Apple Settlement Could Lead To Payouts For Some iPhone Users

Some U.S. iPhone buyers can now file claims for a cash payment under a $250 million class-action settlement involving Apple’s marketing of Apple Intelligence and updated Siri features. Apple has denied the allegations and said it settled — which is not an admission of guilt — to avoid the cost and uncertainty of a trial.

The case concerned advertising that began around Apple’s June 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference. Plaintiffs said certain promised Siri and Apple Intelligence capabilities were not available when customers bought new phones, and that the more personalized Siri features arrived later than advertised.

The settlement covers original purchasers in the United States who bought an eligible device in the United States between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025, for personal or business use rather than resale. Used or third-party resale purchases do not qualify.

Eligible models are the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The 15 Pro models are included because they can run the later Apple Intelligence features. In total, the settlement could apply to tens of millions of devices. Each valid claim is tied to a specific phone, meaning that a person who bought more than one eligible device files a separate claim for each.

POLL: Ilhan Omar Now Claims She’s Broke – Do You Believe Her?

Apple’s $250M Siri AI settlement website is now live 📱

Eligible iPhone owners in the U.S. can now file a claim for up to $95 per device pic.twitter.com/89n42l1nV7

— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) September 22, 2026

The claims website, smartphoneaisettlement.com, opened on September 21 for eligible users. The deadline to submit a claim online or have a paper form postmarked is December 21, 2026. That date is also the deadline to opt out or object.

Eligible buyers may receive an email from the settlement administrator with a Claim ID and PIN. Claimants can file without it by providing a name, address, phone number, and either the device serial number or the Apple Account email and phone number associated with the phone. Serial numbers appear in Settings, then General, then About. Payment options listed in coverage of the site include check, PayPal, Venmo, or ACH.

Payouts start from an estimated $25 per eligible device. That figure can rise, up to a stated maximum of $95 per device, if fewer valid claims are filed than expected. It can also fall below $25 if claim volume is high.

The $250 million fund is shared among approved claims after administrative costs and legal fees. Remaining funds, if any after the $95 cap, would be handled under court-approved terms and would not return to Apple.

No checks or deposits will be distributed until a court grants final approval. A hearing is scheduled for February 24, 2027, in San Jose, California. If the settlement is approved and there are no appeals, administrators have said payments would be processed afterward, with some descriptions pointing to a window of about 60 days after the settlement becomes effective.

Appeals or other court steps could push that date later into 2027.

RELATED: Traffic In Strait Of Hormuz Passes Key Milestone, CENTCOM Says