Apple began rolling out Siri AI in English beta on September 14. A week later, claims opened in a $250 million settlement over allegations that buyers had expected Siri features they did not receive. The new software and the claim process are proceeding together: today's product launch does not answer what a customer expected when buying a phone years earlier.

Eligible US purchasers have until December 21, 2026 to file, according to the official settlement website. Apple denies wrongdoing. Final court approval is still pending.

The big change

  • What changed: An AI feature promised alongside a physical product is now the subject of an open compensation process. The later update and the earlier purchase dispute now have separate paths: a software rollout and a settlement process.
  • Why it matters: Buyers pay for hardware before every advertised software capability necessarily arrives. This case attaches a concrete financial consequence to that disputed gap, without a court finding that Apple broke the law.
  • What to watch: The useful test for the next AI device launch is feature-level availability: what works on the buyer's device, in their language and region, on the purchase date. An AI brand name alone cannot establish those details.

Who can claim, and why $95 is not guaranteed

The administrator lists original purchasers who live in the United States and bought an eligible phone there for personal or business use, rather than resale, from June 10, 2024 through March 29, 2025. Covered models are iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, plus iPhone 16, 16e, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. The notice also lists exclusions, including Apple employees.

The settlement FAQ sets $25 per eligible device as an adjustable amount, capped at $95. Valid claim volume and deductions for administration, legal fees and other approved costs determine the final amount. Neither figure is guaranteed.

The claim form requires a truthful declaration that the purchaser expected a Siri Apple Intelligence feature and did not receive it. Owning a listed model is therefore not the whole claim. Applicants must supply contact and identifying information; the form requests a serial number, or Apple Account email and phone number if the serial number is unavailable. It calls for a separate form for each eligible device.

Start from the official site's File A Claim link. A serial number can be found under Settings → General → About. The administrator, not this article, determines whether a claim is valid.

A current rollout cannot rewrite the purchase date

Apple's June 10, 2024 announcement described Siri using personal context, understanding onscreen information and acting across apps. It also said some features would arrive over the following year. That qualification matters: the announcement did not say every capability would be available immediately.

The September 14, 2026 release describes those kinds of capabilities in the new Siri AI. Its rollout begins as an English beta on supported devices, with regional restrictions. Apple says Siri AI initially excludes iOS, iPadOS and watchOS in the EU; it and other new Apple Intelligence features are unavailable in China while regulatory requirements are addressed.

For readers evaluating a purchase, these details carry more information than whether a device is described as AI-enabled. Hardware compatibility, a published feature roadmap and access to a working feature answer different questions. Apple's own release notes show why a worldwide audience cannot assume a launch announcement means the same availability everywhere.

The settlement concerns the earlier transaction. Its FAQ says the court has not decided in either side's favor. A later release establishes a new product status; it does not turn a negotiated settlement into a judgment about liability, or prove what every purchaser understood.

Filing, opting out and doing nothing have different consequences

The administrator's current deadlines give December 21, 2026 for claims, exclusion requests and objections. The final approval hearing is scheduled for February 24, 2027. Payment timing depends on approval and possible appeals; the hearing date is not a payment date.

According to the FAQ, doing nothing brings no payment but leaves class members bound by the settlement and its release of claims if it takes effect. Opting out brings no payment and preserves any right to pursue related claims independently. Read the notice before deciding.

The immediate benefit is a defined route for eligible purchasers to seek compensation. The broader lesson is about buying the product that is actually available: evaluate the feature, its delivery date and its access conditions as carefully as the hardware carrying it.