A false-advertising case against Cupertino’s biggest employer, heard in San Jose federal court and pleaded largely under California consumer law, is now paying out to iPhone owners across the state. Claims opened September 21, 2026 in the $250 million Apple Intelligence Siri settlement. Any California resident who bought an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model in the United States between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025 can claim $25 per phone, adjustable up to $95, with no receipt. The deadline is December 21, 2026.
The Case Next Door
Landsheft, et al. v. Apple Inc. was filed in March 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and assigned to the San Jose Division, a few miles from Apple Park. Judge Noël Wise granted preliminary approval of the settlement on July 17, 2026 and will hold the final approval hearing on February 24, 2027 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3 of the San Jose courthouse on South First Street.
The lawsuit alleges that Apple marketed the iPhone 16 lineup and the Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone 15 Pro models around a redesigned Siri that could understand a user’s personal context, act across apps and respond to what was on screen, when those features did not ship with the phones and were later delayed. Apple announced the features at its developer conference on June 10, 2024 and said in March 2025 that they would take longer than planned. The claims rest on consumer protection statutes in several states; California’s Unfair Competition Law, False Advertising Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act are the ones most Californians will recognize. Apple denies all of the allegations, denies it did anything improper or unlawful, and the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing.
Who in California Qualifies
The class is national, so residency in California is not a condition, but the rules are the same here as anywhere. You qualify if you are a U.S. resident and bought one of seven models new, in the United States, between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025, for use rather than resale: the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max or 16e. Where you bought it does not matter — the Apple Store at Valley Fair, a carrier store in Fresno, Costco in San Diego or apple.com all count the same.
Two purchase dates catch people. A 15 Pro bought at launch in September 2023 is outside the class, because the window opens on the day the Siri features were announced. An iPhone 16 bought in April 2025 or later is outside it too, because the window closes when Apple acknowledged the delay. The standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus never ran Apple Intelligence and do not qualify at any date.
What a Phone Pays
The base figure is $25 per eligible device. After attorneys’ fees, costs and service awards come out of the $250 million, the remainder is divided among all valid claims: if few people file, the per-phone figure rises toward a ceiling of $95; if more phones are claimed than the parties assumed, it falls below $25. A household with two covered iPhones files two claims and is paid twice. A business files one claim with a device list. The final figure is set only after the December 21 deadline and the administrator’s validation of claims.
How to File
No receipt, order number or mailed notice is needed. At the official settlement website, SmartphoneAISettlement.com, choose individual or business, enter your contact details and the phone’s serial number (Settings → General → About), or check the box and give the Apple Account email and phone number used with the device instead. Choose a check, PayPal, Venmo or direct deposit, read the declaration — it certifies that you expected certain Siri Apple Intelligence features when you bought the phone and did not receive them — and submit. Repeat for each phone. Paper forms must be postmarked by December 21, 2026. Filing is free.
December 21 is also the last day to opt out, which forfeits the payment in exchange for the right to sue Apple individually, or to object to the terms in writing to the court. Class Counsel’s fee request must be posted on the settlement website by November 17, 2026.
Not the Siri Privacy Case
Californians who received a check this January from the $95 million Lopez v. Apple settlement, over Siri recordings, are looking at a different case. That one was about privacy; this one is about advertising. Filing in one has no bearing on the other, and the same phone can qualify for both.
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What Happens Next
If Judge Wise grants final approval on February 24, 2027, payments follow the settlement’s effective date, which arrives only after the appeal period runs or any appeal is resolved. No payment date has been announced. The court can move the hearing without further notice; the settlement website carries the current date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do California residents qualify for the Apple Intelligence settlement?
Yes, on the same terms as anyone in the United States: a new iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max or 16e bought in the United States between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025, for use rather than resale. Where in California you bought it does not matter.
Which court is handling the Apple Siri settlement?
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, before Judge Noël Wise. The final approval hearing is February 24, 2027 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3 of the San Jose courthouse.
How much will California iPhone owners get?
$25 per eligible phone as the base figure, adjustable pro rata up to $95 if few claims are filed, or below $25 if many are. The final figure is set after the December 21, 2026 deadline.
Do I need a receipt to file?
No. The claim form asks for the iPhone’s serial number, or the Apple Account email and phone number used with it, and the administrator matches that against Apple’s purchase records.
What California laws are involved?
The complaint pleads consumer protection claims under the laws of several states. For California buyers the relevant statutes are the Unfair Competition Law, the False Advertising Law and the Consumers Legal Remedies Act. Apple denies the allegations and no court has ruled on them.
Is this the same as the Siri privacy settlement that paid in January?
No. That was Lopez v. Apple, a $95 million settlement over Siri recordings. This case is about how Siri Apple Intelligence features were advertised. The two are unrelated and the same phone can qualify for both.
Sources
- Smartphone AI Settlement — the official settlement website, administered by Verita Global, LLC: long-form notice, online claim form, individual and entity paper claim forms.
- Court-approved long-form notice in Landsheft, et al. v. Apple Inc., Case No. 5:25-cv-02668-NW, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division: class definition, the seven Eligible Devices, the class period, the $250 million Total Settlement Amount, the $25 per-device payment and $95 cap, the December 21, 2026 deadlines and the February 24, 2027 final approval hearing.
- Order granting preliminary approval, July 17, 2026, Hon. Noël Wise.
- OpenClassActions.com — Apple $250M Apple Intelligence Siri Settlement, and its May 2026 report on how the settlement came together.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. This site is not a law firm, is not the settlement administrator and is not affiliated with Apple or any party to the case. Apple denies the allegations and no court has decided the merits. Deadlines and payment amounts can change as the court and the administrator act; confirm current status on the official settlement website. You never need to pay anyone to file a claim.