Which? withdrew the case after reaching an undisclosed agreement with Qualcomm.

Which? had sought damages for devices sold between late 2015 and early 2024, estimating an average potential payout of about £17 per phone.

A UK lawsuit brought by Which? on behalf of about 29 million Apple and Samsung smartphone users alleged that Qualcomm used its dominance in patent licensing and chipset markets to inflate licence fees, with costs ultimately passed to consumers as higher prices or lower-quality devices.

The tribunal’s anticipated conclusions were about coercion, competition law impact, and consumer price effects, though specific terms remain undisclosed.

Withdrawal followed the Competition Appeal Tribunal process.

Qualcomm will make no payment to the claimant class as part of the resolution.

The article also provides broader MacRumors coverage, but the core focus remains the withdrawal and its implications for Qualcomm’s licensing dynamics with Apple and Samsung.

The development informs ongoing debates over intellectual property rights and consumer protections in the UK tech sector.

The case sits in a broader context of Apple’s shift from Qualcomm modems to its own cellular chips, changing Qualcomm’s role in iPhones.

Qualcomm stated that trial findings would support the view that its licensing practices do not infringe competition laws or raise smartphone prices, aligning with prior U.S. rulings.

Qualcomm described its supply policy as innocuous and lawful, and noted that withdrawal would conclude the case with no payment by Qualcomm if approved by the Tribunal.

Which? argued evidence would likely show no coercion of Apple, its chipset suppliers, or Samsung, and no breach of competition law or price effects.