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By Malik Shahzad Aslam :
US customers eligible for compensation cannot file claims yet as judge delays final approval of settlement
Millions of iPhone users waiting for compensation from Apple’s $250 million Siri settlement will have to wait longer, as a US court has not yet given final approval for the agreement.
A preliminary approval hearing was held this week in California, but the judge did not issue a final decision. As a result, the official claims process has not started, and eligible customers are not required to take any action at this stage.
Lawsuit linked to delayed Siri AI features
The case began after Apple promoted a more advanced version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence during its 2024 developer conference and later highlighted the technology during the launch of the iPhone 16 series.
However, the promised personalised Siri features were delayed, with Apple announcing in March 2025 that the rollout would be postponed.
Customers alleged that Apple had promoted devices based on artificial intelligence capabilities that were not available at launch, accusing the company of misleading advertising.
Apple agreed to a $250 million settlement but did not admit wrongdoing as part of the agreement.
Who may qualify for payment?
Under the proposed settlement terms, eligible customers could receive $25 per affected iPhone, although the amount could increase if fewer people submit valid claims.
The settlement applies only to US residents who purchased certain devices during the eligible period.
Qualifying models include:
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16 series models
The phones must have been purchased between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025, according to the settlement conditions.
Claims website not launched yet
The official settlement website has not gone live, meaning customers cannot currently submit applications.
Once the court gives final approval, eligible users are expected to receive notification emails within around 45 days. However, payments are unlikely to begin until late 2026 or early 2027.
Officials handling the settlement have advised users to be cautious of unofficial websites or messages requesting personal information before the claims process officially opens.
Siri AI finally arrives
While the legal dispute focused on delayed artificial intelligence features, Apple has since moved forward with its next-generation Siri.
The company unveiled its redesigned AI-powered Siri at its 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference, with the updated assistant expected to launch alongside iOS 27 in September.
The new Siri aims to provide more personalised responses, improved understanding of user requests and deeper integration with Apple’s artificial intelligence ecosystem.
Pakistani iPhone users unlikely to qualify
The settlement is limited to people living in the United States, meaning iPhone users in countries such as Pakistan are not expected to be eligible for compensation.
However, the updated Siri AI features themselves are expected to become available internationally, including on supported iPhone models outside the US, once iOS 27 is released globally.
The case highlights growing scrutiny of technology companies as they increasingly market artificial intelligence features that depend on future software updates rather than capabilities available at the time of purchase.
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