Remember the AirPods Pro Gen 1, the first AirPods to introduce ANC and the first AirPods with a silicone chip? Since then, the AirPods Pro has been followed by two new models: the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C. And there is the possibility of a lawsuit alleging that Apple knowingly sold a defective product with serious audio problems.

According to classaction.org, a class action lawsuit has been filed against the Cupertino giant over complaints about sound quality and noise cancellation. It is unclear how much the lawsuit will cost, but it appears to be for everyone who purchased the earbuds in question.

The lawsuit alleges that the AirPods Pro 1st generation had serious problems and that Apple knew that problems existed, yet continued to sell AirPods for “hundreds of dollars.”

It cites problems with sound, including crackling noises and noise-canceling issues that cause a lack of bass and even louder environmental sounds.

Apple is aware of the problem and has developed a service for AirPods Pro manufactured before 2020. This was to determine the problem and see if the user was eligible to purchase a new pair or receive service to remove the problem.

The lawsuit notes that this was not widely advertised to affected users and may not have been available. It also claims that AirPods manufactured after 2020 also suffered from the problem, and that by releasing the AirPods Pro 2 a few years later, the company effectively covered up the issue.

“The functionality of the audio component is an important and essential feature of any headphone,” the lawsuit states. It continues, “High-end, high-priced headphones, such as Apple's AirPods Pro Gen 1, which Apple advertised as having noise-canceling features and superior sound compared to other headphones, should function consistently and have high-quality audio. And if customers had known about the problem, they likely would not have purchased the AirPods Pro, claiming that they were misled by the advertising claims on Apple's product page.

If you have an AirPods Pro Gen 1 and are affected by this issue, please let us know in the comments below.