Key Takeaways
- Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class action over allegations about how it marketed Apple Intelligence.
- Apple AI settlement payouts range from $25 to $95 per eligible device owner, depending on how many people file a claim.
- The Apple settlement claim deadline is December 21, and covered purchases ran from June 10, 2024, to March 29, 2025.
- A simple split of the $250 million across roughly 36 million covered devices comes to about $6.94 each, below the $25 low end.
Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle allegations about how it marketed Apple Intelligence, according to a Decrypt report from May 6, 2026. Under the Apple $250 million AI settlement, eligible customers who purchased certain iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models could receive up to $95, and 41NBC reported on November 3 that the deadline to submit a claim is December 21.
Who is covered by the Apple AI settlement: iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 buyers
The settlement covers U.S. consumers who bought qualifying iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 devices between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025, according to Decrypt. The case is a class action, which is a lawsuit filed on behalf of a large group of people who share the same complaint. Decrypt reports that roughly 36 million devices are covered, meaning units sold in the U.S. during that period. Payouts range from $25 to $95 per eligible device owner, depending on how many people ultimately file a claim.
The $250 million settlement split across 36 million covered devices.
A simple split of the $250 million across roughly 36 million covered devices gives about $6.94 per device. That figure is not a payout, because the lowest payout in the reported range is $25. Each payout depends on how many people file a claim, and neither report gives a claim count. If every claim paid $25, the $250 million could pay at most 10 million claims. If every claim paid $95, it could pay at most about 2.6 million claims. The arithmetic uses figures from the Decrypt report.
Apple Intelligence timeline from June 2024 to the December 21 claim deadline
- June 2024: Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence, its answer to products like OpenAI's ChatGPT.
- September 2024: New iPhones shipped without the promised Intelligence features, the class action says.
- March 2025: Apple delayed the release of an upgraded Siri over quality problems.
- May 6, 2026: Decrypt reports that Apple agreed to pay $250 million.
- December 21: The deadline to submit a claim, according to 41NBC.
What the lawsuit alleges and how Apple responded.
The dispute centers on AI features that the class action says were promoted but did not reach new iPhones at launch. According to lawyers for iPhone buyers, Apple promoted AI capabilities that did not exist at the time. Decrypt also reports that Apple disabled its notification summaries feature entirely after the feature misrepresented news reports. Apple denied wrongdoing in the settlement. Apple maintains, according to court documents, that the dispute relates only to the availability of two additional features within a broader suite of Apple Intelligence services.
Apple spokeswoman Marni Goldberg said in a statement that "Since the launch of Apple Intelligence, we have introduced dozens of features across many languages that are integrated across Apple's platforms." She added that "We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users."
Decrypt ties each payout to how many people file a claim, and neither article gives a claim count. Until the December 21 deadline passes, the per-owner amount is not settled, and the $250 million figure alone does not show what an eligible customer will receive.
People Also Ask
How much is the Apple AI settlement?
Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle allegations about how it marketed Apple Intelligence. Payouts range from $25 to $95 per eligible device owner, depending on how many people file a claim.
Who can get paid from the Apple AI settlement?
U.S. consumers who bought qualifying iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 devices between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025, are eligible, according to Decrypt. Roughly 36 million devices are covered by the lawsuit.
When is the deadline to file an Apple AI settlement claim?
The deadline to submit a claim in the Apple AI settlement is December 21, according to 41NBC's November 3, 2026 business report. Eligible customers who purchased certain iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models could receive up to $95.
Did Apple deny wrongdoing in the AI settlement?
Yes. Apple denied wrongdoing in the settlement and maintains, according to court documents, that the dispute relates only to the availability of two additional features within a broader suite of Apple Intelligence services.