Apple Hit With $5.7 Billion Patent Verdict Over iPhone and Apple Watch Technology

Apple has been hit with a $5.72 billion patent infringement verdict after a U.S. federal jury found that technology used in the company’s iPhones and Apple Watches infringed patents owned by Taction Technology. The jury in the Southern District of California awarded Taction exactly $5,721,961,750 after finding that Apple’s Taptic Engine infringed claims covered by two Taction patents. The verdict was delivered on September 25, 2026.

The dispute centers on haptic technology, which creates the subtle taps and vibrations users feel when interacting with devices. Apple’s Taptic Engine has been used in the Apple Watch and later incorporated into iPhones, providing tactile feedback for notifications, button presses and other interactions.

Taction Technology filed the lawsuit against Apple in 2021, alleging that Apple had used its patented technology without permission. The case involved U.S. Patent Nos. 10,659,885 and 10,820,117, which cover technology for generating vibrations that can be perceived through touch.

The case had previously gone in Apple’s favor. A federal judge ruled in 2023 that Apple did not infringe the patents, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit later revived the dispute and sent it back for further proceedings. The case eventually proceeded to a jury trial, resulting in Friday’s verdict against Apple.

The jury did not find that Apple’s infringement was willful. That distinction is significant because willful infringement can potentially lead to enhanced damages under U.S. patent law.

Apple has strongly disputed the verdict and the amount awarded. The company said its Taptic Engine is fundamentally different from Taction’s technology and maintained that Apple does not use Taction’s patented technology. Apple has also confirmed that it plans to appeal the decision.

Taction, meanwhile, welcomed the jury’s decision. The company’s attorney, Lance Yang, said the verdict vindicated Taction’s patent rights following years of litigation.

The $5.72 billion award has been described by Reuters as the largest U.S. patent verdict of its kind to date. However, the case is not necessarily over. The jury’s award still faces post-trial proceedings, and Apple’s planned appeal could ultimately affect the amount it has to pay or whether the verdict stands.

For now, the verdict represents a major legal setback for Apple and one of the largest patent awards ever recorded against a technology company in the United States.