If you bought an iPhone 16 or iPhone 15, hoping to experience the new Apple Intelligence capabilities showcased during the launch, you may be entitled to a refund since those promised tools failed to launch as expected.
Depending on announcements made at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, you could potentially receive compensation before the delayed features finally arrive.
This week, Apple finalized a shareholder lawsuit and committed to paying $250 million to iPhone 16 and select iPhone 15 buyers within a specific timeframe. The legal action claimed Apple deceived buyers by advertising AI functionalities that were not included with the initial device release. Eligible owners can anticipate payouts ranging from $25 to $95 per qualifying device.
In a statement to Gfaloe Managing Editor David Lumb, an Apple spokesperson noted, «Apple has reached a settlement to resolve claims related to the availability of two additional features. We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users.»
What sparked the Apple Intelligence lawsuit?
The proposed settlement states, «Apple allegedly saturated the market with deceptive ads, inducing consumers to purchase iPhones based on the promise of certain enhanced Siri features.»
While some Apple Intelligence tools like Visual Intelligence, Live Translation, Writing Tools, Genmoji and Clean Up launched shortly after the iPhone 16 and iOS 18 debut, these were not the advanced AI features Apple primarily advertised.
Who qualifies for the $250 million settlement?
Individuals who bought one of the following devices between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025, qualify for a settlement payment:
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16E
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
The inclusion of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is due to their hardware capabilities, which support Apple Intelligence features.
Approximately 36 million customers are estimated to be eligible for this settlement.
Steps to claim your settlement refund
Currently, you must wait.
Per the settlement terms, Apple will submit a list of eligible customers and their contact details to a settlement administrator.
Once the data is verified, Verita will distribute email and postal notifications to these customers, guiding them to a settlement website. This site has not been launched yet. You will have 90 days from the date of your notice to submit your claim.
When will settlement payments be issued?
The settlement requires Apple to share affected customer information within five days of the court approval, set for June 17, 2026.
After data submission and verification, a 45-day notice period starts to inform potential claimants of their eligibility.
Actual claim payments will be processed within a 60-calendar-day window following the resolution of final details, such as exclusions and objections. This suggests initial checks or direct deposits may arrive sometime after September 2026, subject to court schedules and potential extensions.
