Apple Faces Class Action Over Defective Beats Headphones

Case Overview: A proposed class action lawsuit accuses Apple of selling defective Beats headphones that fail to deliver clear sound during calls, despite advertising professional-grade performance.

Consumers Affected: California residents who purchased Beats Studio Pro, Beats Fit Pro, Beats Solo Pro, or Beats Studio 3 headphones since July 2021.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division

Apple is facing a new lawsuit claiming its Beats Studio Pro headphones fall far short of their premium image. The suit accuses Apple of touting “crystal-clear calls” and “optimized voice performance” while selling devices that allegedly struggle with basic phone and video use.

According to the complaint, the headphones’ built-in microphones routinely glitch, leaving users muffled or silent mid-conversation. The issue is said to affect a wide range of devices, raising questions about whether the Studio Pro can deliver on its advertised performance.

Even as customer complaints pile up, Apple has continued to market and sell the headphones at full price, the lawsuit claims.

Plaintiff Claims Apple Knew About Faulty Microphones but Kept Selling

California resident Kimberly Feeney filed the lawsuit after buying a pair of Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian headphones in late 2024, expecting them to deliver the “professional-quality” sound Apple advertised. Instead, her colleagues told her they couldn’t hear her on Zoom or Microsoft Teams calls, precisely the situations she bought them for.

Feeney sought help from Apple’s Genius Bar, receiving not one but two replacements, both plagued by the same problem. When she finally contacted Apple Support online, she was told the headphones weren’t actually designed for calls or meetings, contradicting Apple’s own marketing. 

The lawsuit claims Apple knowingly misrepresented the product’s capabilities, tricking consumers into paying top dollar for headphones that don’t do what they say on the box.

Complaint Points to Design Defects and Misleading Marketing

Beats, launched by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine in 2006 and acquired by Apple for $3 billion in 2014, has long been marketed as a blend of fashion and high-end sound. With celebrity collaborations and endorsements, the brand dominates the premium headphone market, an industry projected to hit $28 billion by 2025.

The complaint argues that Apple capitalized on the growing demand for high-quality headsets in an era of remote work, emphasizing features like “voice-targeting microphones” and “seamless connectivity.” 

Yet users across forums such as Reddit and Amazon have reported the same persistent microphone failures, often going through multiple replacements with no fix in sight.

Feeney’s lawsuit claims Apple knew about the defect but failed to act, continuing to profit while customers spent hundreds on headphones that don’t perform.

Apple Faces Mounting Lawsuits Over Product Reliability and Performance

This case adds to a growing list of lawsuits targeting Apple’s product reliability and marketing. The company has recently faced suits over faulty AirPods Pro, misleading iPhone 16 AI claims, undisclosed repair costs, and even allegations of hosting scam crypto apps.

In her lawsuit Feeney aims to represent all California consumers who purchased Beats Studio Pro, Beats Fit Pro, Beats Solo Pro, or Beats Studio 3 headphones since July 2021. The lawsuit seeks damages, restitution, and an injunction preventing Apple from selling the defective products.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Feeney v. Apple Inc., et al.
• Case Number: 2:25-cv-09716
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Helen I. Zeldes, Amy C. Johnsgard, Summer Wright, and Joshua A. Fields (Schonbrun Seplow Harris Hoffman & Zeldes, LLP)

Do you use Beats headphones for work calls or video chats? Have you experienced microphone problems? Share your experience in the comments below.