Got an Old Apple Watch? You May Get Rs 1,750 From Apple’s Settlement

Apple has started sending settlement payments to certain Apple Watch owners in the United States as part of a $20 million class-action resolution. The compensation addresses complaints that older models experienced swollen batteries, which in some cases could cause the screen to detach.

Recipients are receiving the settlement through prepaid Mastercard digital cards, sent via email. Messages titled “Smith et al. v. Apple Inc. Settlement” confirm eligibility and include the prepaid card information.

The payout applies to owners of Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3. Apple automatically included customers in its service records who experienced the issue, though it also accepted claims filed through the official settlement website until April 10, 2025.

The base settlement is $20 (approximately Rs 1,750) per affected device, though the actual payment varies depending on the number of approved claims per person. Some users have reported receiving $25, slightly above the standard amount.

The case originated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where plaintiffs argued that the watches lacked internal space to accommodate battery expansion over time. This swelling, they claimed, could exert pressure on the display, causing it to lift or separate from the casing.

Apple agreed to the class-action settlement without admitting wrongdoing, aiming to resolve the long-running dispute over hardware durability in its early smartwatch lineup.