Apple's promise of a smarter Siri turned into a $250 million bill. The company agreed this week to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing it of deceptive advertising over Apple Intelligence features that didn't exist when the iPhone 16 launched. Roughly 37 million U.S.
Customers who bought eligible devices between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025 can claim between $25 and $95 per phone. The lawsuit, originally filed in March 2025, alleged Apple violated consumer protection laws by marketing enhanced Siri capabilities, including personal context awareness, on-screen understanding, and deeper app controls, that it had previewed at WWDC 2024 but failed to deliver. A TV commercial starring actor Bella Ramsey pushed those promises to a national audience.
Apple's defense? The company disclosed that features would arrive over time. In a statement to CNET, an Apple spokesperson said the company settled "to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most products and services to our users." The eligible device list covers seven models: iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The settlement applies to U.S.
Residents who bought for personal use, not resale.
Payouts start at $25 per device but could reach $95 if fewer people file claims than expected. Roughly 37 million devices are eligible, according to a court filing. The process isn't automatic. A judge must approve the settlement on June 17, 2026.
After that, Apple has five days to hand over customer data to settlement administrator Verita, which will send email and postal notices directing people to a claims website that hasn't launched yet. Claimants get 90 days from their notice to file.
Payments are expected to begin after September 2026, following a 60-day window for resolving objections and exclusions. The personalized Siri features at the center of the lawsuit still haven't shipped. On an earnings call last month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the upgraded assistant would launch this year, likely as part of iOS 27.
