Apple has agreed to a massive $250 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of misleading consumers about promised Apple Intelligence and Siri AI features on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 devices. The settlement still requires court approval, but it could result in payouts for millions of eligible iPhone buyers in the United States.
The lawsuit centered around Apple’s heavily promoted AI-powered Siri upgrade that was showcased during WWDC 2024 but failed to arrive as promised with the iPhone 16 launch.
Why Apple Was Sued
The plaintiffs alleged that Apple marketed advanced AI capabilities that either did not exist at launch or remained significantly delayed. According to the lawsuit, Apple’s advertisements created “clear and reasonable consumer expectations” that Apple Intelligence features would be available immediately with supported iPhones.
The complaint specifically targeted:
- Personalized Siri upgrades
- Advanced contextual AI responses
- Deeper app integration
- AI-powered assistant capabilities
- Apple Intelligence marketing campaigns
Consumers claimed these features were a major reason behind purchasing new iPhone models.
Which iPhones Are Included?
The proposed settlement reportedly applies to users in the United States who purchased:
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
The purchases must have been made between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025.
Reports suggest eligible users could receive:
- Around $25 per device initially
- Possibly up to $95 depending on total claims filed
Apple Did Not Admit Wrongdoing
Although Apple agreed to the settlement, the company has not admitted any fault. In its official statement, Apple said it chose to resolve the matter to remain focused on delivering innovative products and services.
Apple also argued that it had already released several Apple Intelligence features, including:
- Writing Tools
- Genmoji
- Live Translation
- Visual Intelligence
- AI photo editing features
However, the more advanced Siri overhaul remained delayed much longer than expected.
The Siri Delay Became A Bigger Problem For Apple
Apple first introduced its next-generation Siri vision during WWDC 2024, promising a more personalized and context-aware assistant powered by generative AI. The company positioned Apple Intelligence as one of the biggest reasons to upgrade to newer iPhones.
But the rollout faced repeated delays:
- Some features arrived months late
- Several capabilities were removed from ads
- Siri’s biggest AI upgrade still remains incomplete
Reports also indicate Apple has been restructuring its AI teams and increasing reliance on external AI partnerships, including deeper Gemini integration discussions with Google.
AI Marketing Now Under Scrutiny
The case may become one of the most important legal moments in the AI industry so far. Experts believe it could set new standards around how tech companies advertise unfinished AI features.
The controversy also highlights growing pressure on Apple as rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft aggressively expand their AI ecosystems. While Apple remains dominant in hardware, critics argue the company has struggled to match competitors in generative AI speed and rollout execution.
