What is the Apple Intelligence class action settlement?

Apple agreed to a $250 million proposed class action settlement on May 5, 2026 in Landsheft v. Apple Inc., a consumer false advertising case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit alleged Apple misled iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro buyers by marketing personalized Apple Intelligence Siri features that did not exist at launch and were not delivered on the original timeline. Apple denies wrongdoing and is settling without admitting fault. The court must still grant preliminary approval before claims open.

Which iPhone models qualify for the Apple settlement?

Seven iPhone models qualify: iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are not included because they did not run Apple Intelligence at launch. The qualifying purchase window is June 10, 2024 to March 29, 2025, and the iPhone must have been purchased in the United States for personal or business use (not for resale).

How much money will I get from the Apple Intelligence settlement?

The presumptive per-device payment is approximately $25, but that figure is not guaranteed. The settlement notice describes the per-device amount as subject to pro rata adjustment up or down based on the number of valid claims. If relatively few valid claims are filed, the per-device payout can increase up to a maximum of $95. If many claims are filed, the per-device payout can decrease below $25. The $250 million settlement fund is non-reversionary, meaning all of it (after court-approved fees, costs, service awards, and administration) is distributed to claimants rather than reverting to Apple. An estimated 37 million iPhones may qualify under the class definition. Each eligible device qualifies for a separate payment, so buyers of multiple qualifying iPhones during the class period can claim each one separately. Actual payments will depend on final claim volume and remain unknown until claims close.

When can I file an Apple Intelligence settlement claim?

Claims are open now. The court granted preliminary approval on July 17, 2026, and the Settlement Administrator opened the claim period on September 21, 2026 at SmartphoneAISettlement.com. Claims must be submitted online or postmarked by December 21, 2026, which is also the deadline to opt out or object. The final approval hearing is set for February 24, 2027. Filing is free.

Do I need proof of purchase to file an Apple iPhone settlement claim?

No receipt is required. The online claim form has one path for buyers who received a Claim ID and PIN by email or postcard and another for buyers who did not, so a notice is not needed to file. In place of a receipt the form asks for the iPhone serial number, found under Settings, General, About or on the original box; a claimant without the serial number can instead provide the Apple Account email address and the phone number used with the iPhone. Each eligible device is a separate claim.

Why did Apple settle the iPhone 16 false advertising lawsuit?

Apple settled to close consumer-class exposure tied to its iPhone 16 marketing campaign, which prominently featured a personalized Apple Intelligence Siri capable of contextual cross-app actions, including the widely-aired Bella Ramsey Zac advertisement. After the iPhone 16 launched in September 2024, Apple acknowledged that several promised Apple Intelligence features (including personal context awareness and in-app actions) would not arrive on the original timeline. Apple denies wrongdoing and notes it has shipped over 20 Apple Intelligence features, but settled the consumer class action to avoid prolonged litigation and discovery. A separate securities-fraud action by Apple shareholders remains active.

Is this related to the Apple Siri privacy class action settlement?

No. The Apple Intelligence settlement (Landsheft v. Apple) is a separate matter from the earlier Apple Siri privacy class action settlement (Lopez v. Apple, $95 million), which resolved different allegations about unintended Siri activations recording private conversations. The Lopez case completed payouts in January 2026 at approximately $8 per device. The Landsheft case is a false advertising case about whether Apple's marketing of Apple Intelligence Siri features matched what the company actually shipped. Different defendants' theory, different class period, different per-device payouts. iPhone owners may have qualified for one, both, or neither, depending on their devices and the relevant time periods.

Apple Intelligence $250M Settlement — iPhone 16 & 15 Pro Buyers

Published May 5, 2026

Updated September 21, 2026

iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro buyers received notice of the $250 million Apple Intelligence settlement in September 2026, when the court-approved claim period opened. Claims for $25 to $95 per device close December 21, 2026.

By Steve Levine

Editor-in-Chief

September 21, 2026 Update: Claims are open. Judge Noël Wise granted preliminary approval on July 17, 2026, and the Settlement Administrator opened the claim period on September 21, 2026. Claims must be submitted online or postmarked by December 21, 2026; the final approval hearing is February 24, 2027. The current claim instructions, the proof rules and the deadlines are on the Apple Intelligence Siri settlement page, and the official claim form is at SmartphoneAISettlement.com. The article below is the May 2026 report on how the settlement came together.

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.

Status Claims Open preliminary approval granted July 17, 2026 · claim period opened September 21, 2026

Claim Deadline December 21, 2026 online or postmarked · also the opt-out and objection deadline

Estimated Payout $25 per device adjusted pro rata up or down · up to $95 max · $250M fund

Official Claim Form Available now SmartphoneAISettlement.com · no receipt; serial number or Apple Account email in place of one

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 open now. The dates the court-approved notice sets are:

• May 5, 2026: Plaintiffs filed the motion for preliminary approval.
• June 17, 2026: Preliminary approval hearing held.
• July 17, 2026: The court granted preliminary approval.
• September 21, 2026: Notice campaign and claim period began at SmartphoneAISettlement.com.
• November 17, 2026: Class Counsel's motion for fees, expenses and service awards due to be posted on the settlement website.
• December 21, 2026: Claim deadline (online or postmarked), opt-out deadline and objection deadline, all the same date.
• February 24, 2027 at 9:00 a.m.: Final approval hearing in San Jose.
• After the Effective Date: Apple funds the balance of the settlement and payments are issued, once any appeals are resolved. No payment date has been announced.

Did the Court Approve the Apple Settlement?

Preliminarily, yes. Judge Noël Wise granted preliminary approval on July 17, 2026, which authorized the notice program and the claim period that opened on September 21, 2026. Final approval is a separate step: the court will decide whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate at a hearing on February 24, 2027, and payments follow only after that ruling and the resolution of any appeals.

Can I File an Apple Intelligence Settlement Claim Yet?

Yes. The official claim form went live on September 21, 2026 at SmartphoneAISettlement.com, with separate paths for individuals and for businesses. No receipt is needed: the form takes the iPhone serial number, or the Apple Account email and phone number for the device, and buyers who never received a Claim ID and PIN can still file online. The step-by-step instructions, the proof rules and the payment options are on the Apple Intelligence Siri settlement page. Filing is free; be cautious of any service that asks for a fee to file. OpenClassActions does not process claims and does not collect personal information.

What iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro Buyers Should Do Right Now

• Find the serial number of each eligible iPhone under Settings, General, About, or on the barcode label of the original box. If the phone is gone and the serial number with it, the Apple Account email and the phone number used with the device work instead.
• File one claim per device at SmartphoneAISettlement.com before December 21, 2026. Online filers can be paid by check, PayPal, Venmo or direct deposit; a mailed paper form is paid by check only.
• Decide by the same date whether to opt out or object instead. Both choices are explained on the settlement page and in the long-form notice.

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.
• July 17, 2026: Preliminary approval granted.
• September 21, 2026: Notice program and claim period opened; claims close December 21, 2026.
• February 24, 2027: Final approval hearing scheduled.

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 granted preliminary approval on July 17, 2026; the court-approved long-form notice is embedded on the settlement page.

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 and the preliminary approval order of July 17, 2026
• Court-approved long-form notice and claim forms, posted September 21, 2026, for the December 21, 2026 deadlines and the February 24, 2027 final approval hearing
• 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 (Verita Global), live with the claim form since September 21, 2026

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, visit the Settlement Website run by Verita Global, LLC.

For more class actions keep scrolling below.

Settlement Amount $250,000,000 non-reversionary

Case Title Landsheft v. Apple Inc. consolidated action

Case Number 5:25-cv-02668-NW

Court U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

Final Approval Hearing February 24, 2027 at 9:00 AM San Jose Courthouse, Hon. Noël Wise

Administrator Verita Global, LLC

Official Website Smartphone AI Settlement.com

Apple Intelligence $250M iPhone Class Action Settlement — iPhone 16 and 15 Pro Buyers May Get $25 to $95 Per Device