Apple Faces Another iPhone Lawsuit Over 'Programmed Obsolescence'

Apple faces a new class-action lawsuit that accuses it of deliberately releasing iOS updates that slowly reduce the performance of an iPhone, forcing customers to upgrade their devices.

iphone 6 in hand

The lawsuit comes from the Portuguese Consumer Protection Agency, Deco Proteste (via Marketeer), which in a statement says that it will proceed with a case against the Cupertino tech giant because it "deliberately manipulated, and without informing its users, the performance of its most popular devices... in doing so, it forced thousands of users to replace the battery of their devices or buy a new smartphone, to their expectations."

In particular, the agency references the ‌iPhone‌ 6, 6 Plus, 6S, and 6S Plus, but says any Portuguese consumer, regardless of which ‌iPhone‌ model they have, can join in its fight to defend their "economic interests" and the environment. Additionally, the agency pinpoints the release of iOS 11 as the start of the case.

According to the agency, Apple was aware that the update would "have considerable impacts on ‌iPhone‌ performance." Yet, it still "encouraged its users to update the devices." Those who did update their device were "faced with a slow phone, with a weak performance and unexpected "blackouts," according to the statement.

Aware that it would cause slowness in devices, performance breaks, and unexpected blackouts, Apple encouraged iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, or 6S Plus users to update their devices with the latest version of their operating system. In doing so, he knew they would prefer new iPhones, not other brands, given the high loyalty of their customers.

Deco Proteste and Euroconsumer, a more extensive European consumer protection agency group, say they've been attempting to come to a resolution for consumers impacted by Apple's "programmed obsolescence" for the past three years, but have had no luck. Apple was forced to pay a fine of 10 million euros in Italy following an Italian consumer protection agency investigation. Deco Proteste says "Portuguese consumers deserve the same treatment," hence its intent to move forward with the lawsuit.

As part of its push to encourage Portuguese consumers to join in their legal battle, Deco Proteste has produced a short video titled "Some apples are spoiled ahead of time." The agency is also encouraging the use of the hashtag #stopobsolescenciaiiPhone6.

Popular Stories

airpods 4 blue

Apple Finally Explains How to Install New Firmware on Your AirPods

Monday January 27, 2025 11:17 am PST by
Apple regularly releases new firmware for the AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, but the company has historically provided limited information on how to initiate an update. That changed today, and Apple updated its AirPods firmware support page with more specific instructions. Prior to today, here's what Apple said on the subject: Firmware updates are delivered automatically while your...
iOS 18

iOS 18.3 Available as Soon as Today With These New Features

Monday January 27, 2025 6:35 am PST by
Update: Apple has released iOS 18.3. In its press release unveiling a new Black Unity Sport Loop for the Apple Watch today, Apple confirmed that iOS 18.3 is "upcoming." According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple Stores are being instructed to update the software on demo devices today, so iOS 18.3 should be released either today or within the next few days. Below, we recap everything new...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Horizontal 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching This Year With These 8 New Features

Tuesday January 28, 2025 11:48 am PST by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. iPhone 17 Pro concept based on rumors Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of January 2025: More aluminum: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models ...
tvOS 18 Thumb 3

Apple Releases tvOS 18.3

Monday January 27, 2025 10:00 am PST by
Apple today released tvOS 18.3, the newest version of the tvOS 18 operating system that came out in September. tvOS 18.3 comes more than a month after Apple released tvOS 18.2, and it is available for the Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV HD models. tvOS 18.3 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software....
iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.3 With Visual Intelligence and Notification Summary Improvements

Monday January 27, 2025 10:04 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, the third major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 software that came out last year. iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 come six weeks after Apple released iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iPadOS 17.7.4 for...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

5 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's MacBook Pro

Monday January 27, 2025 4:25 am PST by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the MacBook Pro is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small...
ipad january sale

Amazon's New iPad Sale Has Up to $300 Off M4 iPad Pro, M2 iPad Air, and iPad Mini 7

Tuesday January 28, 2025 7:32 am PST by
Today we're tracking a few iPad discounts on Amazon, including the new iPad mini 7, M2 iPad Air, and M4 iPad Pro. These deals include multiple all-time low prices on Apple's tablets, matching the prices we tracked over the holiday season in many cases. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us...

Top Rated Comments

Suckfest 9001 Avatar
51 months ago
Once again I’m in agreement with this investigation. I’m not about to let apple off the hook because a bunch of macrumors posters ran to their defence. I want it investigated and handled properly, guilty or not.

That being said, apple doesn’t add enough features in between major releases to warrant some of those performance drops in my opinion. There’s something going on and I’m glad others are noticing.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iShater Avatar
51 months ago

Case dismissed!..As an owner of iPhone 6 Plus, before any update, Apple advises customers that software update is only for Model XXX or later.
Then that update should not be available if it will severely impact a device. I had a few year back an iPad that basically became useless after an iOS update, and there was no way to go back to previous version where it actually worked fine.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Smoovejayy Avatar
51 months ago
This is so stupid, at this point. Yes, Apple could have communicated what they were doing behind the scenes. They didn't, they tried to make it right. Years ago. That's it.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Scipster Avatar
51 months ago
iPhone 6 and 6s? Deco Proteste is years behind the eight ball on this. At some point they have to say enough is enough.

Honestly, instead of fines, they should just allow old iPhone owners to downgrade their version of iOS to the one that came with the phone. Problem solved.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I7guy Avatar
51 months ago

Considering the mountains of iPhone 12 complaints and most recently massive bugs that have gotten terrible with iOS lately, specifically iOS 13 and 14, (and even more specifically ios 14.4), I fully support Apple being forced to slow down on features and concentrate more on fixing bugs. My iPhone XR ran better on iOS 12 and 13 than my iPhone 12 does on iOS 14.

Unfortunately the only way you get companies to change is by screwing with their money.
What "mountains of iphone 12 complaints" that are above any other release in the past and what "massive bugs" that are outside the norm for iphone releases?

As far as the lawsuit, at this point it seems to be a money grab, but there are likely other lawsuits waiting in the wings.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
repoman016 Avatar
51 months ago

Considering the mountains of iPhone 12 complaints and most recently massive bugs that have gotten terrible with iOS lately, specifically iOS 13 and 14, (and even more specifically ios 14.4), I fully support Apple being forced to slow down on features and concentrate more on fixing bugs. My iPhone XR ran better on iOS 12 and 13 than my iPhone 12 does on iOS 14.

Unfortunately the only way you get companies to change is by screwing with their money.
I haven't enjoyed an iPhone since the 6s. Its a shame. Blame the phone (11 pro max), blame the software. Blame whatever but they aren't what they used to be. i have 10000 emoji's to pick from at the cost of stability.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)