The claim period opened Monday, September 21, 2026, in the $250 million class action settlement over Apple Intelligence, resolving allegations that Apple marketed Siri features on the iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro that did not ship with the phones. U.S. residents who bought one of seven iPhone models between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025 can claim $25 per device, adjustable up to $95, without a receipt. The deadline to file, opt out or object is December 21, 2026.
The Settlement
The case, Landsheft, et al. v. Apple Inc., No. 5:25-cv-02668-NW, is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Jose. Judge Noël Wise granted preliminary approval on July 17, 2026, following a motion filed by the plaintiffs on May 5 and heard on June 17. The settlement administrator, Verita Global, LLC, opened the online claim form and posted the long-form notice and paper claim forms on September 21.
Under the agreement Apple will pay a Total Settlement Amount of $250 million. Attorneys’ fees, litigation expenses, service awards of up to $2,000 for each named plaintiff, and notice and administration costs are deducted first. The remainder is distributed per Eligible Device at $25, adjusted pro rata upward to a maximum of $95 or downward depending on the number of valid claims. Plaintiffs estimated in their preliminary approval papers that tens of millions of devices fall within the class definition.
The Allegations
Apple introduced Apple Intelligence at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, 2024, including a redesigned Siri it said would draw on a user’s personal context, act across applications and respond to on-screen content. The iPhone 16 lineup, launched in September 2024, was marketed around the features; the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max were the only earlier models able to run them. The personalized Siri features did not ship, and in March 2025 Apple said publicly they would take longer than anticipated. The complaint, filed that month, alleges violations of consumer protection statutes in several states.
Apple denies all of the allegations, denies that it did anything improper or unlawful, and has asserted defenses to every claim. The court has not ruled on the merits, and the notice states that the settlement is not an admission of guilt or wrongdoing.
Who Qualifies
The Settlement Class is U.S. residents who purchased an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max or 16e new in the United States between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025, for purposes other than resale. The settlement website adds that the claimant must be the original purchaser. Both individuals and businesses may claim. Excluded are Apple, its affiliates, officers, directors and employees, the judicial officers assigned to the case and their staff and immediate families, and anyone who validly opts out.
How Claims Work
No receipt or notice is required. The online form asks for the device’s serial number, or the Apple Account email address and phone number used with it, which the administrator matches against purchase records Apple provided under the settlement. Each device is a separate claim; a business may file one entity claim with a list of devices. Claimants certify that they expected certain Siri Apple Intelligence features when they purchased the device and did not receive them; the notice says claims are subject to audit. Online claimants may be paid by check, PayPal, Venmo or direct deposit. Paper claims must be postmarked by December 21, 2026.
What Follows
Class Counsel’s motion for attorneys’ fees, expenses and service awards is due to be posted on the settlement website by November 17, 2026. Claims, exclusion requests and objections close December 21, 2026. The final approval hearing is scheduled for February 24, 2027 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3 of the San Jose courthouse; the court may reschedule without further notice to the class. If the settlement is approved, payments follow the effective date, after the time for any appeal has run or any appeal has been resolved. No payment date has been announced.
The settlement is unrelated to Lopez v. Apple, the $95 million Siri privacy settlement that distributed payments in January 2026.
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Claims are filed at the official settlement website, SmartphoneAISettlement.com. A consumer guide to the filing process is published by OpenClassActions.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did claims open in the Apple Intelligence settlement?
September 21, 2026, two months after the court granted preliminary approval on July 17, 2026. Claims close December 21, 2026.
Who is eligible?
U.S. residents who bought a new iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max or 16e in the United States between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025, for purposes other than resale.
How much does the settlement pay?
$25 per eligible device, adjustable pro rata up to $95 or below $25 depending on the number of valid claims, after fees, costs and service awards are deducted from the $250 million fund.
Is proof of purchase required?
No. The claim form requires the device serial number or the Apple Account email and phone number used with the device.
What did Apple say?
Apple denies all of the allegations, denies any improper or unlawful conduct, and the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing.
When is the final approval hearing?
February 24, 2027 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Noël Wise in the San Jose courthouse of the Northern District of California.
Sources
- Smartphone AI Settlement — official settlement website administered by Verita Global, LLC: long-form notice, online claim form, paper claim forms for individuals and businesses.
- Court-approved long-form notice, Landsheft, et al. v. Apple Inc., No. 5:25-cv-02668-NW (N.D. Cal., San Jose Division): class definition, eligible devices, class period, $250 million Total Settlement Amount, $25 per-device payment and $95 cap, December 21, 2026 deadlines, February 24, 2027 hearing.
- Order granting preliminary approval, July 17, 2026, Hon. Noël Wise.
- OpenClassActions.com — Apple $250M Apple Intelligence Siri Settlement and its May 2026 background report.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. This site is not a law firm, is not the settlement administrator and is not affiliated with Apple or any party to the case. Apple denies the allegations and no court has decided the merits. Deadlines and payment amounts can change; confirm current status on the official settlement website. You never need to pay anyone to file a claim.