Apple iPhone 7 Users May Be Owed a Slice of a $35 Million Settlement — Here's How to Claim Your Share Previous (and current, no judgment) iPhone 7 users may be entitled to up to $349. The deadline to file a claim has been extended to July 3.

By Sherin Shibu Edited by Melissa Malamut

Key Takeaways

  • A proposed $35 million settlement could give Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus users up to $349 each.
  • The settlement applies if the users experienced audio issues and owned either model between September 16, 2016 and January 3, 2023.
  • The deadline to file has a claim has been extended to July 3.

Time is running out to claim part of a proposed $35 million settlement on a class action lawsuit leveled against Apple five years ago.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in 2019 as Tabak, et al. v. Apple Inc., alleged that the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus had a faulty audio chip, which led to audio issues and limited calling and voice features. The iPhone 7 was the first Apple phone without an audio jack.

Apple denied the allegations and agreed to a $35 million class settlement in May 2023 to resolve them.

Now iPhone 7 or 7 Plus users who experienced audio issues and owned either model between September 16, 2016 and January 3, 2023 could be eligible for a slice of up to $349 of the proposed settlement.

The iPhone 7 on September 17, 2016. (Photo by Hitoshi Yamada/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The settlement applies only to U.S. residents who reported audio issues with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus to Apple within the specified timeframe, including problems with the phone speaker, microphone, and receiver.

Related: Apple Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over iCloud's Alleged 'Enormous Structural Advantage'

Anyone who paid Apple out of pocket for repairs or replacements related to those issues is eligible too.

The payment will be at least $50 and a maximum of $349 for those who paid Apple for repairs or replacements, and up to $125 for anyone who reported the audio-related issues with the phone to Apple.

This means that some could get back what they paid Apple for repairs. Apple's statement in the settlement proposal shows that, on average, customers paid the tech giant $193 to fix the issues covered in the filing.

The deadline to file a claim is July 3. Affected Apple customers can access the claim form on the settlement website.

Related: Apple Event: New iPad Pro Looks, Acts Like a MacBook Air

Apple is facing other lawsuits including one in March from the Department of Justice alleging anticompetitive practices.

The DOJ targeted Apple's developer fees and said the company made it hard for customers to go outside its ecosystem.

Apple said the lawsuit was "wrong on the facts and the law," and the company will "vigorously defend against it."

Related: The U.S. Justice Department Is Suing Apple in a Groundbreaking iPhone Monopoly Lawsuit

Sherin Shibu

Entrepreneur Staff

News Reporter

Sherin Shibu is a business news reporter at Entrepreneur.com. She previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. Her areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. She is a Columbia University graduate.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Science & Technology

5 AI Books Top Entrepreneurs Are Reading in a Rush for 2025

Entrepreneurs must embrace AI or risk falling behind. Discover 2025's top 5 AI books to gain a competitive edge, featuring insights from "The Wolf is at the Door" and a free AI Success Kit.

Business News

Zillow Predicts These 10 Places Will Have the Hottest Housing Markets in 2025

Zillow predicted that the hottest housing market of 2025 will be Buffalo, New York. Here's why.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

These Are the 10 Highest-Paying Jobs That Only Require a 2-Year Degree — With Some Around $100,000 and Higher

People with two-year degrees may see career growth in the healthcare, aviation, and technology industries over the next 10 years, according to a new report.

Business News

Macy's Just Released the List of 66 Stores Closing This Year — Here's Where

Around 150 underproductive stores are set to close over the next three years.