If you bought a new iPhone 16 expecting to use AI as demonstrated in Apple’s ads at the time, you were probably disappointed. Apple Intelligence didn’t arrive until later and still lacked those features.
Now you may be able to turn that initial disappointment into a payout from Apple’s $250 million legal settlement by signing up at a live website. The form to opt-in is available only for a limited time, though, so get your name into the pool before it closes.
Apple settled a false advertising lawsuit brought by Clarkson Law Firm 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 iPhone 16 or iPhone 15 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 July 17. 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.
How to claim your portion of the settlement
As of Sept. 21, you can go to SmartphoneAISettlement.com 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.
Who is eligible for the $250 million settlement?
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:
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16E
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
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.
Why is there a lawsuit over Apple Intelligence?
When Apple advertised its new iPhone 16 lineup in 2024, it emphasized how the models were optimized for AI features such as an enhanced Siri 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.
According to the proposed settlement, “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 Visual Intelligence, Live Translation, Writing Tools, Genmoji and Clean Up. 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 Siri AI, which is part of iOS 27, which was released in early September.
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.
On Aug. 13, US District Court Judge Noël Wise granted approval 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.
