Apple Achieves Partial Victory in Narrowed AirPods Pro Crackling Lawsuit

Since their debut in 2019, the first-generation AirPods Pro have been at the center of controversy for Apple, predominantly due to numerous complaints regarding crackling and static noises. These ongoing issues culminated in a lawsuit filed in November 2024, which accused Apple of failing to adequately address the defect.

Recently, however, Apple achieved a notable, albeit partial, legal triumph that limited the scope of this lawsuit, allowing the company to focus on key claims.

Limited Defense for Apple Against Specific Allegations

To better understand the developments in this case, let’s summarize the main events that have transpired:

The lawsuit, officially known as Lindsey LaBella et al v. Apple Inc., was initiated in the U. S.District Court for the Northern District of California in November 2024, brought forth by nine consumers from seven different states.
Plaintiffs allege that AirPods Pro sold between 2019 and 2022 suffered from an engineering flaw, leading to persistent crackling noises.
In response to these complaints, Apple released a software update in May 2020 and established a repair program in October 2020 to resolve the issues.
The plaintiffs contend that had Apple disclosed the flaw prior to purchase, they would have refrained from buying the AirPods Pro, or would have only done so at a significant discount.
In March 2025, Apple attempted to dismiss the lawsuit entirely but was unsuccessful.

Recently, Judge Noël Wise issued a ruling that partially favors Apple, resulting in the dismissal of several claims from the lawsuit:

Claims at the national level due to various deficiencies.
Express warranty claims on a state basis.
Implied warranty claims on a state basis.

Additionally, the plaintiffs were denied their request for injunctive relief, which sought to compel Apple to “repair, recall, and/or replace the AirPods Pro and extend warranties for a reasonable period of time.”

Importantly, Apple now faces defense solely against the specific state claims of fraud by omission, wherein plaintiffs assert that Apple had a responsibility to disclose safety concerns related to the AirPods Pro.

It should be noted that in certain states, warranty-related claims may still be amended and resubmitted by the plaintiffs within a 21-day window. Furthermore, in order to advance to the discovery phase, plaintiffs must establish that Apple was aware of the defective AirPods Pro and intentionally withheld relevant information pertaining to the crackling problem.

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