Remember the smarter Siri Apple promised? If you bought a newer iPhone to get it, Apple may owe you money. The Apple Siri settlement is now open for claims, and the clock runs out on Dec. 21.
The deal is worth $250 million. It settles a class-action lawsuit claiming Apple advertised Apple Intelligence features that, in the words of the suit, “did not exist” yet, according to ABC News. The settlement was first filed in May. Still, what matters now is that real money is up for grabs, and the same Apple that just won over critics with a TIME-cover foldable under new CEO John Ternus is the one writing the checks.
Who qualifies for the Apple Siri settlement
Not every iPhone owner makes the cut. Eligible models are the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16, 16e, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, Fox News reports. The regular iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are out, sorry.
You also need to have bought the phone between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025. You must live in the US and have bought the device here for a purpose other than resale.
That is a big pool of phones. The filing cites about 37 million eligible devices, though some outlets say up to 36 million. (Even Apple’s rounding is up for debate.)
How big is the iPhone settlement payout?
The base payment is $25 per device. Depending on how many people file claims and other factors, it can climb as high as $95, or shrink, according to Clarkson Law Firm, which is co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs.
The math is simple. A fixed pot split among fewer claimants means bigger checks. So the people who skip the paperwork are quietly boosting the payout for everyone who files.
Also, the fund is non-reversionary, meaning Apple does not get leftover cash back.
What the Siri class action actually claimed
The case, Landsheft v. Apple Inc., was filed in March 2025 in federal court in Northern California. It followed Apple’s decision to delay a more personal version of Siri. As MacRumors recounted, Apple had promoted those Siri features in presentations, on its website and in a TV ad.
Apple denies any wrongdoing. It argued its ads were not misleading because it disclosed that features would roll out over time. It also said it delivered more than 20 Apple Intelligence features. Even so, the settlement is not an admission of liability.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers, naturally, see a bigger story. Co-lead counsel Ryan Clarkson told CBS News the fund “represents the largest false advertising settlement in history.” That is his claim, and we have not independently verified it.
Here’s the thing: the Apple Siri settlement deadline is the only one that matters
The court granted preliminary approval on July 17. The claims website went live in late September. From here, everything hinges on one date.
- Dec. 21, 2026: deadline to file a claim, and to opt out or object.
- Feb. 24, 2027: final approval hearing.
Payments follow final approval. The exact timing is not confirmed, since it depends on the court and on how many claims come in. Meanwhile, Apple’s hardware business keeps moving, as its $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo selling out in minutes shows.
Here’s the irony. Apple has now started rolling out its long-awaited Siri AI beta with iOS 27. The assistant people were promised in 2024 is finally showing up, right as the checks for waiting on it go out.
Filing takes a few minutes. Putting it off could cost you up to $95, so ask yourself: is that worth skipping the form?
