If you have one of the firstfew Apple Watchesever made, Apple might owe you some money.
Applehas agreed to pay $20 million to settle aclass-action lawsuitthat covers thefirst-generation Apple Watchand the Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 models (viaCNET). The lawsuit pertained to battery swelling issues the devices allegedly had that could have damaged other essential components of the watch.
The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. In a statement,Apple saidit “strongly disagrees” with the claims and settled the lawsuit to “avoid further litigation.” Individuals affected could receive $20 to $50 per covered watch, depending on how many people claim the settlement.
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Assuming you’re willing to sacrifice Apple’s latest tentpole feature, that is.
How to know if you’re eligible for a payout
You need to have an eligible watch, and reported the issue to Apple
Not everyone with one of the affected Apple Watches is eligible for a payout. Per thesettlement’s FAQ page, you must have owned an affected Apple Watch, reside in the US, and contacted Apple customer service about the issue between July 13, 2025, and June 20, 2025. Some affected users may receive an email or letter from Apple that redirects them to thesettlement’s websiteto submit a claim.
None of the Apple Watch models included in this settlement are available for purchase anymore. The most recent model affected by the issue was theApple Watch Series 3, which was released in 2017 and discontinued in 2022. If eligible users accept a settlement payment, they forfeit the right to take any future legal action against Apple regarding battery issues on the affected models.
In early January, Apple settled another lawsuit regardingitsvoice assistant Siri, who allegedly was listening in on private conversations. Like in this Apple Watch settlement, Apple denied wrongdoing and settled the proposed class-action lawsuit “to avoid additional litigation.”
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to people Siri eavesdropped on
If Siri has unintentionally listened to one of your private conversations, you may be eligible for a piece of this proposed $95 million settlement.
