Apple agrees to $250 million settlement for iPhone buyers

Apple has reached a $250 million settlement in a U.S. class-action lawsuit alleging that the company misled consumers about the availability of new AI features such as an upgraded Siri and Apple Intelligence. The lawsuit claimed the promised capabilities were not delivered on the advertised timeline for iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 series.

The settlement does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing, but eligible iPhone owners may receive a payment ranging from about $25 to $95, depending on the total number of claims and legal costs. To qualify, consumers must have bought an eligible device in the United States between June 10 2024 and March 29 2025, and must not be Apple employees or representatives.

Claims can be filed through the designated “Smartphone AI Settlement” website by December 21 2026. Claimants will need to provide the device’s serial number for verification. Submitting a claim binds the filer to the settlement, preventing future lawsuits on the same issue, while opting out forfeits any payment but preserves the right to sue later.

A court hearing scheduled for February 24 2027 will assess the fairness of the settlement, after which payments are expected to be distributed in the months that follow.