U.S. consumers who purchased certain iPhone models may be entitled to compensation from Apple over the company’s failure to deliver on its original timeline for Apple Intelligence features. The tech giant has agreed to a $250 million settlement following a class-action lawsuit alleging false advertising regarding the launch of its AI-powered Siri capabilities.
Under the agreement, eligible individuals could receive between $25 and $95 per qualifying device, depending on the total number of valid claims submitted. To secure payment, claimants must file their request through the official settlement website, SmartphoneAISettlement.com, no later than December 21, 2026.
The lawsuit was filed on the grounds that purchasers between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025, bought their devices with the expectation that Apple Intelligence would ship sooner than eventually released. While Apple has not admitted to any wrongdoing, it agreed to the payout to resolve the dispute. The original promise made during the WWDC 2024 conference was repeatedly delayed, with features eventually rolling out in fall 2025 and the full suite arriving with iOS 27 in fall 2026.
Eligibility is restricted to customers in the United States; buyers in the UK, Canada, France, and other international markets are not covered. Claimants must provide proof that they are the original purchasers of an iPhone bought for personal or business use during the specified timeframe.
Qualifying models include the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. To locate the necessary serial number for the application, users can navigate to Settings > General > About on their device.
The claims process requires filers to select whether they are submitting a personal or business claim. Personal claims require a declaration of truth, while business claims must also include a downloadable template detailing the device’s Apple Account ID and associated phone number. Legal fees, taxes, and administrative costs will be deducted from the total settlement fund before individual payouts are calculated.
The delay in Apple Intelligence’s rollout occurred alongside significant shifts in Apple’s AI strategy, including the departure of John Giannandrea, who led the AI team, and a new partnership with Google to incorporate Gemini into its AI development.
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