Apple $250 Million iPhone AI Settlement, Check If You Qualify — Landsheft, et al. v. Apple Inc., No. 5:25-cv-02668

There’s $250 million waiting to be claimed — if you bought an iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max in the U.S. between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025. Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle claims that it advertised Siri “Apple Intelligence” features the phones didn’t actually have. The claim window opened today, September 21, 2026. You have until December 21, 2026 to file.

Apple $250M iPhone AI Settlement — Key Facts

Settlement Amount	$250,000,000
Claim Deadline	December 21, 2026
Who Qualifies	U.S. residents who personally purchased an Eligible Device in the U.S. between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025, for personal or business use, not resale
Estimated Payout	$25 per device, adjustable up to $95 per device depending on claim volume
Proof Required (Yes/No)	No — self-certification on the Claim Form; serial number or Apple Account email/phone number requested
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved; Final Approval Hearing scheduled
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Jose) — No. 5:25-cv-02668, Judge Noël Wise
Law Alleged	Alleged violations of various states’ consumer protection and false advertising laws
Administrator	Verita — Landsheft, et al. v. Apple Inc. Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 301132, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132; 1-888-988-8945
Official Claim Site	smartphoneaisettlement.com (claim portal: aplsconnect.com/smartphoneaisettlement)
Last Updated	September 21, 2026

Who Is Apple, and Why Is It Being Sued Over Siri?

Apple unveiled “Apple Intelligence” at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, 2024, with a redesigned Siri as the centerpiece — one that could reportedly understand personal context across your apps and take actions on your behalf. When the iPhone 16 launched that September, Apple leaned hard on those Siri capabilities in its advertising. The lawsuit says two of the most heavily advertised features — personal context awareness and taking actions inside other apps — still hadn’t shipped by the time plaintiffs sued, and hadn’t shipped as of the settlement.

What Did Apple Do, and What Didn’t It Deliver?

Plaintiff Peter Landsheft filed the first complaint on March 19, 2025, arguing Apple sold iPhones on the promise of a smarter Siri that wasn’t ready — and knew it wasn’t ready — when the marketing campaign ran. The case was later consolidated into Landsheft, et al. v. Apple Inc.

Apple’s own court filings give this some useful nuance. In its motion to dismiss, Apple’s lawyers argued that only two specific Siri features were delayed — personal context awareness and in-app actions — while pointing out that iPhone 16 buyers already received roughly twenty other Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, Image Playground, Writing Tools, and Live Translation. So this isn’t a case about Apple Intelligence not existing at all. It’s a case about two specific, heavily marketed capabilities that weren’t there.

Apple denies it did anything wrong. It agreed to pay $250 million anyway, saying through a spokesperson that it wanted to stay focused on its products rather than continue litigating.

Who Qualifies for the Apple iPhone AI Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if this case includes you.

• U.S. residents who purchased an Eligible Device in the United States between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025
• Purchases for personal use or for a business, as long as the device wasn’t bought for resale
• You must be the original purchaser of the device
• Eligible Devices: iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max

Not included: Apple itself, its directors and officers, its legal representatives, and the judges and court staff assigned to the case.

Is This Settlement Available Outside the U.S.?

No. The Settlement Class is limited to devices purchased in the United States by U.S. residents. If you bought your iPhone outside the U.S., or you’re not a U.S. resident, this settlement doesn’t cover you — even if you owned one of the eligible models during the class period.

Not sure if you qualify for the Apple iPhone AI settlement? A free consultation with a consumer fraud attorney can help before the December 21, 2026 deadline, though you don’t need one — Class Counsel already represents the class at no cost to you.

How Much Can Apple iPhone AI Settlement Class Members Get? Up to $95 Per Person

Settlement Class Members who submit a valid claim will receive a presumptive $25 per device. That number moves — up or down — based on how many valid claims come in and how much the court awards for fees and costs, with a stated ceiling of $95 per device. You can file a separate claim for each eligible device you owned, but you’re limited to one payment per device.

Payments over $600 may appear on a 1099. Check with a tax professional. Attorneys’ fees, litigation costs, and Service Awards of up to $2,000 per Class Representative are deducted from the $250 million fund before any of it reaches class members — that’s normal for a settlement this size, but it’s part of why the final per-device number isn’t locked in yet.

What Pro-Rata Means for Your Apple Payment

More valid claims filed means a smaller per-device check for everyone; fewer claims means a bigger one, up to the $95 cap. Nobody will know the real number until the Settlement Administrator finishes counting valid claims after the December 21, 2026 deadline passes.

How to File Your Apple iPhone AI Settlement Claim — Step by Step

1. Go to the official claim portal at aplsconnect.com/smartphoneaisettlement (accessible through smartphoneaisettlement.com).
2. Enter your name, address, phone number, and email address.
3. Provide your iPhone’s serial number (Settings > General > About), or your Apple Account email and phone number if you no longer have the device.
4. No proof of purchase or receipt is required — you certify under penalty that your information is accurate.
5. Choose digital payment (must be filed online) or a mailed paper check.
6. Submit before December 21, 2026, and save your confirmation.

Takes about 10 minutes per device.

⚠️ Mark your calendar: the Claim Filing Deadline is December 21, 2026.

Should Apple Settlement Class Members Opt Out or Object Before December 21, 2026?

What Opting Out of the Apple Settlement Actually Means

Opting out means you get no payment from this settlement, but you keep the right to sue Apple on your own over the same claims. Most people should not opt out without legal advice. The opt-out deadline is December 21, 2026, and requests must be mailed individually — group or “mass” opt-outs aren’t allowed.

How to Object to the Apple Settlement

Objecting means you stay in the class but tell the court in writing that you disagree with some part of the deal — the amount, the fees, or something else. Objections must be filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 5:25-cv-02668-NW, San Jose Courthouse, 280 South 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113, by December 21, 2026.

Talk to a class action lawsuit attorney before December 21, 2026 if you’re considering either option.

Apple iPhone AI Settlement — Key Dates, 2026–2027

Milestone	Date
Settlement Proposed (Motion for Preliminary Approval)	May 5, 2026
Preliminary Approval Granted	July 17, 2026
Claims Period Opens	September 21, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	December 21, 2026
Opt-Out Deadline	December 21, 2026
Objection Deadline	December 21, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	February 24, 2027, 9:00 a.m.
Expected Payment Date	UNVERIFIED — payments follow final approval and any appeal period; no fixed date announced

Apple iPhone AI Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 5:25-cv-02668

Do I need a lawyer to file an Apple iPhone AI settlement claim? 

No. The court appointed Clarkson Law Firm, Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP, and Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy LLP as Class Counsel, and they represent you at no charge. You can hire your own attorney if you want one, at your own expense.

Is the Apple $250 million iPhone settlement legitimate?

 Yes. It’s a real settlement in Landsheft, et al. v. Apple Inc., Case No. 5:25-cv-02668, pending before Judge Noël Wise in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, with preliminary approval already granted.

When will Apple settlement payments be sent?

 Not before the Final Approval Hearing on February 24, 2027. If the settlement is approved and nobody appeals, payments are processed “promptly” afterward, though no exact date has been set.

What if I missed the Apple settlement claim deadline?

 If you don’t submit a valid claim by December 21, 2026, you won’t receive a payment — but you’ll still be bound by the settlement’s release of claims unless you separately opted out by that date.

Will my Apple settlement payment go on a 1099? 

Possibly. Payments over $600 may be reported on a 1099 form. Check with a tax professional about your specific situation.

What if I bought more than one eligible iPhone during the class period?

 You can file a separate Claim Form for each Eligible Device you owned, but you’re limited to one payment per device.

Do I need my original receipt to file a claim? 

No. The Claim Form asks for your iPhone’s serial number, or your Apple Account email and phone number if you no longer have the device — no purchase receipt is required.

What happens if I do nothing? 

You won’t receive a payment, but you’ll still be bound by the settlement and will give up your right to sue Apple separately over these same claims.

Sources Used in This Article

• Official Settlement Website — Smartphone AI Settlement, Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.smartphoneaisettlement.com/frequently-asked-questions/
• Official Settlement Notice (PDF): https://www.smartphoneaisettlement.com/media/i5lkyn3g/apple_ai_iphone_settlement_notice.pdf
• Official Claim Form (PDF): https://www.smartphoneaisettlement.com/media/qo5dhtaj/apple_ai_iphone_settlement_claim_form.pdf
• Official Settlement Agreement (PDF): https://www.smartphoneaisettlement.com/media/mhjl0ssw/apple_ai_iphone_settlement_settlement_agreement.pdf
• Official Claim Portal: https://aplsconnect.com/smartphoneaisettlement/
• Tom’s Guide — “Apple finally responds to class action lawsuit over delayed Apple Intelligence features”: https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/apple-intelligence/apple-finally-responds-to-class-action-lawsuit-over-delayed-apple-intelligence-features

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the official Smartphone AI Settlement website and case documents, and Apple’s court filings, on September 21, 2026. Last Updated: September 21, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.