Google to pay Pixel, Pixel XL owners up to $500 if their phone had mic or speaker issues

Google has settled a lawsuit alleging that the company was aware that Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones sold in 2017 suffered from a microphone and speaker defect.

While Google admits no wrongdoing on its part, it has agreed to pay $7.25 mn to settle the dispute. A settlement avoids a long and drawn-out court battle for both parties, and as a result of it, Pixel users in the US are now eligible for a part of the damages.

Google Pixel users in the US could be eligible for at up to $500 as part of the settlement. Image: Google[/caption]Once various fees are deducted, including lawyer’s fees (up to 30 percent of the total settlement amount), here’s what users will get:

1. Every eligible user who did not experience any issue or has no documentation to prove that they experienced said issue will get up to $20.
2. Every eligible user who experienced an issue and has proof can get $350.
3. Every eligible user who experienced an issue on multiple phones will get $500.

To apply, users can head to this website set up for that purpose. The site also contains an FAQ and a number that users can dial to check if they’re eligible for the settlement money.

There are some caveats to the settlement, however. If a user decides to participate, that user cannot sue Google again for the same issue. A user can, however, opt out of the settlement if they’re not interested or wish to file other lawsuits against Google.

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