Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Apple filed a motion to dismiss the U.S. Department of Justice’s smartphone-antitrust lawsuit on August 1, 2024. The filing was a procedural challenge, not a final victory: on June 30, 2025, a federal judge denied the motion, allowing the government’s amended case to proceed. The ruling did not decide that Apple violated antitrust law, order product changes, or determine damages.
What lawsuit was Apple trying to dismiss?
The DOJ, the District of Columbia and 16 states sued Apple on March 21, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. The case is United States and Plaintiff States v. Apple Inc., No. 2:24-cv-04055. The plaintiffs allege that Apple maintained monopoly power in the U.S. smartphone market by restricting how rivals, developers and complementary businesses could access iPhone users and features.
The government’s complaint focuses on an alleged pattern involving:
- Super apps and other services that could compete with Apple’s ecosystem.
- Cloud-streaming and cloud-gaming services.
- Messaging interoperability, including the iMessage ecosystem.
- Third-party digital wallets and payment functions.
- Smartwatches and access to iPhone capabilities.
- App distribution, contracts and technical rules affecting developers and competitors.
The DOJ’s case page contains the complaints and briefing history: justice.gov/atr/case/us-and-plaintiff-states-v-apple-inc.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute#1 Best Overall
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
What did Apple ask the judge to do?
Apple asked the court to dismiss the amended complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), arguing that the pleading did not state legally sufficient federal or state antitrust claims. A Rule 12(b)(6) motion tests whether the allegations, assumed true for this stage, plausibly establish a legally recognized claim. It is not a trial and generally does not resolve competing evidence or decide whether the alleged conduct actually occurred.
Apple’s five principal arguments
1. The complaint did not identify exclusionary conduct
Apple characterized its decisions about iPhone features, services and platform access as lawful product-design and business choices rather than exclusionary acts. It relied on the general antitrust principle that a company ordinarily is not required to deal with rivals or provide access on competitors’ preferred terms, while acknowledging that limited exceptions can exist.
Coverage of the filing described Apple’s reliance on refusal-to-deal precedent, including Verizon Communications v. Trinko. See MacRumors’ summary and the legal discussion at Network Law Review. The DOJ’s theory, however, is broader than a simple refusal to supply a rival: it alleges exclusionary restrictions, discriminatory access and related technical or contractual practices.
Rank #2
- 6.9" LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1320x2868px at 460ppi, 1000 nits (typ), 2000 nits (HBM), 4685mAh Battery
- 1TB, 8GB RAM, Apple A18 Pro (3nm), Hexa-core (2x4.05 GHz + 4x2.42 GHz), Apple GPU 6-core, iOS 18, upgradable to iOS 18.3
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.8 (wide) + 12MP, f/2.8 (periscope telephoto) 5x optical zoom + 48MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide), TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth), Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9 (wide)
- 2G: 850/900/1800/1900, 3G: HSDPA 850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/32/34/38/39/40/41/42/48/53/66/71, 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/14/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/40/41/48/53/66/70/71/75/76/77/78/79/258/260/261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - Dual eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
2. The DOJ did not adequately plead anticompetitive effects
Apple argued that the government had not plausibly connected the challenged practices to harm in the smartphone market or shown that they affected consumers’ decisions about which phone to buy. In Apple’s view, allegations concerning messaging, wallets, cloud gaming, super apps or smartwatches often addressed individual products or services rather than competition among smartphones.
3. The complaint did not establish monopoly power
Apple pointed to competition from Android manufacturers such as Google and Samsung and argued that its U.S. share was insufficient, by itself, to establish monopoly power. The answer depends on the market definition. A share of the global smartphone market is not interchangeable with a share of the broader U.S. smartphone market or the narrower U.S. “performance-smartphone” market alleged by the government.
Market share is evidence relevant to monopoly power, not conclusive proof. Any percentage cited in the litigation must be tied to the particular market, geography, measurement period and source identified in Apple’s filing or the plaintiffs’ evidence.
Rank #3
- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
4. The attempted-monopolization theory lacked the required intent
Apple argued that the amended complaint did not plead the specific intent required for attempted monopolization. In general, an attempted-monopolization claim requires exclusionary or predatory conduct, a dangerous probability of achieving monopoly power and the requisite intent. A monopolization claim, by contrast, requires monopoly power and exclusionary conduct. Those elements are legal standards, not a finding that either side has proved its case.
5. The government improperly combined separate decisions into one “course of conduct”
Apple contended that the DOJ grouped numerous independent product and platform decisions into a single unlawful course of conduct and relied on products or services not adequately tied to the relevant smartphone market. A summary of that argument appears at iClarified.
How did the DOJ respond?
The DOJ and the state plaintiffs opposed dismissal. They argued that the amended complaint plausibly alleged violations of federal and state antitrust law and that Apple’s motion improperly sought to resolve factual disputes before discovery. At the pleading stage, the question was whether the allegations—if proven—could support relief, not whether Apple had already disproved them.
Rank #4
- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
- Product may come in generic Box.
The government’s opposition brief is available at justice.gov/atr/media/1368741/dl. The allegations remain allegations unless established through later proceedings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did the court decide?
On June 30, 2025, Judge Julien Neals denied Apple’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint. The order allowed seven categories of claims to continue:
- Monopolization of the U.S. performance-smartphone market.
- Attempted monopolization of that market.
- Monopolization of the broader U.S. smartphone market.
- Attempted monopolization of that market.
- Violation of the New Jersey Antitrust Act.
- Violation of the Wisconsin Antitrust Act.
- Violation of the Tennessee Trade Practices Act.
The opinion is available from the California attorney general’s document archive: Opinion Denying Motion to Dismiss.
Best Value
- 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display. ProMotion technology. Always-On display. Titanium with textured matte glass back. Action button
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A17 Pro chip with 6-core GPU
- Pro camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide| Telephoto. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. Up to 10x optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 29 hours video playback. USB-C, Supports USB 3 for up to 20x faster transfers. Face ID
Denial means the claims were legally sufficient to move forward. It does not mean the court ruled that Apple is a monopoly, found Apple liable, or accepted every factual assertion in the complaint.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 21, 2024 | DOJ and state plaintiffs filed the lawsuit. |
| May 30, 2024 | The DOJ responded to Apple’s request for a pre-motion conference about dismissal. |
| June 11, 2024 | Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, adding states and claims. |
| August 1, 2024 | Apple filed its Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. |
| September 12, 2024 | Plaintiffs filed their opposition brief. |
| June 30, 2025 | The district court denied Apple’s motion. |
| 2026 | The case continued through discovery and case-management proceedings. A July 2026 report described early settlement discussions, but no completed settlement was established in the cited primary materials. |
Case filings and docket activity are listed by the DOJ and on the docket page at justice.gov and DocketAlarm.
What happens next?
With dismissal denied, the case can proceed through discovery, additional motions such as summary judgment, settlement negotiations or a trial. Any remedy—such as changes to access rules, contracts or platform features—would depend on a later judgment or negotiated resolution. The court’s 2025 ruling itself did not require Apple to open the iPhone to competitors or alter the App Store.
Investing.com, citing Bloomberg, reported in July 2026 that Apple and the DOJ were in early settlement discussions: Apple in early settlement talks with U.S. DOJ. That report should not be read as confirmation that the case has settled.
Quick Recap
Why the procedural distinction matters
- Filing a motion is not winning it.
- Surviving dismissal is not proving liability.
- An allegation about a particular app, feature or service is not automatically a finding that Apple monopolized that narrower market.
- Consumer benefits and alleged competitive harm can both be disputed in the same case; one does not automatically eliminate the other.
- A denial of dismissal increases litigation pressure but does not immediately change Apple products or business practices.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
