Millions of UK consumers who bought Apple or Beats products could be included in a new competition claim filed against Apple and Amazon.
The proposed collective action alleges that the two companies entered into anti-competitive agreements. These agreements, it is claimed, restricted the number of independent sellers allowed to offer Apple and Beats products on Amazon.
According to the claim, this left consumers with fewer choices and higher prices.
The case has been filed with the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) and could potentially cover purchases made by UK consumers between 31 October 2018 and 15 December 2025.
What the Apple and Amazon claim alleges
The claim argues that Apple and Amazon implemented agreements that limited the number of independent sellers allowed to offer Apple and Beats products on Amazon’s marketplace.
Supporters of the case say these restrictions reduced the number of retailers competing to sell Apple products. In a competitive market, multiple sellers offering the same product often leads to lower prices.
The claim therefore alleges that restricting who could sell these products helped maintain higher retail prices across the UK market.
If the claim succeeds, compensation may be awarded to consumers who purchased affected products during the relevant period.
Amazon has rejected the allegations, stating that the agreement with Apple improved the availability of Apple products on its platform and benefited customers. The allegations will be tested in court.
Could this claim affect you?
The proposed claim may cover individuals who purchased new Apple or Beats products from retailers in the UK during the relevant period (31 October 2018 and 15 December 2025).
Products potentially covered by the case include:
- iPhones
- iPads
- MacBooks and iMacs
- Apple Watches
- Apple TVs
- AirPods and EarPods
- Beats headphones and earphones
- Apple accessories such as chargers, cables and keyboards
Purchases made as part of mobile network operator contracts are not included.
What does “opt-out” mean?
The claim has been filed as a proposed opt-out collective action, a type of group claim used in UK competition cases.
In opt-out claims, a court-approved class representative brings the case on behalf of everyone affected (the defined class).
That means:
- If you fall within the “defined class”, you are automatically included
- You do not need to sign up to be part of the claim
- You can choose to opt out if you do not want to be included.
If compensation is awarded, consumers usually need to register to receive their share.
What happens next
The Competition Appeal Tribunal will decide whether the claim can proceed as a collective action. If certification is granted, the case will move forward through the litigation process. That may involve legal arguments, evidence gathering and potentially settlement discussions.
At this stage, no decision has been made about whether the claim will succeed or whether compensation will be awarded.
If you bought Apple or Beats products in the UK during the relevant period, you may want to keep an eye on how the case develops. You can find out more about the case and see whether you may be included here.
Join the Claim connects consumers with trusted, SRA-regulated law firms. For this claim, we’re not directly involved, but we’ll keep you informed. Where possible, we’ll share links to official claim websites or updates as they become available.
