Do you have an Apple or Samsung phone? You could get compensation

Millions of UK smartphone users could get compensation thanks to legal action being taken by Which?

The consumer group is leading a group legal action against chip manufacturer Qualcomm, as it believes it has broken competition law.

This, Which? says, has led to consumers being charged higher prices for Apple and Samsung smartphones.

Am I part of the claim?

If you bought a new Apple or Samsung 4G smartphone between 1 October 2015 and 9 January 2024, you’re likely to be part of the claim automatically.

So you don’t need to do anything to be included.

You can check if you’re eligible on the Which? website.

How much compensation could I get?

If the claim is successful, Which? believes each affected person could get around £17 per phone.

But legal cases like this can take a long time, so it’s likely to be some time before any payouts are made.

Don’t be tricked by scammers

Fraudsters often try to exploit high-profile compensation actions like this, targeting unsuspecting people by pretending to “help”.

So be careful if you’re:

• contacted out of the blue by phone, text or email
• asked to share personal details or pay a fee to “register” or “speed up” your claim
• sent links to unfamiliar websites

You don’t need to pay anyone or fill in extra forms to take part in the Which? action.

If you’re eligible, you’re already included.

You can find more information and ways to spot a scam here: How to outsmart online scammers and Top scams to watch out for in 2025.

Big companies should be held accountable, says Which?

Anabel Hoult, chief executive of Which?, believes this trial is “a huge moment”, as it would be unrealistic for each affected person to seek damages individually.

“It shows how the power of consumers can be used to hold the biggest companies to account if they abuse their dominant position,” she commented.

“It’s so important that consumers can come together and claim the redress they are entitled to.”