Apple has reached a $250 million settlement related to a class-action lawsuit filed in 2024. The lawsuit accused the company of misleading consumers regarding its Apple Intelligence features, including the anticipated enhanced version of Siri, initially set to debut with the iPhone 16 in 2024. The legal action was initiated by Peter Landsheft in a federal court located in California.

During the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2024, Apple announced new features that were designed to enhance the user experience. These included a more personalised Siri, which was expected to improve when the iPhone 16 series launched. The lawsuit claims that these assurances set “clear and reasonable consumer expectations” that the features would be readily available upon release.

However, when the iPhone 16 series was finally unveiled in the autumn of 2024, the lawsuit alleged that Apple delivered a version of Apple Intelligence that was either significantly limited or absent entirely. This, according to the complaint, misled consumers about the actual function and performance of the offered features.

Apple’s Response and Current Features

In response to the allegations, Apple provided a statement to MacRumours, indicating that the settlement was reached to resolve claims concerning the availability of additional features. The company stated, “We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users.”

Despite reaching a settlement, Apple has not acknowledged any wrongdoing. The company has reiterated the existing Apple Intelligence features launched prior to the lawsuit, which comprise “Visual Intelligence, Live Translation, Writing Tools, Genmoji, and Clean Up.”

Furthermore, Apple has indicated that the new personalised Siri features are still anticipated to be released later this year, aligning with the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation in its products.

Eligibility for Settlement Payments

The proposed settlement will be accessible to consumers in the United States who purchased specific iPhone models including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025. Eligible customers must have purchased an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence within the specified timeframe.

Those eligible for the settlement must submit claims to receive compensation. Individuals can expect to receive $25 (approximately Rs 2,380) for each qualifying device, with payouts potentially increasing to $95 (around Rs 9,050) depending on the total number of claims submitted.

The settlement has obtained preliminary approval from the relevant courts; however, final court approval remains pending. Eligible users should anticipate receiving email notifications regarding the settlement within 45 days of the preliminary approval.

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