What is Batterygate?

Imagine checking your cell phone’s battery to see it at 50%, thinking you have plenty of time left only to be met with a dead phone an hour later. This is what started to happen all of the sudden to many iPhone owners and once uncovered by the media, quickly turned into what we now refer to as Batterygate. In this article, we will discuss what is Batterygate your right to repair.

What is Batterygate

Apple iPhone owners who had updated to the newest software soon discovered their phones were not functioning as normal. When questions emerged, Apple said it was a small issue and had it under control. Users quickly discovered there was more Apple was not telling consumers and after being confronted with evidence, Apple issued an apology.

It was uncovered that certain iPhone models were sold with defective batteries leading to unwanted crashes while being used. Instead of fixing the issue, Apple quietly implemented a software update that quickly unraveled giving way to a series of events termed “batterygate”.

What Started It

Back in 2015, during September and October, iPhone 6S models manufactured during this time were assembled with a defective battery. Because of this defect, these iPhones would later experience critical failure while operating and would force the user to reboot the device by plugging the phone into a charger. Understandably, customers were not happy and reports started to come out. All eyes were on Apple.

What Was Discovered

Once the spotlight was on Apple, it was difficult for them to hide. Report after report, it was not looking good. Evidence released proved that Apple was throttling performance on certain older iPhones which had updated to the newest software and were added to minimize the load put on the battery. This is what lead to the Apple slowing down iPhones lawsuit. Speculation was widespread with many spouting claims of planned obsolescence. Apple did their best but it didn’t matter what they said, it was too late.

What Was Done To Fix The Issue

After having to pay out over $500 million in multiple class-action lawsuits, Apple offered customers compensation in the form of a discounted battery replacement. Users who did accept this deal received $50 off ($79 to $29) for the service and could also submit a claim to receive up to $25 per device. Repairs are also cheaper now due to recent laws like the right to repair bill in california.

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