According to the consumer organization, the Apple brand knowingly offered updates to iPhone 6 models knowing that they would cause slowness, degraded performance and unexpected shutdowns. For now, only the admissibility of the action has been debated.
Test Purchases explains that Apple did not inform consumers of these updates in 2017 and that the goal of the American manufacturer was to encourage users to buy a new device or a new battery. “We believe this is a typical example of deliberately accelerating product obsolescence by using software updates to trick consumers into choosing a new battery or device,” says Simon November. , spokesperson for Test Achats.
Some 190,000 copies of the iPhone 6 series have been sold in Belgium.
Test Achats launched its class action in 2020. The organization is seeking compensation of 29 to 89 euros for each user and, depending on the model, for battery-related costs as well as compensation for the reduction in performance of the device. Assuming an average compensation of 60 euros, the total damage could amount to more than 11 million euros.
Only the admissibility of the case was debated on Monday. Test Achats asks the judge to authorize an “opt-out” system, thanks to which all the consumers concerned can be automatically involved in the case. The consumer organization hopes to have a decision on the admissibility of the case before the end of the year.