Apple Facing Lawsuit Over Clunky IPhone 4s Upgrade

(RTTNews) - Apple Inc. (AAPL) faces a class-action lawsuit from iPhone 4s customers, alleging that the company knew of potential compatibility issues after the smartphone was upgraded to the company's latest iOS 9 software.

The class action lawsuit, which accuses Apple of planned obsolescence, was filed on Tuesday in a district court in New York.

Plaintiff Chaim Lerman and more than 100 other iPhone 4s customers assert that Apple deliberately crippled the smartphone's performance after upgrading to iOS 9.

The plaintiffs say they noticed a sharp decrease in performance in third-party applications and Apple's own applications after the upgrade to iOS 9.

Lerman alleges that Apple engaged in false advertisements and deceptive practices by saying that iOS 9 is compatible with older handsets like the iPhone 4s, though in reality, iOS 9 significantly interferes with the smartphone's performance.

Since Apple's security protocols prevent the smartphone users from downgrading to a previous iOS version, they were forced to choose between an inoperable device or spend money on a new model. The class-action asserts that the new software version made their iPhone 4s devices unfit for daily use.

Further, the lawsuit claims that Apple is aware of the negative impact of iOS 9 on the iPhone 4s, but still went ahead with its broad advertising campaign of "faster performance, improved security, convenient updates, and longer battery life."

In addition, Apple's website, advertisements and iOS update page did not warn owners of older devices of potential compatibility problems.

The complaint also says that users are more likely to purchase a newer device than switching away to a competing platform due to non-transferable investments like apps. Apple too stands to benefit from customers readily upgrading to a newer iPhone if given a choice.

Lerman and the more than 100 other plaintiffs are asking over $5 million in damages, with an option to treble, which triples the amount being asked for. New York District Judge Sterling Johnson Jr. is presiding over the case.