Apple has initiated the claims process for its $250 million settlement stemming from a class-action lawsuit, Landsheft, et al. v. Apple Inc., which alleged the company advertised advanced Siri capabilities that were not available at the time of purchase. The settlement fund will distribute payments to eligible iPhone owners in the United States. The lawsuit centered on Apple's promotion of "Apple Intelligence" and a more personalized version of its Siri digital assistant, with plaintiffs claiming consumers bought new iPhones expecting these features, only to find some were unavailable. Apple has denied any wrongdoing and stated that the settlement is not an admission of legal violation.
To qualify for a payment, individuals must have purchased an eligible iPhone model in the United States between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025. The eligible devices include the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The purchase must have been for personal or business use, not for resale. Claimants must also affirm that they expected to receive certain Siri Apple Intelligence features at the time of purchase which they did not receive.
The estimated payment per eligible device is $25, though this amount could increase to a maximum of $95 depending on the total number of valid claims submitted. The official settlement administrator, Verita Global, LLC, is managing the claims process through the website SmartphoneAISettlement.com. Claimants need to provide contact information and details sufficient to verify the device purchase, such as a serial number or Apple Account email and associated phone number. The deadline for submitting claims is December 21, 2026.
The lawsuit, filed in March 2025, was among the first to accuse Apple of failing to deliver on its promises regarding Apple Intelligence-powered Siri features announced with the iPhone 16 in 2024. These delayed features reportedly included Siri's ability to use a user's personal context for customized responses and to perform actions across various applications. Apple previewed these new Siri capabilities, powered by Apple Intelligence, in June 2024, highlighting understanding of user context and on-screen awareness. The company advertised these features through presentations, its website, and commercials. However, Apple delayed the launch of the personalized Siri version in March 2025, leading to the class-action suit.
The final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for February 24, 2027, at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Payouts are not expected until at least 60 days after this hearing, placing distribution in late 2027.