In 2020, Apple acknowledged that certain AirPods Pro models experienced crackling sounds and issues with the Active Noise Cancellation feature. The company initiated a recall program that permitted customers to return their AirPods for replacements.
Apple stated that only units manufactured prior to October 2020 were impacted. However, a new lawsuit regarding AirPods Pro disputes this claim and suggests that Apple’s own actions reveal otherwise…
Apple’s service program recognized the issues reported by users:
An affected AirPods Pro may demonstrate one or more of the following issues:
– Crackling or static noises that intensify in loud environments, during exercise, or while on phone calls
– Active Noise Cancellation functioning improperly, like diminished bass sounds or heightened background noise, such as street or airplane sounds
The company proposed three alternatives to address the issues:
Nevertheless, a recent class action lawsuit reported by ClassAction claims that Apple did not actually resolve the problem in later iterations of the same model.
The class action alleges that the apparent audio defects affect all AirPods Pro Gen 1 headphones, irrespective of their manufacturing date.
Even though consumers began voicing complaints about sound issues with the AirPods Pro Gen 1 soon after their launch in October 2019—and despite Apple admitting to these audio problems—the company persisted in selling the devices for hundreds of dollars until September 2022, as highlighted in the case.
The lawsuit contends that the service program was ineffective since it only allowed customers to exchange one faulty pair for another. It asserts that a close inspection of the design and components before and after the specified cutoff date reveals no substantial differences that would rectify the issue.
“In essence, those users merely received another defective set of AirPods Pro Gen 1, with many experiencing the same Audio Defect with the replacement pair as well,” states the case […]
Regarding the manufacturing date, the filing claims that there are no significant differences in first-generation AirPods Pro produced before or after October 2020, the specific date mentioned on Apple’s support page.
The law firm argues that Apple was fully aware of this, given that it extended the program by an additional year.
Just two weeks shy of the October 31, 2021 end date for Apple’s AirPods Pro service program announced a year earlier, the company announced an extension to cover affected AirPods for three years following the first retail sale of the unit, effectively adding another year of coverage, as relayed in the case.
However, it should be noted that it is not uncommon for Apple to take such actions when ongoing issues emerge over an extended period, ensuring that those who encounter problems later are still protected.
If you are impacted by this situation, there’s nothing you need to do at this moment. If Apple proposes a settlement, customers will then be invited to submit claims.
Via Macworld.
: . More.
