The number in every headline about the Apple Intelligence settlement is $25 per iPhone. It is a starting point, not a promise. The notice lets it rise to $95 or fall below $25 depending on how many people file, and nobody — not Apple, not the lawyers, not the administrator — will know the real figure until the December 21, 2026 deadline passes. Here is how the payout is actually calculated, who it goes to, and how it gets to you.
Start With the Pot
Apple agreed to a Total Settlement Amount of $250,000,000 to resolve Landsheft v. Apple Inc., a class action alleging that it advertised Siri Apple Intelligence features as capabilities of the iPhone 16 lineup and the iPhone 15 Pro models that did not ship with the phones. Apple denies the allegations and the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing. Four things come out of the pot before any class member is paid:
- Attorneys’ fees. Class Counsel’s motion must be posted on the settlement website by November 17, 2026. The notice does not fix the percentage.
- Litigation expenses. Filed with the fee motion.
- Service awards. Up to $2,000 for each named plaintiff.
- Notice and administration costs. Verita Global’s costs for the mailing, the website and processing every claim.
What remains is the Net Settlement Fund, and it is divided among every valid claim.
Then Divide by Devices, Not People
The unit of payment is the Eligible Device, not the claimant. One person with three covered iPhones files three claims and is paid three times. A company with a fleet files once with a list of serial numbers and is paid per phone. The seven eligible models are the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max and 16e, bought new in the United States by a U.S. resident between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025, for use rather than resale.
How $25 Moves
The notice sets $25 per Eligible Device as the reference figure and then adjusts it pro rata in whichever direction the arithmetic requires:
- Few claims: the Net Settlement Fund divided by claimed devices comes to more than $25, so each device is paid more, up to a hard ceiling of $95. Anything left above the ceiling is not paid to class members.
- Many claims: the fund divided by claimed devices comes to less than $25, so each device is paid less. There is no floor stated in the notice.
The plaintiffs’ preliminary approval papers estimated tens of millions of iPhones inside the class definition. Consumer settlements are typically claimed by a small fraction of the class, which is why the $95 ceiling exists at all; the parties expected that the fund would go further than $25 per phone if participation was normal. Whether that holds depends on how many of those tens of millions of owners file in the next three months. Treat any per-phone figure, including ours, as an estimate.
Worked Examples
Suppose, for illustration only, that $190 million remains after fees and costs. If 2 million devices are claimed, that is $95 per phone, exactly at the ceiling. If 4 million are claimed, $47.50. If 7.6 million are claimed, $25. If 10 million are claimed, $19. None of these are predictions; the actual deductions and the claim count are unknown until after December 21.
Getting Paid
No receipt is required. The claim form asks for the iPhone’s serial number, or the Apple Account email and phone number used with it, and the administrator matches that against Apple’s records. Online claimants choose a paper check, PayPal, Venmo or direct deposit by ACH; a mailed paper claim can only be paid by check. Each claimant certifies that when they bought the phone they expected certain Siri Apple Intelligence features and did not receive them, and the notice says claims are subject to audit.
File at the official settlement website, SmartphoneAISettlement.com, by December 21, 2026. Filing is free. A step-by-step guide to the serial-number and Apple Account paths is at OpenClassActions.org.
When the Money Comes
Not soon. The final approval hearing is February 24, 2027 before Judge Noël Wise in San Jose. If the settlement is approved, payments follow the effective date, which is reached only after the appeal period runs or any appeal is resolved. An objector’s appeal could add months. No payment date has been announced and this page will not guess at one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Apple Intelligence settlement payout per iPhone?
$25 per eligible device is the reference figure in the notice. It is adjusted pro rata after fees, costs and service awards come out of the $250 million fund: up to a ceiling of $95 per device if few claims are filed, or below $25 if more devices are claimed than the parties assumed. The final figure is set after the December 21, 2026 deadline.
Can I get paid for more than one iPhone?
Yes. Payment is per eligible device. File a separate claim for each phone, one serial number each. A business files one entity claim with a list of all its devices.
Is there a minimum payment?
The notice states a $95 maximum per device but no minimum. If the claim rate is very high the per-device payment falls below $25.
How will I receive the Apple settlement money?
Online claimants choose a paper check, PayPal, Venmo or direct deposit. A mailed paper claim form is paid by check only.
Do I need a receipt to get the payout?
No. The form asks for the iPhone serial number, or the Apple Account email and phone number used with the device, and the administrator matches that against Apple’s purchase records.
When will the Apple Intelligence settlement pay out?
No date has been announced. The final approval hearing is February 24, 2027, and payment follows the settlement’s effective date after any appeal is resolved.
Sources
- Smartphone AI Settlement — the official settlement website, administered by Verita Global, LLC: long-form notice, online claim form, individual and entity paper claim forms.
- Court-approved long-form notice in Landsheft, et al. v. Apple Inc., Case No. 5:25-cv-02668-NW, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division: class definition, the seven Eligible Devices, the class period, the $250 million Total Settlement Amount, the $25 per-device payment and $95 cap, the December 21, 2026 deadlines and the February 24, 2027 final approval hearing.
- Order granting preliminary approval, July 17, 2026, Hon. Noël Wise.
- OpenClassActions.com — Apple $250M Apple Intelligence Siri Settlement, and its May 2026 report on how the settlement came together.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. This site is not a law firm, is not the settlement administrator and is not affiliated with Apple or any party to the case. Apple denies the allegations and no court has decided the merits. Deadlines and payment amounts can change as the court and the administrator act; confirm current status on the official settlement website. You never need to pay anyone to file a claim.