A federal judge has granted preliminary approval to Apple’s $250 million settlement over false advertising claims tied to Siri, opening the door for U.S. owners of certain iPhone models to collect cash payments once the claims process launches.
The settlement covers anyone in the United States who purchased an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025.
Each approved claim pays $25 per device, with that figure climbing as high as $95 if fewer people file than the settlement fund anticipates.
No claims form exists yet. A settlement website is still being built, and eligible customers are expected to receive email notifications within roughly 45 days of preliminary approval, as confirmed in a court document dated July 17. Anyone who qualifies but does not receive an email can still file once the portal goes live.
What the Lawsuit Was Actually About
At WWDC 2024, Apple demonstrated a version of Siri that could pull context from a user’s emails and messages to answer questions in real time.
The demos showed someone asking Siri about a family member’s flight details or lunch plans, with the assistant reading information directly from their inbox.
Apple ran that vision in TV commercials, on its website, and throughout product marketing for the iPhone 16 lineup.
In March 2025, Apple quietly announced those personalized Siri features would not arrive on schedule. A class action lawsuit followed, alleging that Apple had sold phones on the strength of features it could not deliver.
Apple said it settled the case to stay focused on its product roadmap rather than engage in prolonged litigation.
The upgraded assistant, now called Siri AI, was announced at WWDC 2026 and is currently available in the iOS 27 developer beta. Apple plans to ship it to all users with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer when iOS 27 releases publicly this fall.
What Eligible Owners Should Do Right Now
Nothing, for the moment. The court still needs to grant final approval before claims can be submitted. Holding on to proof-of-purchase documentation or knowing your device’s serial number could be useful when the settlement website opens, since exact requirements will be posted there.
Buyers who no longer own the device may still qualify, but the fine print will depend on what documentation the administrator requires.
The $95 maximum payment per device applies only if the total number of valid claims stays below a threshold set in the settlement terms.
Given that Apple sold millions of iPhone 16 units during the covered window, most claimants should expect to receive the $25 floor amount per eligible device rather than the higher figure.
