Judge clips AirPods Pro lawsuit wings
A federal judge narrowed a class-action lawsuit against Apple regarding defective first-generation AirPods Pro that produced crackling sounds. Judge Noël Wise dismissed nationwide claims, express warranty allegations, and implied warranty complaints while denying a request that would have forced Apple to recall the wireless earbuds. The company must defend against fraud-by-omission charges, in which plaintiffs claim Apple concealed known safety problems.
Nine consumers from seven states filed the case in November 2024, arguing that AirPods Pro sold between 2019 and 2022 contained engineering flaws causing static noise. Apple released a software fix in May 2020 and started a repair program five months later. Plaintiffs maintain they would have avoided purchasing the product or demanded lower prices had Apple disclosed the issue. The case advances to discovery if the plaintiffs prove Apple knowingly withheld information about the defect.
