Apple faces class action lawsuit over Powerbeats Pro charging issues

Apple is facing another lawsuit over Powerbeats battery issues. New York resident Alejandro Vivar has filed a potential class action lawsuit alleging Powerbeats Pro’s design flaws prevent the wireless earbuds from charging properly. Because it’s reportedly too easy to lose contact between the buds and their charging case, one of the earbuds either doesn’t charge “consistently” or quickly drains its charge. Apple committed fraud by misrepresenting battery life and not addressing issues it allegedly knew about, the plaintiff said.

Vivar’s lawyers suggest that a combination of the case design and an insufficiently stable “ear seal” (the piece that fits in your ear) could be to blame. According to the lawsuit, customers had to resort to inserting a “wedge” to keep the charging pins in contact. The lawyers also dismiss Apple’s claims that the Powerbeats Pro are sweat and water resistant, since sweat corrodes the charging contacts.

The lawsuit asks Apple to “correct” the situation, indemnify affected users, and pay unspecified damages. If fully certified as a class action, the lawsuit would cover clients in New York as well as clients in Georgia, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Virginia.

We reached out to Apple for comment. As with many such lawsuits, there is no certainty that they will achieve class status or result in relief. And don’t expect a stroke of luck, even if the case succeeds — with some exceptions, class action lawsuits usually result in small payouts. If anything, the lawsuit may sway design decisions more than Powerbeats Pro buyers’ bank accounts.

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