India’s CCPA probes Apple warranty terms after iOS 18 complaints
India’s consumer protection regulator has referred complaints alleging iOS 18-related iPhone failures and restrictive software warranty terms for detailed investigation. The probe could result in refunds, penalties or changes to Apple’s warranty practices.
What happened
India's CCPA has sent complaints over alleged iOS 18-related iPhone failures and Apple's software warranty terms for detailed investigation. The case could lead
Key facts
- 75 complaints cited as basis for investigation
- ₹27,900 estimated iPhone 15 screen replacement cost
- iPhone held about 9% of India's smartphone market in 2025 versus 4% in 2022
- January 2025 survey: over 31,000 consumers; 60% reported multiple issues
- Latest survey: over 47,000 responses across 274 districts; 66% of iPhone 12-14 users reported difficulties
- About 11% of iPhones were running iOS 18 by June 2026
Why this matters
The investigation underscores that India market expansion may require more localized after-sales, compliance and consumer-remedy capabilities from Apple and its ecosystem partners.
What to watch
- CCPA notice, investigation timeline, named Apple India entities and allegations specified in the referral.
- Whether the regulator seeks systemic warranty changes versus resolution of individual complaints.
- A spike in National Consumer Helpline complaints, social-media reports, or coordinated consumer-law filings tied to iOS 18.
- Apple software updates or support advisories explicitly addressing battery, display, boot-loop, connectivity or device-failure claims.
- Court appeals, consumer commission orders, refunds, penalties, or mandatory warranty-disclosure requirements.
- Whether Indian retailers and telecom partners begin receiving elevated return, exchange or service requests.
- Issue a localized service bulletin, iOS diagnostic guidance, or expanded repair eligibility for affected devices.
- Engage the CCPA with device-failure data, repair records and evidence of software fixes to limit the scope of any remedy.
- Review Indian warranty language, especially exclusions involving software updates, unauthorized repairs and data-loss claims.
- Increase Genius Bar, authorized-service-provider and replacement-device capacity if complaint-driven footfall rises.
- Use goodwill repairs, refunds or AppleCare concessions selectively to reduce class-like complaint momentum and reputational damage.