Apple is settling a lawsuit related to the delayed rollout of Apple Intelligence features.
If you bought a new iPhone 16 expecting to use AI like Apple’s ads demonstrated at the time, you were probably disappointed since
didn’t arrive until later and lacked those features.
Now you can turn that initial dismay into a payment in Apple’s $250 million legal settlement by signing up at a
. The form to opt-in is available only for a limited time, though, so get your name into the pool before it closes.
in May, agreeing to pay $250 million to customers who bought some iPhone models during a specified period. The lawsuit alleged that Apple misled customers by promising AI features that didn’t ship with the new devices. If you purchased an
at launch, you may be entitled to receive a portion of the quarter-billion-dollar settlement. Payouts between $25 and $95 per eligible device are expected.
“Apple has reached a settlement to resolve claims related to the availability of two additional features. We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users,” an Apple spokesperson said in an earlier statement to CNET.
The court granted preliminary approval of the settlement on
. Then an Aug. 13 order moved up the final approval date by seven months.
“False advertising settlements aim to raise the floor of truth-telling, protect fair competition and increase consumer choice,” said Ryan Clarkson, co-lead counsel on the case and founder and managing partner of Clarkson Law Firm, in a statement to CNET. He claimed it’s the largest false-advertising settlement in history.
Apple lit up its flagship New York City store to resemble Siri’s new color scheme.
and enter your information to confirm your eligibility for monetary relief. People whom Apple and the settlement administrator determined would be eligible will also receive email or postal notices from the company Verita directing them to the website.
The claims window closes on Dec. 21, 2026, so you have three months to act.
If you bought one of the following devices between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025, you could be eligible to receive a settlement payment:
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are included because they have the processor and memory to run Apple Intelligence features.
It’s estimated that approximately 36 million customers are eligible for this settlement.
When Apple advertised its new iPhone 16 lineup in 2024, it emphasized how the models were optimized for AI features such as an
that could act as an intelligent agent. When the phones did arrive, Apple Intelligence wasn’t yet ready; its first features didn’t arrive until iOS 18.1, five weeks later.
, “Apple allegedly saturated the market with deceptive ads, inducing consumers to purchase iPhones based on the promise of certain enhanced Siri features.”
Some features of Apple Intelligence did ship soon after the introduction of the iPhone 16 and iOS 18, including
. But those weren’t the advanced features Apple highlighted. In fact, the type of intelligent interactions Apple advertised is only starting to show up in
When can you expect to receive a settlement payment?
According to the settlement, Apple needed to provide the information about affected customers within five days of the settlement approval. As of late July, preliminary approval has been granted by the court.
After the data is provided and verified, a 45-day notice period begins to inform potential consumers that they’re eligible for a payment.
to push forward the date from Sept. 29, 2027, to Feb. 24, 2027.
Provided approval is granted, the first checks or deposits will arrive sometime within a 60-day window after February next year, depending on court dates and possible extensions.
Jeff Carlson writes about mobile technology at CNET, from cellular phone plans to devices and emerging technology.
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