Apple is paying $250 million in compensation to iPhone users due to the delayed launch of Apple Intelligence.
Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a lawsuit that has suspended Apple Intelligence. Users of eligible iPhone models may receive compensation of up to $95 per device.
The U.S. Federal District Court for the Northern District of California has just issued preliminary approval for a $250 million settlement between Apple and consumers. This decision opens the possibility of receiving compensation of up to nearly 2.5 million Vietnamese dong (equivalent to $95) for many eligible iPhone owners. The agreement aims to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that the American technology giant heavily promoted but delayed the release of Apple Intelligence features and an upgraded Siri virtual assistant.
Conditions and list of equipment eligible for compensation.
The initial payout agreed upon by the court and parties was $25 USD (approximately 630,000 VND) per eligible device. However, if the total number of applications received is lower than expected, the compensation per device could increase to a maximum of $95 USD (nearly 2.5 million VND). Conversely, the actual value received by users will depend on the scale of approved applications and the allocation from the $250 million budget.
According to court records, the list of phone models subject to reimbursement consideration includes:
- iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16e
- iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
In addition to owning a device from the list, users must meet the criteria of residing in the United States, having purchased the device between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025, in the US market, and not intending to resell it. The agreement also stipulates that Apple will not automatically issue refunds; customers must proactively submit a valid request for consideration.
The lawsuit originated from Apple Intelligence technology.
The class-action lawsuit stems from Apple's marketing campaign for its artificial intelligence system, Apple Intelligence, and the next-generation Siri at the WWDC 2024 event in June 2024. At the time of the iOS 18 release, Apple showcased a superior version of Siri with the ability to recognize personal context, understand on-screen content, and perform complex tasks across multiple applications.
These advanced AI features were considered a key selling point, driving consumers to upgrade to newer iPhone models. However, the company subsequently repeatedly delayed the release and officially admitted it could not launch on schedule as of 2025. The plaintiffs argue that Apple misled consumers about the product's quality to boost demand for the hardware.
In this $250 million settlement, Apple did not admit to any wrongdoing or legal liability. The settlement was chosen to end the protracted legal battle and avoid incurring further complex legal costs.
Application process and key deadlines
Currently, the court has designated Verita Global to manage and process claims. An online registration portal will be published later. A detailed announcement of the agreement is expected to be issued within 45 days of preliminary approval, no later than August 31, 2026.
Once the official application system is operational, eligible device owners will have 90 days to complete the application submission along with supporting documents such as the iPhone serial number. The final court review is currently scheduled for September 29, 2027, before actual disbursement begins.
