The Apple Watch settlement covers claims about battery swelling—not a court finding that an Apple Watch battery exploded. Apple denied that the covered watches had battery-swell issues and denied wrongdoing. The court approved a $20 million settlement in May 2025, but the deadline to select or update a payment method was April 10, 2025, and has passed.
What the Apple Watch settlement was about
In Smith et al. v. Apple Inc., Case No. 4:21-cv-09527, plaintiffs alleged that batteries in certain Apple Watch models could swell and cause a screen to detach, crack, or shatter, potentially exposing sharp edges. The settlement materials describe those allegations; they do not establish that a watch exploded or that Apple was liable. Apple denied that the covered watches experienced battery-swell issues and denied the allegations of wrongdoing. The official settlement notice states: “Apple denies that the devices had such issues and denies all allegations of wrongdoing.”
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California approved the settlement on May 1, 2025, finding it “fair, adequate, and reasonable” and that class members received adequate notice. The court did not decide the allegations at trial. It entered final judgment on May 9, 2025. Settlement notice · Final approval order and judgment
Who qualified for the settlement?
Eligibility required more than owning an older Apple Watch. The class definition covered natural persons who resided in the United States and owned or previously owned one of the specified models for personal or household use, provided Apple’s records showed they reported a potentially battery-swelling-related issue in the United States during the class period, April 24, 2015, through February 6, 2024.
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- Model: first-generation Apple Watch, Series 1, Series 2, or Series 3.
- Residence: United States resident.
- Use: personal or household ownership.
- Report: Apple records had to show a report made in the United States about an issue potentially related to battery swelling.
- Dates: the ownership and report had to fall within the class period, April 24, 2015–February 6, 2024.
Owning a first-generation, Series 1, Series 2, or Series 3 watch by itself did not make someone a class member. The recorded-report requirement also applied. The official settlement FAQ directs people unsure whether they were included to contact the settlement administrator.
How much was the settlement payment?
Apple agreed to fund a $20 million non-reversionary settlement fund. That is the gross fund, not the amount paid directly to class members: court-approved attorneys’ fees and costs, notice and administration expenses, and service awards are paid or accounted for before distribution under the allocation plan.
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| Figure | What it means |
|---|---|
| $20 million | Gross settlement fund approved by the court, before fees, costs, administration expenses, and payments. |
| About $20 per covered watch | Administrator estimate in the official FAQ; the actual amount depended on allocation and confirmed payment information. |
| Up to $50 per watch | Stated per-watch payment cap; it is not a promised payment. |
| About $25 per covered device | Separate estimate discussed by the district court in its May 1, 2025 final approval order; also an estimate, not a guaranteed individual amount. |
The administrator’s estimate and the court’s estimate are not competing guaranteed rates. Both describe expected allocations, while the actual payment depended on the settlement’s distribution process. See the official FAQ and the court’s final approval order.
Was a claim form required, and is the deadline over?
Class members identified through Apple’s records did not need to submit a separate claim form. They were instructed to confirm or update their payment information, or select a payment method, by April 10, 2025. That payment-selection deadline has passed; it is not a current deadline.
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The settlement site listed physical check, electronic check, ACH transfer, and virtual prepaid Visa or Mastercard as payment methods. The available materials do not establish whether someone who missed the deadline can still correct details or receive a payment. The settlement documents index lists interim post-distribution accountings, but their contents do not establish final payment totals, remaining balances, or late-payment options. For a current answer about inclusion or payment status, contact the settlement administrator through the official settlement site.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the notice figures do—and do not—show
In its May 1, 2025 order, the court reported administrator figures tied to notice and the fairness review. As of March 19, 2025, direct notice had been sent to 525,542 class members, or 97.05% of the class. The administrator also reported 19 exclusions and no objections as of that date. These are notice and case-participation figures, not counts of payments made or people paid. The order also reported 1,285 calls totaling 4,614 minutes to the settlement telephone line during the notice implementation discussion; those calls are not claims or payments. See the court’s final approval order.
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