US iPhone user? You could receive nearly $100 in Apple an lawsuit payout

If you bought a recent iPhone in the US, you could be entitled to a payout from Apple following a lawsuit tied to its AI features.

• Read more: iPhone 18 Pro Max leak shows a chunkier camera bump – and it might actually be a good thing

According to the USA Herald report which cites a filing in a California federal court, the case centres on Apple Intelligence, and whether parts of that rollout were marketed more aggressively than the features themselves justified at launch. Note that nothing has been officially confirmed by Apple or widely reported by major outlets at the time of writing.

The filing reportedly suggests US customers who bought an iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 during a certain window could be eligible for compensation, with potential payouts ranging from around $25 to $95, depending on how any settlement is structured.

At the heart of the complaint, is Siri. Apple had positioned its upgraded assistant as a key part of its AI evolution, promising a more capable, context-aware experience. The lawsuit argues that some of those expectations weren’t met at the time customers bought their devices.

Apple is said to have agreed to settle the case without admitting wrongdoing – a standard move in situations like this – and has reportedly framed the dispute as focusing on a limited number of features within a much broader rollout.

For now, there’s no official confirmation of payouts or how the claims process would work. If you’re in the US and think you might be affected, the safest move is to wait for verified details from Apple or the courts before expecting any money to land in your account.

• Read more: We now know who will lead Apple into the future – and it’s great news for new products

Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.