In a courtroom drama reminiscent of David and Goliath, Apple, the tech titan, went head-to-head against claimants in a proposed £853 million ($1 billion) class action. The claim? That Apple deliberately concealed battery problems causing unexpected device shutdowns, and that its “solution” was a mere ploy to throttle performance.
Lithium-ion Realities: Apple’s Defense
As the voltage in the courtroom surged, Apple’s counsel, David Wolfson KC of One Essex Court, stood firm. Arguing that these claims are akin to being disgruntled about the universal laws of physics. “Any complaint regarding UPOs [unexpected power-offs] really boils down to a complaint about the basic physics of a lithium-ion battery in the real world of more powerful devices and the exciting new apps that consumers love to use,” Wolfson posited.
Furthermore, he argued, the iPhones, even with these alleged issues, retained their stature as a “premium product.”
Two Glaring Flaws: The Tech Giant’s Counter
As the Competition Appeal Tribunal weighs the merits of Justin Gutmann’s expansive opt-out claim against Apple, Wolfson outlined two major flaws in the claimant’s narrative:
- There’s no concrete evidence suggesting the iPhones didn’t perform as anticipated. There’s always that inevitable point where “a battery cannot deliver the peak power demanded,” he emphasized.
- The disparity between the allegations and the financial damages claimed is stark. Apple had, in fact, informed users about battery concerns and even launched a discounted replacement program in December 2017. The company disputed the idea that revealing this information earlier would’ve led to a different response.
Customer Choices & Alleged Deception
