Bought an iPhone 16 for a smarter Siri that never showed up? The smartphone AI settlement now pays you back, if you file before December 21.
The smartphone AI settlement is Apple’s $250 million deal over Siri and Apple Intelligence features it advertised before they existed. Claims opened this week. Eligible iPhone buyers can get $25 per device, and possibly up to $95.
Smartphone AI Settlement: What Apple Agreed to Pay
Apple will put $250 million into a settlement fund. The case is Landsheft v. Apple, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California in San Jose.
Each valid claim starts at $25 per eligible iPhone. However, the amount can rise to $95 per device, or fall below $25, depending on how many people file. According to Fox Business, the deadline to claim is December 21, 2026.
Apple denies doing anything wrong. In its statement, the company said it “resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users.”
Apple Siri AI Lawsuit Settlement: What the Suit Claimed
The Apple Siri AI lawsuit settlement goes back to the iPhone 16 launch in September 2024. At the time, Apple marketed the phone around Apple Intelligence and a more personal Siri.
Buyers said those features were missing. The complaint pointed to a Siri that would understand personal context, see what is on screen and take actions across apps. None of that shipped with the phones.
“Contrary to Defendant’s claims of advanced AI capabilities, the Products offered a significantly limited or entirely absent version of Apple Intelligence,” the complaint said, as quoted by 9to5Mac. Then, in March 2025, Apple confirmed that the personal Siri features were delayed.
Apple has since rebuilt Siri for iOS 27, as we covered in our report on Apple rebuilding Siri AI on Google Gemini.
Who Is Eligible for the Apple Settlement?
You qualify if you live in the US and bought an eligible iPhone in the US between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025. You must also be the original buyer, so resale purchases do not count.
The eligible models are the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, plus every iPhone 16 model: the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max and 16e.
The scale is large. According to OpenClassActions, the plaintiffs’ papers say tens of millions of iPhones fall inside the class definition. As a result, the final payment per phone depends heavily on turnout.
How to File the Apple Siri Settlement Claim Form
Claims for this smartphone settlement go through the official site, smartphoneaisettlement.com. First, you enter your name and contact details, then you identify the device.
For that step, the form accepts either the iPhone serial number or your Apple Account email and phone number. You can find the serial number under Settings, General, About. Apple then checks it against its own purchase records.
In addition, you have to confirm that you expected the Siri Apple Intelligence features when you bought the phone. Own two eligible iPhones? Then list both, because payment is per device.
Smartphone AI Settlement Key Dates
Here is every date that matters, from the purchase window to the final hearing.
| Milestone | What happens | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Class window opens | Apple unveils Apple Intelligence at WWDC | June 10, 2024 |
| Class window closes | Apple confirms the personal Siri delay | March 29, 2025 |
| Preliminary approval | Judge Noël Wise signs off on the deal | July 2026 |
| Claims open | Settlement website accepts claim forms | September 21, 2026 |
| Fee motion | Class counsel files for attorneys’ fees | November 17, 2026 |
| Claim and opt-out deadline | Last day to file, exclude or object | December 21, 2026 |
| Final approval hearing | Court decides on the settlement | February 24, 2027 |
When Will the Apple Siri Settlement Be Paid?
Not before 2027. The court holds its final approval hearing on February 24, 2027, at 9:00 a.m. in San Jose, and payments can only follow approval.
Before that, class counsel must file its request for attorneys’ fees by November 17, 2026. Those fees come out of the same $250 million fund, so they also shape the final payout.
Meanwhile, anyone who wants to opt out or object faces the same December 21, 2026 deadline as claimants. Doing nothing means you stay in the class but receive no money.
Smartphone AI Settlement vs the $95 Million Siri Privacy Case
Many searches mix up two different Apple cases. The smartphone AI settlement is about advertising AI features that were not ready.
By contrast, the older Lopez v. Apple case was about privacy. At the start of 2025, Apple agreed to pay $95 million over claims that Siri recorded conversations without a wake word, as Fortune reported.
So a claim in one case does not cover the other. If you owned an eligible iPhone 16, check the AI case on its own, even if you already filed in the privacy settlement.
Want More on Siri AI?
Curious what the delayed features look like now that they have shipped? Read our breakdown of the Siri AI release date and the iOS 27 catches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the smartphone AI settlement?
It is Apple’s $250 million settlement of Landsheft v. Apple. The suit said Apple advertised Siri and Apple Intelligence features on iPhones that did not have them yet.
Who is eligible for the Apple Siri AI settlement?
US residents who bought an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model in the US between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025, as the original buyer.
How much will I get from the Apple settlement?
Each eligible device starts at $25. Depending on the number of claims, however, the payment can rise to $95 per device or drop below $25.
How do I file an Apple Intelligence settlement claim?
File at smartphoneaisettlement.com. You need your contact details plus the iPhone serial number, or instead your Apple Account email and phone number.
Is this the same as the $95 million Siri settlement?
No. That earlier Lopez v. Apple case covered Siri privacy recordings. This one covers delayed AI features, so you need to file a separate claim.
When is the smartphone AI settlement deadline?
Claims, opt-outs and objections are all due by December 21, 2026. After that, the court holds its final approval hearing on February 24, 2027.
Sources
Fox Business, NBC Chicago, OpenClassActions, AppleInsider, 9to5Mac, Fortune.*Photos: iPhone 16 Pro series by Jakub CA, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized; Apple Park aerial view, June 2024 by Nils Huenerfuerst, CC0, cropped and resized.*
