Apple is paying $250 million to iPhone customers over delayed AI features — here's how to get your share

Apple Intelligence logo made to look like puzzle on iPhone
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Apple is cutting checks to millions of iPhone owners. If you bought an iPhone 16 or iPhone 15 Pro between June 2024 and March 2025, you likely qualify for a settlement payout between $25 and $95 per device.

This settlement comes from a class action lawsuit over Apple's misleading marketing around AI features. Approximately 36 million customers are eligible. Here's what you need to know to claim your share.

Why Apple is paying this settlement

When Apple unveiled the iPhone 16, marketing at the time heavily emphasized AI capabilities. The company promised enhanced Siri that would function as an intelligent agent, positioning these new devices as built specifically for advanced AI features.

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Apple also marketed upcoming Apple Intelligence to iPhone 15 Pro buyers during this period. Customers purchased based on these promises.

At launch, Apple Intelligence was nowhere to be found. Five weeks later, iOS 18.1 arrived with basic tools like Writing Tools, Notification Summaries, and Clean Up in Photos. But the advanced Siri features Apple had prominently advertised were still missing.

The lawsuit alleged Apple deliberately misled consumers with deceptive advertising. Rather than fight the case, Apple agreed to the settlement to resolve claims and avoid prolonged litigation. The company's statement specified that this settlement did not constitute an admission of wrongdoing.

Who qualifies?

You're eligible if you purchased any of these devices between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025:

iPhone 16, iPhone 16E, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The iPhone 15 Pro models qualify because they have the processing power to run Apple Intelligence. Sources are reporting payouts range from $25 to $95 per eligible device depending on how many people claim their share.

Apple Intelligence logo on iPhone

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

How to claim your settlement

You don't need to act immediately. Apple is compiling eligible customer information and sending it to settlement administrator Verita.

Once verified, Verita will contact you via email and postal mail with a link to the settlement website. You'll have 90 days from the date you receive your notice to submit your claim.

Check your email carefully, including spam folders, because missing the deadline means losing your payment.

To file your claim, you'll need proof of purchase. If you have your receipt or confirmation email, save it. If not, Apple can verify your purchase through the Apple ID you used to set up the phone.

When will you actually get paid if eligible?

The settlement was approved in June 2026. After Apple provides customer data to Verita and verification is complete, a 45-day notice period begins informing eligible customers.

Payments are expected to arrive sometime after September 2026. Settlement processes can move slowly through verification and legal proceedings, so manage your expectations.


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Kaycee Hill
How-to Editor

Kaycee is Tom's Guide's How-To Editor, known for tutorials that get straight to what works. She writes across phones, homes, TVs and everything in between — because life doesn't stick to categories and neither should good advice. She's spent years in content creation doing one thing really well: making complicated things click. Kaycee is also an award-winning poet and co-editor at Fox and Star Books.

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