Google has agreed to pay $7.25 million to settle a class-action lawsuit levied against the company by Pixel smartphone owners. The lawsuit alleges that Google knowingly sold Pixel phones with faulty solder connections that caused widespread microphone malfunctions. Google has settled the case, and the company might owe Pixel owners as much as $500 per device. And even if you’re not eligible for the full $500 payout, chances are Google owes you at least some money.
The lawsuit pertains to any original Pixel or Pixel XL phones—defective or otherwise—purchased in the U.S. at any point before January 4, 2017. Resale/secondhand purchases are not covered. If you clear those requirements, here are the various payout options agreed upon in the settlement:
- All owners of the original Pixel devices could be eligible for at least up to $20, regardless of if your handset had a defective microphone.
- If you purchased a Pixel device with a broken mic and received a second defective Pixel device from Google, you’re eligible for the full $500 payment.
- Those who only owned one defective Pixel are eligible for up to $350 for the phone alone.
- If you paid an insurance deductible on your phone, it’s possible you’ll be able to have the full deductible reimbursed as well.
If you think you’re owed money
The settlement has yet to be approved in court, meaning the terms could change. In the meantime, you can register for updates on the settlement so you don’t forget to submit a claim when it’s time to collect your class-action cash. (If that link doesn’t work, because Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP’s website has been messy, try this one—and go back and try the original link later, just in case.)
This isn’t the end of Google’s potential payouts, either: The company also agreed to pay another $9.65 million to settle a similar lawsuit this year over critical Nexus 6P battery issues. Investigations are also underway into similar mic malfunctions on Pixel 2 handsets, as well as burn-in on the original Pixel and Pixel XL, but it’ll be some time until these yield any potential settlements.