Apple Faces UK Tribunal Over Allegations of Deliberately Slowing Older iPhones

A UK tribunal is set to hear arguments this week that Apple deliberately used software updates to degrade the performance of older iPhones, a move that could lead to millions of consumers in the United Kingdom seeking compensation.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal will examine claims that Apple is attempting to withhold documents, which plaintiffs allege show the company intentionally slowed down older devices to mask battery issues. Lawyers for the class action argue Apple is asserting commercial sensitivity to keep this information from UK consumers.

Apple maintains its legal right to protect confidential information from public disclosure. The tech giant, led by CEO Tim Cook, has previously attempted to have the case, initiated in 2022, dismissed.

Consumer advocate Justin Gutmann is leading the UK class-action suit, which claims Apple abused its dominant market position. "An important aspect of that abuse was it was not transparent with customers," Gutmann stated. "It is hard to understand why, years later, Apple is still trying to keep evidence out of the public domain."

If successful, the claim could cost Apple as much as £956 million, potentially awarding around £40 to each of the 21 million individuals who owned iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, SE, 7, and 7 Plus models. This situation mirrors a similar case in the United States, which was settled by Apple in 2020 for approximately $500 million, though the company did not admit liability.

An Apple spokesperson responded, "We have never – and would never – do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades. Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that."

A hearing is scheduled for next year, following multiple attempts by Apple to have the case thrown out.