AirPods Pro With a Crackling Issue? There's a Lawsuit for That

Apple is now facing a class action lawsuit over its AirPods Pro model and its crackling issue. DMN has reported on the issue over the years—with the plaintiffs alleging Apple has done nothing to resolve the issue.

The Cupertino giant introduced the AirPods Pro model in October 2019 and shortly after, buyers complained about crackling, static, popping, and other intermittent sounds affecting the earbuds. The issue was more noticeable when the person wearing them was moving, either walking or running.

Apple issued a few over-the-air software updates in an attempt to fix the issue, but nothing really worked. Next year in October 2020, Apple announced the AirPods Pro repair program to allow those affected to bring in their earbuds for a replacement. Most people only needed one earbud replaced, although there are reports of both buds and even the charging case being replaced. Despite the repair program, many people found their replacement AirPods Pro to be affected by the same defect. Apple even quietly extended the repair program beyond the stated date in 2021.

“Plaintiffs and similarly situated class members bought defective AirPods Pro Gen 1 headphones at a premium price when they, in fact, have 'sound issues' that make the headphones worth less than what they paid for them,” the lawsuit alleges. “As a result of Apple's false and misleading advertising, and sale of its AirPods Pro Gen 1 with an audio defect, Plaintiffs and the proposed class have suffered damages.”

“[Class action members] would not have purchased their AirPods Pro gen 1 or they would have paid less had they known that Apple's advertising was false and misleading and that the AirPods Pro Gen 1 contained an audio defect.”

The three proposed class representatives are Lindsey LaBella of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; Michael Pawson of Harris County, Texas; and Stacey Rodgers of Painesville, Ohio. The lawsuit was filed in a California federal court and the full complaint alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.