Bought an iPhone 16? Apple May Owe You Up to $95 for Underdelivering on Siri
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Apple has faced Siri-related lawsuits on multiple fronts, and a settlement this week has brought the total hit to Apple’s pocketbook to nearly $350 million so far — and this number could climb even higher with at least one other major battle still underway.
Earlier this year, Apple agreed to pay out $95 million in the Siri “eavesdropping” lawsuit that was sparked by a whistleblower who revealed that some Siri interactions were being reviewed by humans. Apple had employed a group of third-party contractors to listen to snippets of “false positives” — moments when Siri thought someone was calling for it by saying “Siri” or “Hey Siri.” Even though the soundbites were completely anonymized, many exposed personal information and intimate moments simply due to the nature of what was being recorded.
Now, Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to consumers for its unusual move of overpromising and underdelivering on Apple Intelligence and Siri features. A class action complaint filed last year accused Apple of promoting its products in a way that “…overstated AI capabilities, leading consumers to believe they were purchasing a device with features that did not exist or were materially misrepresented.”
As expected, Apple initially pushed back hard against the 69 individuals in 38 states who claimed they either would not have purchased a new iPhone 16 model at all or would have paid less for it had they known about the delays. Apple’s defense, in part, was that none of the plaintiffs specified which ad or statement influenced their decision. Further, Apple pointed out that more than 20 of the 22 Apple Intelligence features had been rolled out; only Siri with personal context and App Intents had been missed.
Today’s $250 million settlement covers anyone in the United States who purchased an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone between June 10, 2024 — the day Apple announced the new Apple Intelligence features at WWDC 2024 — and March 29, 2025. While the iPhone 16 is the primary focus of the settlement, owners of the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max who purchased during the claim window are also eligible for a piece of the pie. However, the iPhone 17 is notably absent from the list, as the settlement only covers devices purchased before the March 29, 2025 cutoff.
The payment per device is $25. However, depending on the number of eligible purchases that actually submit claims, the payout could be lower or higher, with a maximum payout of $95. While a claim website isn’t live yet, eligible users should keep an eye on their inbox; official notices are expected to be sent out within the next 45 days.
Apple still isn’t out of the woods when it comes to lawsuits related to the rollout of “Siri 2.0.” The company also faces a shareholder class action initiated after shares dropped following Apple’s March 2025 announcement that Siri would be delayed. The ongoing lawsuit is led by South Korea’s National Pension Service and claims securities fraud. Apple is requesting the case be dismissed outright.
Whether you take the position that these massive payouts are sofa change for one of the world’s most valuable companies or vehemently side with Apple, a settlement is a settlement and all affected consumers get a piece of the pie. As normal for such settlements, Apple hasn’t admitted to any wrongdoing, issuing a statement that it “resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users.” Meanwhile, the rest of us are still waiting to get our thumbs on Siri 2.0. Here’s hoping Apple’s “focus” means it’s finally just around the corner.
