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Apple is the target of a pair of freshly filed class action lawsuits around the issue of M1-powered MacBooks and their alleged susceptibility to cracks on the screen (an issue which came to light at the start of August).
As spotted by Tomās Hardware, 9to5 Mac reported on a law firm in the US, Migliaccio & Rathod LLP, lining up a suit over this last week, which was filed in California on September 14. And now a second firm of lawyers, Bursor & Fisher, has also just filed a suit (again in California) on that very same day (Tuesday just gone).
[ul]
[li]Check out all the best laptops around[/li][li]And the best Macs to buy this year[/li][li]How to update a MacBook[/li][/ul]
The broad accusation is that Apple is knowingly selling MacBook Air and Pro notebooks (with M1 processors) which have displays that are prone to cracking during normal usage due to the āthin designā of these machines.
While some users have had such issues resolved by Apple with no charge, as 9to5 Mac observes, in other cases, these faults arenāt corrected without a hefty bill for repairs (as you might imagine where a screen replacement is involved).
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP observes: āMany users allege that they have opened their devices from the closed position without applying any undue pressure, only to find dramatic cracks in the retina display, often accompanied by black bars running across the screen.
āOthers report that the crack followed a simple adjustment of the screenās viewing angle. In none of these cases would a reasonable consumer expect such activity to damage their device, let alone cause a screen crack that impairs its functionality.ā
The law firm adds: āUnfortunately, Appleās customer service has not been receptive to these grievances. Users complain that Apple representatives insist the culprit is a small item or particle that gets lodged between the keyboard and screen upon its closing, even when that explanation runs completely counter to usersā experiences.ā
In the second suit, Bursor & Fisher states: āThe M1 MacBook is defective, as the screens are extraordinarily fragile, cracking, blacking out, or showing magenta, purple and blue lines and squares, or otherwise ceasing to function altogether.ā
It further observes: āThousands of users from across the globe have reported this issue directly to Apple and on Apple sponsored forums. Nonetheless, consumers who have attempted to secure replacements or repairs have been rebuffed by Apple, often forced to pay out of pocket upwards of between $600 and $850 for repairs themselves or to secure replacements without Appleās assistance.ā
Bursor & Fisher also adds that some MacBook owners whoāve had a repair have seen the problem happen again, and thatās supposedly true for those who have had their machine replaced as well in some cases.
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP echoes the sentiment that even after a repair has been paid for, thereās no guarantee that āthe screen crack defect wonāt reoccur at a later dateā.
[HEADING=1]Analysis: Stepping up a gear[/HEADING]
The fact that a pair of lawsuits have now been fired off against Apple on the same day earlier this week certainly represents these cracked display complaints seriously stepping up a gear.
Whatās clear is that there are a lot of anecdotal reports online of folks who are certainly frustrated to have their display develop this problem, claiming itās through no fault of their own, and that the crack appeared suddenly in the course of everyday usage (without the notebook being mishandled in any way). Some say theyāve been able to get the repair paid for by Apple, and others say theyāve been charged for the work.
At any rate, gathering together complaints under the umbrellas of two separate class action lawsuits will doubtless help to focus Appleās attention on this matter, and itāll be interesting to watch the MacBook makerās reaction to this.
[ul]
[li]Shop all the latest MacBook Pro deals and sales[/li][/ul]
Continue readingā¦
As spotted by Tomās Hardware, 9to5 Mac reported on a law firm in the US, Migliaccio & Rathod LLP, lining up a suit over this last week, which was filed in California on September 14. And now a second firm of lawyers, Bursor & Fisher, has also just filed a suit (again in California) on that very same day (Tuesday just gone).
[ul]
[li]Check out all the best laptops around[/li][li]And the best Macs to buy this year[/li][li]How to update a MacBook[/li][/ul]
The broad accusation is that Apple is knowingly selling MacBook Air and Pro notebooks (with M1 processors) which have displays that are prone to cracking during normal usage due to the āthin designā of these machines.
While some users have had such issues resolved by Apple with no charge, as 9to5 Mac observes, in other cases, these faults arenāt corrected without a hefty bill for repairs (as you might imagine where a screen replacement is involved).
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP observes: āMany users allege that they have opened their devices from the closed position without applying any undue pressure, only to find dramatic cracks in the retina display, often accompanied by black bars running across the screen.
āOthers report that the crack followed a simple adjustment of the screenās viewing angle. In none of these cases would a reasonable consumer expect such activity to damage their device, let alone cause a screen crack that impairs its functionality.ā
The law firm adds: āUnfortunately, Appleās customer service has not been receptive to these grievances. Users complain that Apple representatives insist the culprit is a small item or particle that gets lodged between the keyboard and screen upon its closing, even when that explanation runs completely counter to usersā experiences.ā
In the second suit, Bursor & Fisher states: āThe M1 MacBook is defective, as the screens are extraordinarily fragile, cracking, blacking out, or showing magenta, purple and blue lines and squares, or otherwise ceasing to function altogether.ā
It further observes: āThousands of users from across the globe have reported this issue directly to Apple and on Apple sponsored forums. Nonetheless, consumers who have attempted to secure replacements or repairs have been rebuffed by Apple, often forced to pay out of pocket upwards of between $600 and $850 for repairs themselves or to secure replacements without Appleās assistance.ā
Bursor & Fisher also adds that some MacBook owners whoāve had a repair have seen the problem happen again, and thatās supposedly true for those who have had their machine replaced as well in some cases.
Migliaccio & Rathod LLP echoes the sentiment that even after a repair has been paid for, thereās no guarantee that āthe screen crack defect wonāt reoccur at a later dateā.
[HEADING=1]Analysis: Stepping up a gear[/HEADING]
The fact that a pair of lawsuits have now been fired off against Apple on the same day earlier this week certainly represents these cracked display complaints seriously stepping up a gear.
Whatās clear is that there are a lot of anecdotal reports online of folks who are certainly frustrated to have their display develop this problem, claiming itās through no fault of their own, and that the crack appeared suddenly in the course of everyday usage (without the notebook being mishandled in any way). Some say theyāve been able to get the repair paid for by Apple, and others say theyāve been charged for the work.
At any rate, gathering together complaints under the umbrellas of two separate class action lawsuits will doubtless help to focus Appleās attention on this matter, and itāll be interesting to watch the MacBook makerās reaction to this.
[ul]
[li]Shop all the latest MacBook Pro deals and sales[/li][/ul]
Continue readingā¦