‘AI capabilities that did not exist at the time’: Delayed Siri features have cost Apple a massive $250 million, and iPhone users could get up to $95 per device

• Apple has lost a class action lawsuit to the tune of $250 million
• The case relates to delayed Apple Intelligence features affecting Siri
• If you’re eligible, you could get up to $95 per device

It’s disappointing enough that Apple’s much hyped Apple Intelligence overhaul has been beset by delays, leaving its Siri virtual assistant feeling rather toothless. But some users complained that they felt tricked into buying an iPhone that arrived without any of the promoted features available — and they’ve just won a massive payout from Apple.

That’s because settlement details for a class action lawsuit involving Apple have just emerged, and the final figure stands at $250 million. If you’re eligible for compensation from the mammoth fine, you could be due up to $95 per device.

At the time, the case claimed that Apple had promoted “AI capabilities that did not exist at the time, do not exist now, and will not exist for two or more years.” It also alleged that Apple’s Siri advertisements “saturated the internet, television, and other airwaves to cultivate a clear and reasonable consumer expectation that these transformative features would be available upon the iPhone's release.”

Apple first settled the case in December 2025, but the details of the compensation have only just emerged. Affected users are due $25 per device, but that could rise to $95 per device if the number of claims ends up being low.

In order to be eligible, you need to have purchased an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025. That includes the iPhone 16 range, the iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. You must also have purchased your iPhone in the United States.

If you want to make a claim, you’ll need to submit proof that you bought a qualifying device. That could include a serial number, Apple Account information, and a cell phone number. Apple will start inviting claims within 45 days of May 5, 2026.

A costly situation

Back at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2024, Apple showcased its artificial intelligence (AI) system — dubbed Apple Intelligence — and explained how it would revolutionize all of the best iPhones. Planned features included better contextual awareness and the ability to act within other apps, among other things. And importantly, Apple included these improvements in its marketing materials for the iPhone 16 series that arrived later that year.

To some users, those ads and marketing pitches implied that buying one of these phones would get you the promised Apple Intelligence upgrades. Yet Apple has had to push back many of these features, leaving its phones without several of the most advanced weapons in the Apple Intelligence arsenal.

That has proven to be very costly indeed to the company, and not just in financial terms, as Apple Intelligence is widely seen to be lagging behind rivals like ChatGPT and Gemini. The delayed Siri features are expected to arrive in iOS 27, which will debut at WWDC on June 8, and TechRadar’s own Lance Ulanoff believes that will be Apple’s last chance to make up lost ground against its competitors.

In a statement to 9to5Mac, Apple remained in a defiant mood, saying: “Since the launch of Apple Intelligence, we have introduced dozens of features across many languages that are integrated across Apple’s platforms, relevant to what users do every day, and built with privacy protections at every step. These include Visual Intelligence, Live Translation, Writing Tools, Genmoji, Clean Up and many more.

“Apple has reached a settlement to resolve claims related to the availability of two additional features, the company continued. “We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users.”

But Apple will need to do more than just talk when WWDC rolls around, as users already seem to be abandoning Apple Intelligence. If it doesn’t deliver on its Siri promises, a $250 million lawsuit could be the least of its worries.

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