is really manipulating buyers.
If apple was made t pay a larger settlement for the inconvenience and the frustration that they cause their clients they may stop this practice, I didn’t apply for the $25 settlement, the headache I got from my phone not functioning correctly was worth more than $25 . I’m 80 years old I would love to receive a new phone!!
I have an IPhone SE 14.4
I had signed up for the last law suit a few months ago and still haven’t received any compensation for it.
My iPhone 6 is slow and the screen goes white or black, eventually, I can go back and read!
this is why my new phone is going to be a Samsung
Someone needs to answer these questions. Can we join or start a class action lawsuit?
My 6s is a fine phone for me.
It now has issues & id like to join the suit. This phone is a good size for me & id like to continue using it, and would keep it as a 2nd phone.
I just replaced my iPhone 6 Plus. Had for years but the outings and speed finally left me in the dark too many times and it would no longer take IOS updates eg 12 or 14.
Why is it that only Europe is filing these class action law suits? Apple have US politicians in their pocket? Makes you wonder.
I’d like to join the suit or. I have a 6Plus, just bought an SE, the newer version through Straight Talk for $150 and love it, but it’s so small! We just aren’t going to pay $1000 or more for a new phone! We are in our 70’s so a bigger one is better. Loved our 6Plus! Just wish they would fix the problem but that’s $$$ out of their pockets!
I have an Apple 6. I like the product and have to buy a new one only because Apple doesn’t update. Is Apple so desperate and money hungry that we are forced to buy a new phone when It becomes a few years old and it’s sufficient for so many of Apple customers. How do we join in the lawsuit.
I have an iphone 6
How do i join lawsuit
I have a 6s phone and I’m in my 70s and can’t afford every time they start this where does that leave us that’s retired
How do I join this lawsuit? I have all these issues with my 6S phone.
I would join a class action law suit, since my I.phone 6 has run slow at time. I have replaced the battery once!
Apple needs to grow up and work on the phones that people have punched in past years!
Not a lot of people can afford phones every year or two. Why bring out a new phone each year! It’s called pure greed! Try living on Social Security and budget a new phone that will be out dated in a couple of years, or purposely interfering with the ones that work fine before the updates!
Am thinking about going to a droid phone more choices, apple pretty much controls what you can and cannot get with having to purchase every app out there.
I am in for the law suite if it comes to the USA!
I have an IPhone 6s…would like to join lawsuit
My 6 Plus was doing the same thing and I had to buy a new iPhone.
I have an iPhone 6S with a very slow battery. I too would like to join the suit.
I have a 6s, and need it to work properly. Can we imagine the outrage if our car’s manufacturer deliberately designed for them to only go 45 mph after they reach two or three years old? This needs to be a class action suit here in the US, and every owner either compensated monetarily or have their phones restored to proper function. Failing that, require Apple to include notices in their advertising that their products will likely see a dramatic drop off in performance in two years.