We live in a day and age consumed and often ruled by technology. That is why the number of tech companies has grown to nearly 7.1 million globally, making competition tougher than ever. Unfortunately, not everyone tends to play fair, which is exactly why some tech consumers could claim a share of £480 million. Apple and Samsung buyers are being urged to check the date, as some may lose out on the chance to claim their share of this massive potential payout. Find out more below.
Tech consumers could claim a share of £480 million
Sharing is caring, and Which? has shown just how much it cares about UK consumers after pursuing legal action against Qualcomm, which is a well-known major tech company in the US. Qualcomm is facing a class action lawsuit, as Which? argues that the tech mogul had showcased ‘anticompetitive behaviour’ specifically towards UK consumers.
According to the lawsuit, Qualcomm’s anticompetitive behaviour included:
- Refusal to provide smartphone manufacturers, such as Apple and Samsung, with chipsets unless they obtained separate licences and paid sizeable royalties to Qualcomm
- Refusal to license patents to competing chipset manufacturers
As a result, UK consumers had to pay more due to an increase in manufacturing costs. Which? believe that a successful lawsuit would result in a £480 million payout, and some tech consumers may qualify for a share of this payout.
These consumers will qualify for a share of the payout
Turnabout is fair play, which is why Apple and Samsung buyers could qualify for a claim. According to Which?, the following consumers will automatically qualify for a share of the payout:
- Apple and Samsung smartphone buyers who purchased
- directly from the manufacturer, or
- from a network operator, or
- from a smartphone retailer, and
- Purchased these particular smartphone models between
- 1 October 2015 and 9 January 2024
It cannot be said with certainty how much qualifying class members can expect to receive from the payout, as it will depend on the amount and model type of phones that were purchased between the aforementioned dates. Estimates indicate that claim amounts of approximately £17 per person seem realistic. However, before we can start any celebration of justice being served, the court must reach a decision first.
Apple & Samsung buyers urged to check date
The Which? versus Qualcomm case moved into trial on 6 October 2025, and if all things went along accordingly, the trial would last five weeks. After a successful first trial, a second trial is usually held to focus on conduct, as well as on the damage suffered by class members (as predicted by Which? could be £480 million).
According to Which?, the class action lawsuit will
“send a clear message to powerful companies like Qualcomm that if they engage in harmful. anticompetitive practices, Which? stands ready to take action.”
If an early settlement is not agreed upon, Which? will have to win the case in the Competition Appeal Tribunal for any form of compensation to be paid out. We can only hope that justice prevails at the end of the day, as this is not the first time that Qualcomm finds itself on the wrong side of the law, but hopefully it will be the last.
Qualcomm has faced similar class action lawsuits in the US and in Canada. Several competition authorities around the world, such as the European Commission and the South Korean authorities, have opened investigations against Qualcomm, and occasionally have fined Qualcomm for anticompetitive behaviours. Some fines are presently being appealed, and some have been overturned on appeal. As we await further information on this lawsuit, why not check if you are one of the iPhone users who qualify for the £75 compensation?
Disclaimer: You should not submit false or inflated claims under penalty of perjury, as class‑action claim forms historically required declarations signed “under penalty of perjury” to ensure authenticity. Submitting a fraudulent claim not only carries legal exposure—including potential civil and criminal sanctions—but also harms other eligible class members by diluting the available settlement pool. Our coverage of events affecting companies is purely informative and descriptive. Under no circumstances does it seek to promote an opinion or create a trend, nor can it be taken as investment advice or a recommendation of any kind.