By Steve Levine
Published: May 5, 2026 · Updated: June 23, 2026
June 23, 2026 Update: Plaintiffs filed their motion for preliminary
approval on May 5, 2026, and the court held a hearing on that motion on June 17, 2026.
As of this update, no signed preliminary approval order has been entered on the public
docket. No official claim form or claims-processing portal is active yet — the proposed
settlement website
SmartphoneAISettlement.com
currently shows a "coming soon" page. All dates for notice, claim filing, opt-outs, and
objections remain to be determined. Claims will only open after the court grants
preliminary approval and authorizes the notice program.
Status
Preliminary Approval Pending
claims not yet open · June 17, 2026 hearing held, no order as of June 23
Claim Deadline
TBD
set only after preliminary approval and the notice program begin
Estimated Payout
~$25 per device
subject to adjustment up or down · up to $95 max · non-reversionary $250M fund
Official Claim Form
Not yet available
SmartphoneAISettlement.com is in "coming soon" mode; proof requirements TBD
Apple Settles iPhone 16 False Advertising Case for $250 Million
On May 5, 2026, plaintiffs in Landsheft v. Apple Inc. filed a motion for preliminary approval of a $250 million proposed class action settlement covering iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro buyers nationwide. The Apple Intelligence lawsuit settlement, if granted final approval, would be one of the largest consumer false advertising settlements ever, and would resolve the Apple class action allegations that Apple marketed personalized Apple Intelligence Siri features that did not exist at the iPhone 16 launch and have still not been delivered on the originally promised timeline.The settlement is expected to cover approximately 37 million iPhones purchased in the United States between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025. The settlement notice describes an estimated cash payment of approximately $25 per device, subject to pro rata adjustment up or down based on claim volume — up to a maximum of about $95 per device, and potentially below $25 if claims are high. The $25 figure is a presumptive estimate, not a guaranteed minimum. The fund is non-reversionary, meaning the entire $250 million is distributed and does not revert to Apple if claims fall short of expectations.
The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California before Judge Noel Wise. Class Counsel are Clarkson Law Firm, P.C.; Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP; and Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP. The Settlement Administrator is Verita Global, LLC. Apple denies wrongdoing and is settling without admitting fault.
What the Apple iPhone 16 Lawsuit Was About
At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, 2024, the company announced Apple Intelligence, a new on-device AI platform built into iOS 18. The centerpiece of that announcement was a redesigned Siri described as a personal assistant capable of understanding personal context across a user's apps, taking actions on the user's behalf, and integrating on-screen awareness with natural language commands. Apple followed the announcement with a saturated marketing campaign across television, streaming, social media, and live sports broadcasts (including NFL games and the MLB postseason), prominently featuring the Bella Ramsey "Zac" advertisement that depicted the personalized Siri in action.The plaintiffs in Landsheft alleged that Apple marketed those personalized Apple Intelligence Siri features as available capabilities of the iPhone 16, when in fact those features did not ship with the device, did not exist at the launch date, and have remained undelivered on Apple's originally communicated timeline. The complaint alleged violations of California's Unfair Competition Law (UCL), False Advertising Law (FAL), and Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA). Apple acknowledged in March 2025 that the personalized contextual Siri features would not arrive in the iOS 18 cycle and would be delayed; the class period (June 10, 2024 to March 29, 2025) corresponds to the window between the original announcement and that public acknowledgment of delay.
Apple has continued to deny that its marketing was deceptive, arguing that it shipped over 20 Apple Intelligence features during the class period (including Genmoji, Image Playground, Writing Tools, Visual Intelligence, and Live Translation) and that the personalized Siri features represented two specific functions in a much larger AI feature set. The settlement does not adjudicate those merits; it ends the consumer class action by paying claimants without an admission of liability.
Which iPhone Models Qualify for the Settlement?
The Settlement Class is defined as purchasers of seven specific iPhone models who reside in the United States and bought the device in the United States during the class period (June 10, 2024 to March 29, 2025) for purposes other than resale. The seven Eligible Devices are:• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16e
• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are not included because they did not support Apple Intelligence at launch. Older models (iPhone 14, iPhone 13, and earlier) are not included for the same reason. iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models are not included because they were released after the class period.
Any purchaser — an individual or an entity — of an eligible device for personal or other non-resale use is included, as long as the iPhone was purchased in the United States during the class period. Purchases made for resale are excluded, as are Apple and its affiliates. Buyers of multiple qualifying iPhones during the class period can file a separate claim for each device.
How Much Will iPhone Buyers Get? (~$25 Per Device, Up to $95)
The estimated per-device payment is approximately $25, but that figure is not guaranteed. The actual amount depends on how many class members file valid claims:• If claim volume is low (relative to the estimated 37 million eligible devices), per-device payments will increase, up to a maximum of about $95 per device. Historical claim rates in consumer class actions of this size typically run 5 to 15 percent of eligible class members, which would push per-device payouts toward the upper end of the range.
• If claim volume is high (more than the model assumes), the per-device payment can decrease below the $25 estimate.
• One claim per device. A class member who purchased multiple eligible iPhones during the class period may file a separate claim for each device.
• Non-reversionary fund. The $250 million settlement fund (less attorneys' fees, costs, service awards, and administrative expenses) goes to claimants. Money does not revert to Apple if claim volume is low, which is structurally favorable to claimants and is one reason settlements of this design produce above-average per-device payments.
For comparison, the previous Apple Siri privacy settlement (Lopez v. Apple, $95 million non-reversionary fund) paid out at approximately $8 per device after claim volume came in around 2.19 million claims. The Apple Intelligence settlement is structured similarly but with a much higher fund and a much narrower class definition (iPhone 16 and 15 Pro buyers only, rather than all Siri-enabled devices), which suggests per-device payouts in the upper half of the announced range.
When Can I File a Claim? (Timeline and Deadlines)
Claims are not yet open. The settlement is at the preliminary approval stage, and several timeline milestones must occur before the claim portal goes live:• May 5, 2026: Plaintiffs filed the motion for preliminary approval.
• June 17, 2026: Preliminary approval hearing held as scheduled. As of June 23, 2026, no signed preliminary approval order had been posted on the public docket; the motion appears to have been taken under submission. The timeline below begins only once preliminary approval is granted.
• 45 days after preliminary approval: Notice Commencement Date. The Settlement Administrator must launch the Settlement Website and begin emailing class notices.
• 90 days after the Notice Date: Claim deadline, opt-out deadline, and objection deadline (all the same date).
• At least 60 days after the claim deadline: Final Approval Hearing.
• 30 days after Effective Date (approximately 30 days after final approval if no appeals are filed): Apple funds the remaining settlement amount.
• 60 days after Effective Date: Settlement Administrator begins issuing claim payments.
Realistic timing: the preliminary approval hearing was held on June 17, 2026, but no order had issued as of June 23, 2026, so the start of the timeline above is not yet set. If preliminary approval is granted in mid-2026, the claim window would likely open within a few months, claims would be due later in 2026, and payments would follow in 2027 if no appeals are filed. All of these dates remain estimates until the court enters an order. OpenClassActions will publish the claim portal link, exact deadlines, and step-by-step filing guidance once the Settlement Administrator goes live.
Did the Court Approve the Apple Settlement?
Not yet. As of June 23, 2026, the court has not entered a final approval order, and OCA has not located a signed preliminary approval order either. The parties agreed to the proposed $250 million settlement and plaintiffs filed their motion for preliminary approval on May 5, 2026, and the court held a preliminary approval hearing on June 17, 2026. No signed order had appeared on the public record by this date. The settlement still requires judicial approval before any notice is sent or claims open. News reports covering the May 5 agreement likewise noted that the settlement "still needs approval from a judge."Can I File an Apple Intelligence Settlement Claim Yet?
No. The settlement is not final and the claims process has not begun. There is nothing to submit yet. The official claim form will only be posted after the court grants preliminary approval and a notice program is authorized. The proposed settlement website, SmartphoneAISettlement.com, is currently a "coming soon" page. Be cautious of any unofficial website or any service that asks for a fee to file — filing a legitimate claim in this settlement will be free. When claims open, the authorized claim portal will be linked here. OpenClassActions does not process claims and does not collect personal information.What iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro Buyers Should Do Right Now
Although claims are not yet open, three steps are worth taking now to prepare:• Locate proof of purchase. Apple Account purchase history, retail receipts, and carrier-billed iPhone purchase confirmations from the June 10, 2024 to March 29, 2025 window should be saved. The Settlement Administrator will receive Class Member Information from Apple within five business days of preliminary approval, but having your own records is useful in case you are not auto-identified.
• Note the iPhone serial number or IMEI. Open Settings, then General, then About on the iPhone, and record the Serial Number and IMEI. Even if the iPhone has been sold or traded in, having those identifiers from before the trade-in helps verify class membership.
• Bookmark this page or sign up for OCA email updates. The Settlement Website is not yet live. OpenClassActions will publish the claim portal link, the exact deadlines, and a step-by-step filing guide once the Settlement Administrator opens claims.
Class members will not be required to pay anything to file. Class Counsel represents class members at no cost; Class Counsel's fees are paid from the $250 million settlement fund subject to court approval, not by individual claimants.
How Does This Apple Settlement Compare to the Older Siri Privacy Case?
Apple users may remember the prior Apple Siri privacy class action settlement (Lopez v. Apple), which involved a $95 million non-reversionary fund and resolved allegations that Siri inadvertently recorded private conversations through unintended activations and shared those recordings with Apple contractors. That settlement completed payments in January 2026. OCA covered that case in a separate post-payout news article on the Lopez Siri privacy settlement.The current Apple Intelligence settlement (Landsheft v. Apple) is fundamentally different in three ways:
• Different theory. Lopez was a privacy and wiretap-style case (Siri recording users without consent). Landsheft is a false advertising case (Apple promoting Siri features that did not exist).
• Different class definition. Lopez covered all U.S. residents who owned a Siri-enabled device between September 17, 2014 and December 31, 2024 (approximately 85.2 million eligible users). Landsheft covers only U.S. buyers of seven specific iPhone models in a narrow nine-month window (approximately 37 million eligible devices).
• Different per-device payout structure. Lopez paid approximately $8 per device on average, with a $20 per-device cap and a $100 per-person cap. Landsheft is structured for higher per-device payouts, with an estimated ~$25 per device that can adjust up to a $95 ceiling (and below $25 if claims are high), and no per-person cap other than the requirement that each device be claimed separately.
iPhone owners may have qualified for one, both, or neither, depending on which devices they owned and during what periods.
Other Active Apple Class Action Settlements and News
Apple has been the defendant in several other recent consumer class actions. OCA covers them individually:• Apple Siri Privacy Class Action Settlement (Lopez v. Apple) — $95 million non-reversionary fund, payments completed January 2026.
• Apple AirPods Pro Gen 1 Audio Defect Class Action — pending class action over alleged static and crackling audio defects in first-gen AirPods Pro. No settlement yet.
• Apple Family Sharing Class Action Settlement — $25 million settlement over alleged Family Sharing subscription misrepresentations, claims closed in 2024.
iPhone owners with multiple qualifying claims across different cases may receive separate payouts from each settlement. Filing one claim does not affect eligibility for the others.
Apple Intelligence Settlement Timeline
• June 10, 2024: Apple announced Apple Intelligence and the redesigned personalized Siri at WWDC.• September 2024: Apple launched the iPhone 16 lineup, with several Apple Intelligence features still pending.
• March 2025: Apple publicly acknowledged that the personalized contextual Siri features would be delayed.
• March 19, 2025: Complaint filed in Landsheft v. Apple Inc. (consolidated action).
• May 5, 2026: Plaintiffs filed the motion for preliminary approval, with the proposed $250 million settlement agreement.
• June 17, 2026: Preliminary approval hearing held. No order posted publicly as of June 23, 2026.
• June 23, 2026: Current status — settlement still pending preliminary approval; no claim period has begun.
Proposed Preliminary Approval Order
The document embedded below is the parties' proposed preliminary approval order (Document 79, filed May 5, 2026), submitted with the motion for preliminary approval. The court had not signed an approval order as of this update.Sources
• Landsheft v. Apple Inc., Case No. 5:25-cv-02668-NW, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Hon. Noel Wise presiding• Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement, ECF No. 77, filed May 5, 2026, with the proposed Settlement Agreement (ECF No. 78-1)
• Proposed Preliminary Approval Order, ECF No. 79, filed May 5, 2026
• Docket entries (via CourtListener / Justia) confirming the preliminary approval hearing held June 17, 2026; no signed approval order entered as of June 23, 2026
• Reuters, May 5, 2026, reporting the proposed settlement and noting it "still needs approval from a judge"
• Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy press release, May 5, 2026, announcing the proposed $250 million settlement
• Official settlement website, SmartphoneAISettlement.com (Gilardi & Co. / Verita Global), currently a "coming soon" page
About OpenClassActions.com Coverage
OpenClassActions.com is a consumer news site covering active and recent class action settlements. We are not the Settlement Administrator and we are not a law firm. We do not process claims and we do not decide claim eligibility. For official information about the Apple Intelligence settlement once the claim portal opens, visit the Settlement Website (which Verita Global, LLC will publish after preliminary approval is granted).
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Submit Claim| Apple Intelligence Settlement Snapshot | |
| Status | Preliminary approval pending — claims not yet open |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Approval Hearing | Held June 17, 2026; no signed order as of June 23, 2026 |
| Official Claim Form | Not yet available (SmartphoneAISettlement.com is in "coming soon" mode) |
| Settlement Fund | $250,000,000 (non-reversionary) |
| Per-Device Payment | ~$25 estimate, subject to adjustment up or down; up to $95 max depending on claim volume |
| Eligible iPhones | iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max |
| Class Period | June 10, 2024 to March 29, 2025 |
| Estimated Eligible Devices | Approximately 37 million |
| Geographic Scope | United States; purchase must have been made in the U.S. for purposes other than resale |
| Defendant | Apple Inc. |
| Case Number | 5:25-cv-02668-NW |
| Case Title | Landsheft v. Apple Inc. (consolidated action) |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California |
| Judge | Hon. Noel Wise |
| Class Counsel | Clarkson Law Firm, P.C.; Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP; Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP |
| Settlement Administrator | Verita Global, LLC |
| Motion Filed | May 5, 2026 (Motion for Preliminary Approval, ECF No. 77) |
| Theory | False advertising of Apple Intelligence Siri features (UCL, FAL, CLRA) |