Apple and Samsung Users Could Get Compensation in Which? Lawsuit

If you bought an Apple or Samsung phone in the UK between 2015 and early 2024, you could be in line for a payout — around £17 per phone — thanks to a case that is now underway in London.

Consumer rights group Which? has launched a class action lawsuit against Qualcomm, the US tech giant behind many of the chips inside modern smartphones. They claim Qualcomm used its dominance in the market to charge inflated fees to phone makers like Apple and Samsung — and those extra costs were then passed down to millions of consumers.

The case is being heard by the Competition Appeal Tribunal, with a trial expected to last five weeks.

What’s the case about?

Which? argues that Qualcomm unfairly hiked up licensing and chipset prices, taking advantage of its power in the tech supply chain. Those higher costs, they say, didn’t just hurt Apple and Samsung — they made phones more expensive or worse in quality for nearly 29 million UK customers.

If Which? wins, a second trial will look into how much damage consumers suffered — a number they estimate at £480 million in total.

“We filed this claim back in 2021, so this first trial being now in 2025 - it's obviously a bit of a slog,” said Lisa Webb, a senior lawyer at Which?. “But the real benefit of this system is that as a consumer, you don't need to do anything... if we win, we will get you your money.”

That means if you bought an Apple or Samsung phone between October 1, 2015 and January 9, 2024, you could get your cut — without lifting a finger.

Anabel Hoult, the CEO of Which?, says this trial is about more than money: “This trial is a huge moment. It shows how the power of consumers - backed by Which? - can be used to hold the biggest companies to account if they abuse their dominant position.”

Qualcomm’s response?

The company has previously called the case baseless. It hasn't commented on the trial starting this week but has faced similar legal scrutiny in the US, Canada, and the EU before. In one major case, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued Qualcomm in 2017 over unfair licensing practices — though that case was later dismissed in 2020.

If Which? succeeds, it could set a powerful precedent for how big tech firms operate — and how consumers fight back. But even if the first stage goes in their favour, it could take years before any money is actually paid out. So, for now, keep your receipts — and your patience.