You’ve probably been there. You pop in your expensive white earbuds, ready to zone out to a podcast or that one song you’ve had on repeat for a week, and then it happens. A tiny, annoying crackle. Or maybe a weird static sound that makes it feel like you’re listening to a radio from the 1940s.
Honestly, for a product that costs over $200, that "pop" is the sound of money disappearing.
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It turns out thousands of people felt the same way, leading to a massive legal headache for the tech giant. The apple airpods class action isn't just one single case; it's a tangled web of different lawsuits covering everything from crackling audio to literal ear damage. If you’ve ever wondered why your Gen 1 Pros seem to act up or why your AirPods Max feel "wet" after an hour of use, here is the ground-level truth on where these legal battles stand as of 2026.
The "Cracklegate" Mess: AirPods Pro Gen 1
The biggest drama centers on the original AirPods Pro. If you bought these between 2019 and late 2020, you were part of the "unlucky batch." Apple actually admitted there was a manufacturing issue that caused crackling or static sounds that got worse in loud environments or during exercise.
They launched a repair program. Great, right?
Well, not exactly. The lawsuit LaBella et al v. Apple, filed in late 2024, basically claims the repair program was a band-aid on a broken leg. Plaintiffs argued that Apple just replaced defective AirPods with other defective AirPods. In October 2025, a judge in San Jose, California, gave Apple a partial win by tossing out some of the nationwide warranty claims, but—and this is the big but—the judge allowed the fraud by omission claims to move forward.
The core of the argument is simple: Apple knew these things were flaky and kept selling them anyway while using words like "pure" and "incredibly clear" in their ads.
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The Amber Alert That Changed Everything
While crackling audio is annoying, another legal battle involves something much more serious: permanent hearing loss.
There was a heart-wrenching case involving a 12-year-old boy in Texas who was watching Netflix at a low volume when an Amber Alert blasted through his AirPods. The lawsuit alleged the alert was so loud it tore his eardrum and caused permanent damage.
This case, Gordoa v. Apple, saw a major update in April 2025. A federal judge actually sided with Apple. The reasoning? Evidence showed the AirPods were capped at 113.5 decibels, which the judge ruled wasn't high enough to cause that specific type of "acoustic trauma" based on medical literature. Apple’s experts even suggested the hearing loss might have been a side effect of a viral infection rather than the earbuds themselves. It was a tough loss for the family, but it highlighted a massive concern about how "smart" devices handle sudden volume spikes.
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AirPods Max and the "Condensation" Problem
If you own the $550 AirPods Max, you might have noticed tiny water droplets inside the ear cups after wearing them for a while. It’s kinda gross, and it’s definitely not good for electronics.
A class action filed by Arthur Apicella in New York in 2025 claims this is a "design defect." Because the ear cups are made of aluminum—which is a great heat conductor but a terrible insulator—sweat and humidity turn into water droplets inside the cups.
Apple’s lawyers basically argued that this happens to all over-ear headphones and that people were just noticing it more because the AirPods Max have magnetic, removable ear cushions. They also suggested people were wearing them while working out, which they "weren't designed for." As of early 2026, this case is still grinding through the system, with users demanding a recall or a free fix for the connectivity issues caused by that moisture.
Is There a Settlement Check Coming Your Way?
Whenever people hear "class action," they usually think of a $20 check in the mail.
For the apple airpods class action regarding the crackling Pro models, we aren't at the "payout phase" yet. Since the judge only recently allowed the fraud claims to proceed in late 2025, a trial or a settlement is likely still a way off. Legal battles with trillion-dollar companies take years, not months.
However, Apple did recently finish paying out a $95 million settlement for a different issue involving Siri privacy. That one covered almost every Apple device, including AirPods. If you feel like you've been "wronged" by your hardware, here is the reality:
- Check your serial number: If you have Gen 1 Pros, see if they were made before October 2020. Even though the official repair program has largely wound down, Apple sometimes makes exceptions if you’re persistent at the Genius Bar.
- Document everything: If your AirPods Max died because of moisture, take photos. If your Pro models are buzzing, record the sound if possible.
- Watch the "Notice" emails: You don't "join" these lawsuits by calling a lawyer. Usually, if a settlement is reached, Apple is forced to email everyone who bought the product through their Apple ID.
Actionable Steps for Affected Owners:
If your AirPods are currently acting up, don't wait for a lawsuit that might take two more years to settle. First, go to the Apple Support website and check if your specific model is covered under any active "Service Programs." If you are experiencing the "condensation" issue with AirPods Max, try to avoid using them during high-intensity workouts and ensure you wipe down the interior of the cups after long listening sessions. For those with crackling Gen 1 Pros, mention the LaBella lawsuit and the 2020 service program specifically when talking to support; sometimes, "knowing the lingo" helps get a replacement even if you're technically out of warranty.