Apple launches official site for iPhone users to claim cash from $250M AI settlement
A new website has launched after Apple agreed to settle in a class action lawsuit, allowing certain iPhone owners to submit claims for a share of $250 million in compensation.
The lawsuit came after Apple was accused of 'false advertising' surrounding the promotion of AI services under the umbrella of Apple Intelligence, as these included both the basic features that did arrive in time, and more ambitious projects like the revamped Siri which have only just made their way to iPhones with the latest iOS update.
With news that Apple reached a settlement earlier this year – which is explicitly not an admission of wrongdoing – the opportunity has finally opened up for iPhone owners to get their share of the money through a website specifically designed to process claims from eligible parties.
If you've bought a new iPhone in the last few years there's a good chance that you're eligible for some money, even if you had no interest in the AI services that were allegedly 'misrepresented' in the first place.
Who is eligible for compensation?
As is the case with all class action lawsuit settlements, you need to fit all the conditions of eligibility in order to claim your share of the money, which are listed below:
- You are the original purchaser of the device, with the purpose being business or personal use, not for resale
- You live in the United States, and purchased the eligible device in the United States
- You purchased the eligible device between the dates of June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025
- You purchased one of the following iPhone devices within the aforementioned time frame:
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
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These phones were all advertised by Apple as being 'ready' for the Apple Intelligence features at launch, with the lawsuit claiming that the suitability for AI was a key reason why many might have gone for these devices.
How to file a claim for your share of the settlement
If you meet all of the conditions of eligibility listed above then you'll want to head to the official website – Smartphone AI Settlement – and begin the process to submit your claim.
Simply select the 'File A Claim' button to start the process, and you'll be asked a number of questions to prove your eligibility. You will also need to have the serial number of the iPhone involved in the claim, so make sure you have that handy.
Additionally, the deadline to file claims is listed as December 21, 2026, giving you less than three months to put yourself forward — so make sure to do it as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
When will claims be paid out?
While there is no official or exact date for when claims will be paid out, the final approval hearing will take place on February 24, 2027, so you should expect the payments to be received in the weeks or months following that if approval is granted.
Eligible individuals can select the method of payment that they prefer through the official claim form, giving you a number of options to see which one suits you best — although that might impact when you receive the money depending on what you pick.
Currently the expectation is that eligible claimants will receive a payment of $25 per eligible device that they purchased within the time frame. That figure can increase to as much as $95 per device, or drop lower depending on the number of valid claimants that are accepted.
That $250 million settlement figure will also be reduced once the costs of notice and settlement administration, taxes, attorneys' fees, and litigation costs are taken into account too.