Apple is accused of having programmed a limited lifespan
into some products to force users to replace their phones sooner than
necessary, and has previously settled similar cases in the United States and
Europe.
In Chile, some 150,000 users of the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s
Plus, 7, 7 Plus and SE sued the US company, claiming their smartphones started
underperforming after software updates programmed by Apple before December 21,
2017.
The agreement provides for a registration period for
affected clients, who will have to provide proof of their devices' reduced
performance, a lawyer for the Odecu consumer body, Juan Sebastian Reyes, told a
virtual press conference.
Each client stands to get maximum compensation of $50, which
is to be shared if there are more than one claim per serial number, as in the
case of second-hand phones.
In December 2017, Apple admitted iOS software was tweaked to
slow performance of older iPhones whose battery life was deteriorating.
An outcry forced Apple to upgrade its software and offer
steep discounts on battery replacements.
In March 2020, Apple agreed to pay up to $500 million to
settle a class-action lawsuit over slowed iPhones in the United States,
followed in November by another $113 million to settle litigation with more
than 30 US states over the same issue.
The company has also settled a case with France's consumer
watchdog for 25 million euros ($29.7 million) for failing to tell iPhone users
that software updates could slow older devices.
Italy, for its part, has fined Apple and Samsung 10 and five
million euros respectively for planned smartphone obsolescence.