Jun 17, 2026
Apple may soon be writing checks to millions of iPhone owners after agreeing to a $250 million settlement over its rollout of Apple Intelligence.
The settlement stems from allegations that Apple marketed advanced AI-powered Siri features as a major selling point for the iPhone 16 lineup and select iPhone 15 models, even though some of those headline features weren’t available when the devices launched. Apple has denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle the case.
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Potential claimants can remain on standby. If the settlement receives preliminary court approval on today, eligible customers will receive notices from a settlement administrator. The proposed agreement covers roughly 37 million eligible devices sold during the period in question.
How to claim your share of the Apple settlement
At the moment, there is no settlement website where consumers can file claims.
Under the proposed agreement, Apple will provide a list of eligible customers and their contact information to settlement administrator Verita. Once that information is verified, affected consumers will receive notices by email or mail explaining how to file a claim.
To qualify, consumers must have purchased one of the following devices in the United States between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025:
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
The deadline to submit a claim will be 90 days after a notice is received. Individual payouts are expected to range from roughly $25 to $95 per eligible device. The final amount will depend on how many people participate in the settlement.
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Apple is betting big on AI despite the backlash
The timing of the settlement is notable because Apple just used its 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) to unveil a dramatically expanded AI strategy centered on Apple Intelligence and a rebuilt Siri experience.
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The new iOS 27 software introduces a more advanced Siri with deeper awareness of on-screen content, tighter integration with apps and expanded generative AI tools across the operating system. Apple also announced additional image-generation, writing and automation features designed to make AI a core part of the iPhone experience.
The company’s AI efforts have faced criticism from analysts and investors who argue Apple has fallen behind competitors such as OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. Some analysts described Apple’s WWDC announcements as “incremental” rather than “transformative,” and the stock fell after the event as investors questioned whether the company had done enough to “drive an upgrade cycle.”
At the same time, others see Apple’s AI push as laying the groundwork for future hardware upgrades. Analysts at Morgan Stanley have argued that many of Apple’s forthcoming AI capabilities will require newer devices, potentially encouraging millions of customers to upgrade their iPhones over the next several years.
Despite concerns that Apple has been late to the generative AI race, the company remains enormously profitable. The market’s skepticism so far appears to be less about current sales and more about whether Apple can prove that its AI ambitions translate into meaningful new revenue streams and stronger demand for future devices.
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Clay Halton is an associate editor at Money.ca, covering a wide range of consumer-focused financial stories. He has over eight years of experience in digital publishing and has written and edited for outlets including PCMag and Investopedia.
