Apple has opened the claims process for a ₹2,200 crore settlement resolving legal claims in the United States over delayed artificial intelligence features for its virtual assistant, Siri. Eligible American consumers who bought qualifying iPhone models during a designated purchase window may seek compensation, with estimated payouts beginning around ₹2,200 per device and reaching up to ₹8,500 per customer. The claims window officially opened on September 21, 2026, and will remain accessible to affected buyers until December 21, 2026.
Qualifying Models and Purchase Window
The settlement terms restrict eligibility strictly to handsets purchased within the United States between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025. Coverage is limited to select newer generations of Apple hardware, specifically the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Merely possessing an eligible handset is not sufficient to secure funds, as applicants must establish that their purchase fell strictly within the designated timeframe.
To file a claim, eligible owners can visit the dedicated settlement portal online, while select customers may receive direct communications containing a claim identification number and PIN. Every application requires personal information, the serial number of the qualifying iPhone, and the Apple Account email address and phone number associated with the handset. Settlement administrators will use these technical records to verify that each submission meets the formal criteria before releasing compensation.
Origins of the Marketing Dispute
The legal action originated from promotional demonstrations delivered during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in 2024, where the company showcased advanced Siri functions powered by Apple Intelligence. These demonstrations highlighted the assistant’s ability to interpret personal context, recognise on-screen information, and execute cross-app actions. When the iPhone 16 family launched in September 2024, however, several anticipated tools were either absent or restricted, triggering customer complaints.
Peter Landsheft initiated the lawsuit in a California federal court later that year, alleging that marketing campaigns misled consumers by cultivating expectations for AI features that were missing at launch. The controversy intensified in March 2025 when Apple confirmed that key Siri enhancements would experience delays. While Apple opted to resolve the case through the ₹2,200 crore agreement, the company denied all allegations of wrongdoing, stating that resolving the litigation would allow it to concentrate on product development and service delivery.
Payment Terms and Verification Rules
Under the court-monitored framework, an eligible consumer may receive up to ₹8,500, with an estimated base payout of roughly ₹2,200 per qualified device. Final disbursements remain subject to adjustment, as the eventual compensation distributed to each applicant will depend on the aggregate number of verified claims submitted by the December 21 deadline, alongside associated administrative deductions from the settlement fund.
Because payouts depend entirely on valid proof of purchase and strict adherence to the filing schedule, consumers must submit their claims before the three-month window closes. The settlement remains restricted to hardware purchased inside the United States, meaning overseas buyers and those who acquired their devices outside the eligibility window are excluded from participating in the distribution.
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