You’ve probably heard that annoying, high-pitched crackle. Or maybe you’re one of the thousands of people who felt like their active noise cancellation (ANC) basically just quit one day. It’s frustrating when you drop 250 bucks on a pair of "pro" earbuds only to have them sound like a bag of potato chips being crushed in your ear. Honestly, that’s exactly why we’re seeing the apple airpods class action lawsuit taking up so much space in the news lately.
It’s not just one single legal battle, either. People are coming at Apple from a few different angles. Some are mad about the static, while others are filing suits over some pretty scary claims about hearing damage from loud emergency alerts. If you’ve been holding onto a pair of first-gen AirPods Pro that sound like garbage, you’re definitely not alone in this.
The Crackle Heard 'Round the World
The main drama centers on the first-generation AirPods Pro. Back in October 2020, Apple admitted there was an issue. They even set up a "Service Program for Sound Issues" because units made before that date were prone to static, popping, or just losing their bass entirely.
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But here’s the kicker: the lawsuit filed in November 2024—Lindsey LaBella et al. v. Apple Inc.—basically says that the "fix" was a joke. Plaintiffs claim that when they sent their broken buds in, Apple just sent back another pair with the exact same defect. It’s like replacing a flat tire with another tire that’s about to blow out.
The lawsuit alleges that Apple knew the design was fundamentally flawed but kept selling them until 2022 anyway. By October 2025, a federal judge in San Jose, Noël Wise, actually gave Apple a bit of a win by tossing out some of the claims. Specifically, the judge dismissed the nationwide warranty claims because the plaintiffs didn't have someone representing every single state. But—and this is a big "but"—the judge said the case can move forward on the "fraud by omission" claims.
Basically, the court wants to know: did Apple hide what they knew about these defects while they were taking your money?
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What About the "Screaming" Amber Alerts?
This is the part that’s actually kinda terrifying. There’s a separate legal thread involving a young boy in Texas. Back in 2022, a lawsuit was filed alleging that a 12-year-old suffered permanent hearing loss because an Amber Alert blared through his AirPods at a "bone-shattering" volume while he was watching Netflix.
The family claimed the alert was so loud it actually tore the boy's eardrum. For a long time, this case was a major headline, but in April 2025, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley actually granted a summary judgment in favor of Apple. The court ruled that the scientific evidence didn’t quite bridge the gap between the AirPods' maximum decibel output (around 113.5 dB) and the specific physical damage claimed.
It was a massive blow to that specific legal push, but it hasn't stopped the conversation about how Apple handles sudden volume spikes.
Why the Courts are Skeptical
- Warranty Limits: Courts usually stick strictly to that one-year limit unless you can prove the company knew the product would fail.
- Expert Testimony: In the hearing loss case, the judge felt the plaintiff's expert wasn't specialized enough in the specific physics of earbud acoustics.
- Replacement Cycles: Since Apple launched the AirPods Pro 2 with a totally different chip and internal layout, they argue the "old" problems are a thing of the past.
Is There a Settlement You Can Join?
Everyone wants to know when they get their check. As of early 2026, there is no open settlement for the AirPods Pro crackling issue that you can just sign up for today.
Because the LaBella case is still grinding through the "discovery" phase—where lawyers get to dig through Apple’s internal emails—a payout is likely still a long way off. If the parties settle, you’ll probably see a website pop up where you can enter your serial number. For now, it’s a waiting game.
The only real "action" most people could take was that 2020 Service Program. But Apple officially pulled that program off their active list in October 2025. If you didn't get your pair swapped by then, you’re likely out of luck through official Apple channels unless you have AppleCare+.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you are sitting there with a pair of AirPods Pro that are acting up, don't just wait for a lawsuit to save you. Legal battles take years. Here is the realistic path forward:
- Check Your Serial Number: Even though the official program ended, some Genius Bar techs have a bit of "discretionary" power. It never hurts to ask nicely if your serial number falls into the affected 2019-2020 range.
- Document the Defect: If you take them to a store and they "fail" the audio test but they refuse to fix them for free, save that paperwork. You’ll need it as proof of purchase and proof of defect if a settlement eventually opens up.
- Disable "Loud Sound" Risks: To avoid the issues mentioned in the hearing damage suits, go to your iPhone settings. Head to Sound & Haptics > Headphone Safety. Toggle on "Reduce Loud Audio" and set the limit to something like 80 or 85 decibels. It’s a literal ear-saver.
- Monitor the Docket: Keep an eye on Lindsey LaBella v. Apple Inc. in the Northern District of California. That is the "big one" for the crackling issue.
While Apple has managed to dodge some of the more serious "nationwide" claims for now, the fact that a judge is letting the "fraud by omission" part move forward is a big deal. It means the lawyers get to see what Apple was saying behind closed doors. If they find a "smoking gun" email, that $10 settlement everyone jokes about might actually turn into something real.
Protect your ears and keep your receipts. In the world of tech litigation, those are the only two things you can actually control.