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Apple Inc: The 11 Biggest Scandals of All Time
- Bent phones and flickering screens: Apple's biggest scandals exposed.
- A billion-dollar tax twist and other jaw-dropping controversies await.
- Discover the missteps that turned Cupertino's crown into a cautionary tale.
Apple’s sleek designs and cutting‐edge innovations have long set the benchmark for the tech industry. Yet behind the glossy facade lies a history peppered with controversies—moments when the company’s ambition collided with unexpected challenges. From engineering missteps to ethical dilemmas, here’s a look at the 11 scandals that not only rattled the Cupertino giant but also reshaped public perception.
1. Antennagate
Back in June 2010, the iPhone 4 burst onto the scene with a bold new design that featured an external antenna. The catch? Simply placing your finger on the antenna’s gap could drop your call. Critics and consumers were quick to point out the flaw, and the issue soon morphed into a full-blown controversy. Even Steve Jobs couldn’t dodge the criticism—he held a press conference where he admitted:
We’re not perfect… but we want all our users to be happy.— Steve Jobs
Apple’s response included free rubber bumper cases and a series of $15 settlement checks by 2012. While the iPhone 4 still sold remarkably well, Antennagate remains a cautionary tale in product design.
Photo via Pocket Lint // An iPhone 4 with its "bumper case" after the antennagate scandal.
2. Bendgate
Not long after, the iPhone 6 Plus found itself at the center of another storm. Owners discovered that the device’s slim aluminum body could bend when squeezed—often by simply sitting on it in a tight pocket. A viral video by Unbox Therapy put the spotlight on the flaw, forcing Apple to emphasize that such cases were “extremely rare.” In the aftermath, the company even replaced bent units and reinforced the design in the iPhone 6s. Still, Bendgate raised questions about durability in the race for thinner, lighter devices.
3. Touch Disease
Following the bending woes, a new problem surfaced with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus: an intermittent, flickering grey bar at the top of the screen and occasional unresponsiveness. Dubbed “Touch Disease,” this issue led to a repair program costing users $149 per device. While Apple attributed the problem to damage from repeated hard impacts, class-action lawsuits emerged, challenging whether the flaw was a design oversight rather than mere mishandling.
4. MobileMe
Even Apple’s software ventures haven’t been immune to missteps. Early on, MobileMe—the precursor to today’s iCloud—faced a disastrous launch. In one now-infamous meeting, Steve Jobs reportedly asked:
Can anyone tell me what MobileMe is supposed to do?— Steve Jobs
When an employee ventured an answer, the lead engineer was summarily fired on the spot. Although MobileMe eventually evolved into a reliable syncing service, its rocky debut left a mark on Apple’s service legacy.
Photo via NBC News // MobileMe became one of Apple's most infamous flops.
5. U2-gate
In an attempt to innovate the Apple Watch launch, the company bundled a U2 album into every iTunes account. What seemed like a generous bonus quickly backfired, as many fans balked at the unsolicited addition. Even U2’s Bono had something to say about the stunt:
I had this beautiful idea and we kind of got carried away with ourselves.— Bono
The misstep highlighted a cultural disconnect—reminding Apple that even its bold moves must resonate with its audience.
6. Apple Maps
When Apple ditched Google Maps in favor of its own mapping service, it was betting big on innovation. Instead, Apple Maps launched with glaring inaccuracies that left users frustrated and lost. The blunders were so severe that they not only undermined consumer trust but also reportedly played a part in the departure of software lead Scott Forstall. Today, while Apple Maps has improved dramatically, its turbulent debut remains a potent reminder of the risks inherent in reinventing familiar tools.
Photo via BGR // At first, Apple Maps was full of mistakes. For example, many buildings, attractions and stores were mislabeled, misplaced or totally missing. Not to mention the 3D view was an absolute nightmare.
7. Crackgate
Few scandals have sparked as much eyebrow-raising commentary as Crackgate. Early complaints about cracked screens on devices like the iPod nano and iPhone 3G led to some eyebrow-raising responses from Apple’s leadership. In one notable moment, Apple SVP of Marketing Phil Schiller remarked:
This issue has affected less than 1/10th of 1 percent of the total iPod nano units that we’ve shipped. It is not a design issue. It has more to do with obese Americans in tight pants putting the nano in their front jeans pocket, and then sitting for extended periods of time.— Phil Schiller
The comment, intended to downplay the problem, instead fueled a firestorm of criticism.
8. Slowgate
Yes, another "gate." For many iPhone 3G users, the introduction of iOS 4.0 was a nightmare. The once-responsive device struggled under the weight of the new update, becoming so sluggish that users felt forced to upgrade their hardware. Although Apple quickly issued a fix with iOS 4.1, the incident—later echoed by complaints during subsequent updates—underscored the fine balance between innovation and backward compatibility.
9. The Labor Dilemma
While Apple’s consumer-facing products dazzle with innovation, the company’s supply chain has long been shrouded in controversy. Reports of abysmal working conditions in Chinese factories have haunted Apple for years. In 2010, 14 Foxconn workers took their own lives amid grueling conditions, and a 2011 factory blast claimed the lives of three workers. Investigations by the BBC in 2014 and an independent study by NYU’s Dejian Zeng later revealed that long hours, cramped dormitories, and even child labor were distressingly common. This scandal remains a somber reminder of the human cost behind high-tech glamour.
10. Apple's Tax Bill
In a case that captured global headlines, Apple was hit with a $14.5 billion tax bill by the European Commission for allegedly receiving “illegal state aid” from the Irish government. According to Reuters, this arrangement allowed Apple to pay just 3.8% on $200 billion of overseas profits over the past decade. Apple CEO Tim Cook dismissed the ruling as, and this is true:
Just a bunch of political crap.— Tim Cook
No joke. The company launched a vigorous legal challenge, and the tax saga not only spotlighted the complexities of international finance, but also ignited debates about corporate responsibility and fairness.
11. Siri Eavesdropping
Perhaps the most unsettling controversy has been over Apple’s voice assistant, Siri. A class-action lawsuit accused the company of recording users’ private conversations without consent—capturing snippets that later triggered targeted advertisements. The legal battle culminated in a $95 million settlement, a sum that amounts to roughly nine hours of profit for Apple (given its net income of $93.74 billion in the last fiscal year). In response, Apple said:
Siri has been engineered to protect user privacy from the beginning.— Shane Bauer
The incident remains a stark reminder of the delicate balance between innovation and user privacy in today’s digital age.
Final Thoughts
Apple’s journey is a study in contrasts—a company that has revolutionized technology while grappling with its own set of missteps and ethical quandaries. Each scandal, from Antennagate’s technical hiccups to the profound challenges of factory labor and privacy, offers valuable lessons in accountability and the unforeseen costs of relentless innovation. Whether these controversies will ultimately tarnish Apple’s legacy or simply add layers to its storied history is a debate that continues to evolve as swiftly as technology itself.
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